Tin Head opening June 8
The film follows 16 year old Zhenya as she deals with the aftermath of a serious accident. While walking with her boyfriend Prikhodko, Zhenya suffers a harsh fall that injures her leg. Her challenges extend beyond the injury. She struggles to connect with her relatives and peers, and she faces a painful breakup with her boyfriend, whom she blames for the accident. A sudden encounter with Svyatoslav, a clear-eyed mentor of the robotics club, helps Zhenya find reconciliation with herself and those around her.
Tin Head marks the second feature from Ivan Kapitonov, known for his work as a producer on Pishcheblok and as a screenwriter for a string of horror titles such as The Queen of Spades Forever, Through the Mirror, and Yaga. Kapitonov shifts focus to a different fear, the fear of reaching adulthood and finding one’s place in a world that feels less certain with each passing year. The film received the Teddy Bear award in the 12 plus category and is positioned as a strong summer release that invites young viewers into intimate conversations.
Island of the Missing Girls
Three orphaned sisters find themselves trapped in a sea cave on a remote island. They soon discover that wild sea lions share the space with them. The sisters imagine these creatures as terrifying monsters, yet they respond with resilience and ingenuity, choosing to take charge of the situation without awaiting help from adults.
Island of the Lost Girls is a family-produced action adventure directed by Anne-Marie Schmidt and Brian Schmidt, and their own daughters star in the frame. The rough, almost amateur feel of the cinematography underscores the filmmakers’ determination to tell their story despite a modest budget. The aim is a touching portrait of children and the trials they face and overcome.
Girl Nina and the Piano Thieves
Nina, portrayed by Eva Smirnova, a lively and curious girl, discovers a passion for music that suddenly propels her into unexpected adventures. The piano Nina works on awakens and fills the air with wonder and confusion as the story unfolds rapidly. Soon Nina is kidnapped by sinister villains who also seize a remarkable vehicle in a swift escalation of events.
Director Roman Chaliapin crafts a tale about the friendship between a girl and music. At the Bear Cub festival the film earned two awards in consecutive categories for Best Screenplay for a Feature Film and Best Cinematography.
Taste of the Sun
Timur, a young resident of the capital, spends a vacation in Uzbekistan at his grandfather’s home. His curiosity about ancient artifacts leads him to explore the grandfather’s barn and discover an old locket. This discovery triggers a sequence of intriguing adventures that carry him to hidden corners of Uzbekistan, from a maze of time to the Hour of the Wise Men.
This adventure is a collaborative effort between Russian and Uzbek film communities. The project highlights the rising interest of local filmmakers in Central Asia and mirrors recent shooting activity in the region, including a second season of a survival themed series produced in Uzbekistan in 2022.
The Lion King
Another warm family tale about friendship, this time between children and an animal. Siblings Ines and Alex discover a baby lion cub that has wandered away from its transport and vow to return the cub to its homeland in Africa. Their grandfather Max, a seasoned traveler, joins the effort to guide them. The pursuit draws the attention of authorities and animal welfare monitors, and the young heroes must outsmart adults to ensure the cub’s safe journey home.
The French adventure later reached Russian audiences at an opportune moment in midsummer. The world premiere occurred in early 2022, and the film found a timely home just as audiences crave lighthearted adventure during the sunny season.