The 35th Message to Man International Film Festival will conclude on 25 October after a spectacular anniversary programme featuring 82 competition films, 96 films in 11 special sections, and numerous lectures, exhibitions, educational projects, and performances.
The international celebration of cinema will culminate with the Russian premiere of Oliver Laxe’s Sirât, recipient of the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
The Festival’s results will be announced during a celebratory event at the Alexandrinsky Theatre’s New Stage.
The Festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives, and the St. Petersburg Committee for Culture.
CLOSING FILM
The grand finale of the jubilee, in true Message to Man style, is intellectually provocative and profoundly sincere. Its highlight is Oliver Laxe’s Sirât. The film follows Louis, who journeys with his son to Morocco in search of his missing daughter, lost at a desert party. Their path through scorched lands becomes a metaphor for navigating the delicate boundary between paradise and hell, confronting fears, and seeking hope.
In 2025, the film won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, ranking among critics’ favourites. This high-intensity cinema speaks of unity, empathy, and compassion, offering viewers a compelling metaphor for humanity’s place in today’s world. For Galician director Oliver Laxe, this is his fourth directorial work, following international festival successes: You All Are Captains, winner of the FIPRESCI Prize at Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes; Mimosas, recipient of the Critics’ Week Grand Prix; and Fire Will Come, awarded the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section.
Screenings will take place on 24 October at 16:00 at the Aurora Cinema and on 25 October at 20:30 in the Grand Hall of Dom Kino.
CLOSING CEREMONY
The closing ceremony of the 35th Message to Man International Film Festival will be held on 24 October at the New Stage of the Alexandrinsky Theatre.
Winners of the Festival’s competition programmes will receive nine awards, including the main prize—the Golden Centaur Grand Prix for Best Film. The evening will also reveal the recipients of seven special awards and the Festival Organising Committee’s Honorary Prize for Contribution to Cinema.
Cosy autumnal streets of St. Petersburg, parks clad “in crimson and gold,” and the soft glow of streetlights form the creative concept of the ceremony, inspired by the image of the “autumnal city.”
The ceremony is directed by Stanislav Svetlov, known for Ada and Peculiarities of the National Hospital, with original video art by video artist and VJ Yuri Elik. One of the evening’s hosts will be Alexandrinsky Theatre director and producer Alexander Malich. The musical and dramatic highlight will feature performances by Honoured Artist of Russia and State Prize laureate Yulia Peresild, alongside the instrumental band Mandragora, led by Vladimir Kornienko.
Participants include Festival President and People’s Artist of Russia Aleksey Uchitel, representatives of the St. Petersburg City Administration, International Competition Jury Chair and producer Marco Müller, members of the international and national jury panels, distinguished guests, and Festival participants.
Media attendance at the closing ceremony is by invitation only.
A live broadcast of the ceremony will be available from 19:30 on 24 October on the Festival’s website and in the official Message to Man group on VK.