The film Holiday, directed by Anna Kuznetsova, earned a spot in the competition lineup at the Mayak film festival, signaling its status as a notable entry in contemporary cinema. The announcement came via TASS, which quoted the festival’s press service on the festival program.
Holidays marks the feature debut of Kuznetsova, with performances led by Daria Savelyeva and Polina Kutepova. Boris Khlebnikov contributed as the creative producer, lending his experience to shape the project’s artistic direction. The collaboration underlines a trend in which Russian and Finnish cinema teams partner to produce work that explores intimate, character-driven storytelling beyond borders.
The film centers on a circle of schoolchildren from a provincial town who travel to Sochi to participate in a theater festival. The journey becomes a lens on youth, ambition, and the social textures of regional life, weaving together moments of humor, reflection, and youthful rebellion that resonate with audiences across different regions. The setting in a seaside resort town also adds a visual layer that contrasts the students’ everyday concerns with the festival atmosphere and the broader world beyond their hometowns.
In addition to Holidays, Kuznetsova has previously directed a short film titled Six Two Eight, which earned a diploma at Kinotavr in 2018. That work has since been staged and performed in several European countries, including France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Estonia, demonstrating the international reach of Kuznetsova’s storytelling and the festival circuit’s openness to concise, potent forms of cinema.
The Mayak festival’s competition will feature new works from a slate of filmmakers, including Semyon Serzin, Lyubov Mulmenko, and Dmitry Davydov. Each director brings a distinct voice and perspective, contributing to a festival program that aims to showcase fresh talent alongside established creators. The inclusion of these titles emphasizes the festival’s role in spotlighting diverse cinematic approaches and narratives that reflect contemporary life in Russia and its neighboring regions.
Mayak Film Festival is set to take place in Gelendzhik, running from October 5 to 9. The event will commence with Birth Year, a feature by Mikhail Mestetsky, featuring performers Eldar Kalimulin, Anastasia Talyzina, and Yura Borisov. This opening film signals the festival’s commitment to presenting bold, character-driven stories that invite audiences to engage with complex emotional journeys and social themes. The program’s opening choice underscores the festival’s focus on cinema that blends personal experience with broader cultural questions, inviting spectators to reflect on both individual and communal aspects of life.
The festival season has been marked by attention to prolific directors and emerging talents who push stylistic boundaries and experiment with narrative structures. The Mayak program’s lineup continues this tradition, balancing intimate character studies with broader sociocultural commentary. Viewers can expect a curated selection that fosters dialogue among audiences, critics, and industry professionals about the direction of contemporary cinema in the region and beyond. In this frame, Holidays stands as a representative of cinema that looks outward while staying true to personal, human-centered storytelling.
Overall, the Mayak festival’s competition appears poised to offer a tapestry of voices, each contributing to a richer understanding of modern film language. The inclusion of Kuznetsova’s feature, along with other fresh works, signals an ongoing cycle of discovery and conversation around what cinema can convey about life, youth, and the complexities of growing up in today’s world.
As the festival proceeds, audiences will have the opportunity to witness how these films navigate themes of aspiration, identity, and community, while also enjoying the festival atmosphere that brings together filmmakers, actors, and fans for immersive, cinematic experiences. The program’s breadth promises moments of resonance, surprise, and thoughtful discourse that extend well beyond the screening room. With performers and crews bringing dedicated energy to each project, the Mayak festival continues to build a bridge between regional storytelling and international audiences, reinforcing cinema’s power to connect people through shared human experiences. [citation: TASS report]