“Triangle of Sorrow” by Ruben Östlund – December 1
A new satirical photo by Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund earned him the festival’s third prize at Cannes. The plot centers on strangers who wind up aboard a luxury vessel together: an arms dealer, a Russian oligarch, an IT specialist, and several striking models. The ship is captained by a drunken Marxist who is played by Woody Harrelson. When disaster strikes and the vessel wrecks, a handful of survivors must endure on a tropical island, where they are forced to reassess their social status and the hierarchy that governs them.
“The white light approached you like a wedge”, Igor Poplauhin – from December 8
A fictional portrait of rock icon Yanka Diaghileva, who became a beacon of the Siberian underground music scene in the late 1980s. Directed by Igor Poplaukhin, the film blends fact and fiction to explore the life of a musician whose career was abruptly cut short in 1991 under enigmatic circumstances. The work pays homage to Diaghileva’s artistic influence while probing the factors that shaped her difficult fate.
“Remember” (“Rimembeo”) by Lee Il-hyun – from December 8
A tense South Korean thriller follows an 80-year-old man with advancing Alzheimer’s who forms an uneasy partnership with a younger confidant. The elderly man bears a harrowing secret: he is hunting those responsible for his family’s death during the Japanese occupation. Tattoos on his arms map the enemies he seeks to confront, while the younger ally remains unaware of the full extent of the plan. As the tale unfolds, vengeance drives them along a perilous path marked by violence and moral ambiguity.
“Breathing” by Rinat Makhmudov – from December 8
A warm, hopeful story about friendship between two youths who help each other redefine their lives. Raised in an orphanage, Sasha grows up scrapping for a place in the world. His boxing habit brings victories in the ring, yet his true dream lies in medicine, driven by a desire to heal others. When a girl is hired to care for Kolya, a troubled disabled teenager, she gains a chance to reveal her compassion. Together they navigate a challenging but uplifting journey toward a world less frightening than they once imagined.
“Balabanov. Bell tower. Requiem, Lyubov Arkus — from December 8
Documentaries honoring director Alexei Balabanov and the film critic Lyubov Arkus illuminate their shared impact on cinema. Work on the film began years before Balabanov’s death and offers a behind‑the‑scenes look at the making of his final project, I Want It Too. The year 2022 is celebrated as Balabanov year, featuring a traveling exhibit that highlights the director’s career and his lasting influence. The couple’s collaboration reveals how Arkus became a voice for a generation and anticipated the moment when that generation would no longer be itself.
“Waves”, Sergey Kalvarsky – from December 8
Kalvarsky delivers a meditative film that stands apart. Sound engineers Alexander and Ivan embark on a trek to Transbaikalia to record the Marble Gorge, a site tied to a hidden Gulag. Their planned excursion diverges from expectations, turning into a profound voyage through historical memory. What seemed like a quiet assignment evolves into a confrontation with the past, revealing a living, breathing soundscape where silence finally speaks.
Wave Runners (Bosch & Rockit), Tyler Atkins – December 8
Bosch and his son Rokit share a passion for surfing that has mended a troubled relationship. Yet as a hidden truth about the father’s illicit dealings surfaces, the duo must break away from a dangerous past and a precarious present. The story tracks their efforts to outrun a history that refuses to stay buried.
Chuk and Gek. The big adventure” by Alexander Kott — since December 22
Two playful brothers, Chuk and Gek, live with their devoted mother in Moscow while they miss their father, who works far to the north. To celebrate an approaching New Year, the family sets out on a bold quest to the mysterious Blue Mountains. Along the way, the siblings discover that miracles can happen when family ties are tested by travel, danger, and the lure of the unknown.
“Previous. Happy ending” by Anton Megerdichev — since December 22
The climactic finale of the series Former follows lovers entangled in harmful addictions who struggle with a fractured relationship. On the big screen, audiences witness the lovers’ painful journey toward reconciliation and a sense of peace. The conclusion offers a candid, moving look at love that endures despite hardship.
“Mira”, Dmitry Kiselev – from December 22
A sweeping domestic science fiction from the director of For the First Time, Dmitry Kiselev. Set in the near future, the story follows 15-year-old Lera in Vladivostok as her father, long stationed on an orbiting space station, loses contact. After a meteor shower hits the city, Lera faces a race against time to safeguard her loved ones, with her father guiding her from above the station and using every opportunity to communicate across the void.