The “Russian Youth. Continued” section features two sessions of short films selected by two teams of programmers from the National and International competitions of the Message to Man IFF.

SELECTION OF THE NATIONAL COMPETITION CURATORS

The four films are united by their shared ability to tell stories about something important. In Dew Point, Sasha Gromova portrays a person who was once very close to her, and their relationship still holds deep meaning for her. Not Just Any Day by Klavdiya Korshunova presents a sharp dramatic conflict, almost bordering on a thriller. Anna Ulyanskaya’s Spring Will Come captures, with utmost honesty, her grandmother as she grapples with the effects of old age. In Anya, Look, Anton Agafonov tells the story of a visually impaired girl making a film. Each of these films touches on delicate, painful themes. The tension between the complexity of the subject matter and the filmmakers’ tender, thoughtful approach creates the main intrigue of our session.

Alena Solntseva

SELECTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION CURATORS

Casta Diva by Irina Tarantuyeva, The Way by Megen Tarba, Quiet Move by Ilya Pilipenko, Runaway by Salome Kintsurashvili, and Gennady Lebedev’s experimental work Seems Like I’ve Been Looking Through the Window for Too Long: if there is one element that unites these films, despite their differing methods, approaches, and ambitions, it is their intonation. They share a quiet yet distinct desire to draw closer to the human experience. Each film unfolds at a deliberate pace, requiring the viewer’s attention and a willingness to engage with a cinematic language that evolves before our eyes. This approach is the only way to convey what stirs these filmmakers: the elusive yet relatable spirit of our times and the shared experience of another person living alongside us in these times.

Vasiliy Stepanov