16 films by emerging Russian directors took part in the short film competition. They will be judged by film director Oksana Mikheeva, theater and film actress Ekaterina Klimova, journalist and film critic Yaroslav Zabaluev.
From March 23 to 26, the XXII International Film Debut Festival “Spirit of Fire” will take place in Khanty-Mansiysk, which will feature 16 films lasting from 7 to 29 minutes, shot in different styles, techniques and genres. For most directors, this is their first or second film. Moreover, some of them have already taken place in the film industry. One of the short films - "Night Dance" – filmed by actor Mikhail Troynik, and directed by the Yakut epic "Aiyy Kuo" Showman and author of parody videos Ayaal Adamov performed. Previously, the film participated in the 40th International Short Film Festival in Busan, South Korea.
The competition also included dramas "Mine" Ilya Sovetov about leaving the comfort zone, "Outstanding Days" Arthur Grigoriev about overtaking justice, "Limbo" Vasily Kovbasyuk about ways to find the right path in the middle of the endless steppe, "Electricity" Yulia Korunskaya about trying to survive the loss, "Hungry Dog" Gabriela Selivanova is about a girl who, after an unsuccessful duel, is forced to drag her wounded companion on her shoulders.
The program includes thrillers "Elevator" Aliki Jung about a stuck hero who realizes that his misadventures are echoes of the distant past, "Monster" Olga Melanich about a boy lost in the forest and "Black" Viki Degteva about the girl Sima, whose ideas about herself were suddenly turned upside down.
The comedy genre is represented by films “Super “mother” Wumen” Dmitry Milyaev about what impulsive actions can lead to, “Mom, he’s from the metaverse, you’ll like it!” Alexey Kokorin about the relationship between a girl and an avatar, as well as "We are satisfied" Sergei Voitkevich about a pedantic killer.
In the short film "Forgive me, Anya" Klavdia Korshunova, about a traffic police officer disappointed in love, was played by Yura Borisov and Stepan Devonin. Ribbon "Give me the money and I'll leave" Alexandra Titova talks about the racketeer's flared feelings. The competition also features existential drama "Licht" Maxim Dudnik about a heroine who goes on a night journey through an abandoned city.
The short films will be judged by the director, screenwriter, producer, actress Oksana Mikheeva, theater and film actress Ekaterina Klimova, journalist and film critic Yaroslav Zabaluev.
Also this year, a small program was presented for the first time “It’s a pity that you weren’t with us”, which will show iconic paintings that have not reached a large audience. “This new program is a tribute to the high professionalism of our colleagues, who, following the March “Spirit of Fire”, later, at the “In Short”, “Mayak” and “Window to Europe” film festivals, managed to discover the talents of amazing debutants - Anna Kuznetsova, Tatyana Rakhmanova , Ilya Shagalov, Tina Barkalaya. I am sure that the discerning audience of our festival will appreciate these films as highly as we appreciated them,” said the chairman of the film festival’s selection committee, director Pyotr Shepotinnik. The program will show "Aquarium" Ilya Shagalov, "Holidays" Anna Kuznetsova, "Kingdom" Tatiana Rakhmanova and "The Tales of Hoffmann" Tina Barkalaya.
