Mars Express direction. Jeremy Perin
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Program: “Multiverse”
Among the standout entries in the animation block is a French neo-noir fantasy set in a near future. A private detective teams up with his android partner to track down a student hacker. Their investigation dives into the Martian underworld, and the fate of the entire universe hangs in the balance.
“We need to make films about love” direction. Roman Mikhailov
Program: “Russian premieres”
Roman Mikhailov, a festival favorite and former scientist, presents his sixth film in under three years, following works like “Holiday in October” and “Let’s go to Macau with you.” The story follows a troupe of Russian filmmakers who travel to Varanasi, India to shoot an art film. In this journey, they drift into deep philosophical reflections as the project seemingly begins to film itself.
“Midnight with the Devil” direction. Colin and Cameron Kearns
Program: “Wild Nights”
This independent horror feature has sparked intense debate due to its use of neural network–generated imagery. Shot in a found footage style, the plot follows a Halloween broadcast from a late-night show in 1977. The host, eager to boost ratings, invites a girl believed to be possessed into the studio, raising questions about credibility, fear, and spectacle.
“The arrival of the train at La Ciotat station” (L’Arrivée d’un train en gare de la Ciotat), direction. Louis and Auguste Lumières
Program: “Chapter One. Movement. New hope”
Undoubtedly the most celebrated piece by the Lumière brothers, this historic film reportedly caused panic in early viewers. Attendees now have a rare chance to experience its original impact firsthand and reflect on cinema’s earliest power to move audiences.
“Foreign” direction. Ivan Sosnin
Program: main competition
From Ivan Sosnin, known for “Ivanov’s Happiness” and “Distant Loved Ones,” and the forthcoming series “Mammoths” with Yuri Stoyanov, comes a story centered on Lesha, a young man in a small Ural village who many deem eccentric. When he’s not tending to his grandmother, Lesha sketches puzzling crop circles and intercepts radio signals, hoping to greet aliens. Everything shifts when he actually encounters Yana, a girl from another planet played by Alena Miroshnikova, igniting a sequence of unlikely revelations for the town and its people.
“About Freaks and Men” direction. Alexey Balabanov
Program: “Chapter One. Movement. New hope”
Balabanov’s hallmark style returns in a stylized nod to silent cinema. Set in St. Petersburg at the turn of the 19th to 20th centuries, this retro drama follows a pornographer who disrupts seemingly prosperous families, laying bare secrets and moral tensions that still resonate today.
“Prometheus Project” (TV series) direction. Maxim Sveshnikov
Program: “First episode”
A detective thriller with mystical undertones, steered by Maxim Sveshnikov, the mind behind “Container” and “Volunteers’ Playlist.” In this installment, journalist Anna, tough and uncompromising, crosses paths with a powerful foreign figure after a crucial encounter in 1998. A missing plane becomes the catalyst for a present-day investigation, while physics teacher Vadim joins as Anna’s ally, and cameraman Nikita adds a practical eye to the unraveling mystery.
“Piece” (TV series), direction. Dushan Gligorov
Program: “First episode”
A psychological thriller tracking judge Svetlana Neznamova as she searches for her missing adopted daughter Kira. The case intersects with a network of young dealers and a separate tragedy in a Stavropol resort town, hinting at a larger web of connections. Investigator Elvira Barayeva leads the charge as the drama intensifies, pushing moral lines and personal loyalties to the limit.
“Worst of all”, direction. Sasha Karmaeva
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Program: “Russian premieres”
A comedy-drama that follows schoolgirl Ksyusha as she confronts social shaming by launching a blog under the ironic alias Zhirukha. Fame lands with a heavy dose of reality, and the joke begins to wear thin as audiences glimpse the cost of online attention.
“I’m not a killer” (Hit Man) direction. Richard Linklater
Program: “Special Screenings”
Richard Linklater’s romantic action-comedy pairs Glen Powell with a clever premise: an undercover cop who pretends to be a hitman to arrest clients, only to become sidetracked by a rescue mission. An anticipated Russian release is set for mid-May, though festival caution advises relying on official channels for dates and updates.
[Citations: Festival Program Archive, Festival Notes, and Interviews with Creators (attribution section).]