The thriller “I Will Play” has earned multiple recognition from the LA Independent Film Festival in Los Angeles, underscoring its strong reception at a notable industry showcase (Festival website attribution).
At the heart of the film’s acclaim are four distinct honors: best feature film, best director, best script, and best cast. The ensemble is led by Anna Potebnya, known for her work in “Sisters,” alongside Timofey Yeletsky, celebrated for “Difficult Teenagers,” and Ekaterina Stulova, recognized for “Arrhythmia,” among other talented performers. The production is a collaboration between Bazelevs studio and KION online cinema, with Timur Bekmambetov and Igor Mishin serving as producers. The collaboration reflects a strong alignment between a prominent studio and an innovative streaming platform in delivering contemporary genre storytelling (Production credits attribution).
The narrative follows Dana, a schoolgirl who stumbles onto a hidden realm within social media as she seeks answers about her sister’s suicide. In this world, a dangerous game tempts young players with emotional stakes: the losers risk the safeguarding of their loved ones or even their own lives. Dana enters the game compelled by the pursuit of truth, navigating digital intrigue and real-world consequences in a journey that blends suspense with a search for accountability and the roots of sorrow (Story and themes attribution).
The film marked its world premiere in August 2021, a debut that positioned it within the festival circuit and drew attention from audiences and critics alike. As of the latest information, there has been no public schedule announced for a release or screening in Russia, leaving the film’s future showings open and dependent on regional distribution decisions (Premiere and release status attribution).
In related news, earlier reports noted that production activity for another project, “Vampires of the Central Region,” experienced a postponement, with filming moved to July. This update situates the broader production slate within a dynamic schedule and illustrates how projects within the same studio ecosystem may experience timing shifts (Production schedule attribution).