Film director Alexander Sokurov is preparing to release his new film Fairy Tale and will present it in person at the Russia premiere in Saint Petersburg. The report comes from TASS with a note referencing the Alexander Sokurov Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports cinema. The premiere is planned for June 3 at 6:30 p.m. and will take place during the Example of Intonation film festival at the Sevcable Port venue.
The narrative centers on the Second World War and engages with public histories and infamous figures such as Stalin, Mussolini, Churchill, and Hitler. The project was produced in cooperation with Belgium. Positioned during the war era, Fairy Tale unfolds as a fantasy story created from a mosaic of sketches. It blends historical events with game-like sequences to form a unique cinematic collage. The aim appears to be a reflective exploration of memory and myth, inviting audiences to view history through a poetically fractured lens rather than through a conventional documentary or straightforward narrative.
The first non-competitive international auteur film festival, titled A Sample of Intonation, is scheduled to run from June 1 through June 4 in Saint Petersburg. The festival will be hosted at the Sevcable Port site and will showcase a curated selection of contemporary creator-driven works from around the world. This event seeks to provide a platform for singular voices in cinema and to highlight experimental approaches to form and storytelling.
Fairy Tale previously screened in April to audiences in Japan, demonstrating the film’s international reach and the ongoing interest in Sokurov’s distinctive style. The project continues to draw attention for its interweaving of historical material with imaginative storytelling and for its collaboration across national borders.
As with many of Sokurov’s projects, the production emphasizes atmosphere, mood, and a contemplative pace. Viewers are invited to engage with the film as a meditation on war, power, and myth, rather than as a conventional war drama. The collaborative nature of the production reflects a broader trend in contemporary cinema where cross-border partnerships enable more experimental and ambitious storytelling. The festival itself is positioned as a space for cineasts to present work that challenges expectations and broadens the scope of what cinema can accomplish.
In discussing the film and its reception, scholars and critics may note the deliberate use of montage and collage techniques. The combination of historical recollections with fictional elements provides a platform for questioning how memory is constructed and how narratives about war are shaped by culture and perspective. The festival programming aims to foster dialogue around these themes, offering audiences opportunities to consider different viewpoints and to reflect on the role of cinema in documenting and interpreting history.
The Russia premiere in Saint Petersburg is anticipated to attract industry professionals, critics, and fans alike. It serves as a moment for audiences to experience Sokurov’s vision firsthand during a formal, in-person presentation. Attendees can expect a film that invites close listening and attentive viewing, as well as a sense that cinema can be a space for philosophical inquiry as well as artistic expression.
Overall, Fairy Tale represents a significant addition to the director’s body of work and a notable entry in the program of the festival. The collaboration with Belgian partners underscores the international nature of contemporary film projects and showcases how shared creative ambitions can translate into compelling, boundary-pushing cinema. The festival’s mission to celebrate auteur cinema aligns with Sokurov’s reputation as a bold, uncompromising filmmaker who continues to challenge conventions and expand the possible forms of storytelling.
Culminating events of the festival, including the Saint Petersburg premiere, provide audiences with an opportunity to see Fairy Tale in a context that appreciates experimental method, historical inquiry, and imaginative invention. For viewers in Canada and the United States, the film’s cross-cultural reception may highlight the universal aspects of its themes while also revealing the distinct regional interpretations that emerge when different audiences engage with such a work. The production and exhibition of Fairy Tale thus contribute to a broader conversation about how cinema can illuminate the past while offering new ways to experience it.