Happy in a place: what is the memory of the festival "Shorter" in Kaliningrad?

The XIII festival of short and debut films "Shorter", the main platform for viewing new personnel of the domestic film industry, summed up its results in Kaliningrad. Igor Marchenko received the main prize from the production jury for his feature-length debut "Happy when You're Not There." The Son of Zhanna Bekmambetova, the daughter of the famous director, was recognized as the best short film. Izvestia watched the festival program "Shorter" and talks about new names of Russian cinema that are worth remembering.

Without pants for happiness

During the six days of the festival, the jury and fans of young cinema watched six films in the feature debut competition, 26 films for the main short film competition, and 19 short films featuring famous actors in the special program "Shorter. The stars." The selectors of the festival, Nadezhda Koroleva and Vadim Rutkovsky, drew attention to the unexpectedly large number of films that take place on December 31 — on the eve and on New Year's Eve itself.

— Maybe this is due to the fact that everyone wants a holiday, renewal, and change, — says Vadim Rutkovsky.

There really was a celebration at the festival every day. For the first time in its history, the competition works were shown not only at the traditional venue, the Zarya cinema, but also at the museum. There were full houses every day. But "Shorter" is not only an important city festival. This is also an exhibition of achievements of the student economy, a platform where young authors declare themselves as professionals. And their work is evaluated by producers who are looking for directors for future work here, testing them in all parameters of skill and talent.

Until recently, only short films were shown here, but eventually the format was expanded and debuts were included in the program. This is also important: most often these are pictures shot for modest money, but showing how a director can work with a large form. So, the winner of this year's feature film competition, Igor Marchenko, a graduate of the Moscow Film School, had previously been here with the short film "The Hand", and then visited Poland, China and Turkey with it.

The main character of Marchenko's debut, "I'm Happy when You're Not There," is a journalist named Zhenya, although she doesn't work much in her field. As envious colleagues would say, Sasha Bortich plays a girl with reduced social responsibility. Sex for her character is a means of solving any issues, from excuses for being late for work to gratitude for the overnight stay.

The main character is Evgeny. He is played by Gosha Tokaev. Lucky, well-off, he drinks beer and takes home the so-called "skins". He is also in love with his friend's girlfriend Olya, whom he plans to marry. But fate brings him together with the one who doesn't even ask what his name is. Out of boredom, he's ready to take a bottle of Sauvignon and have a quick spin with the expressive Zhenya.

The dialogues in the film are a complete provocation, a scandal in every line. The heroes are a mirror of a generation dreaming of easy money and a beautiful life. They don't need to solve Newton's binomial, they don't need to collect humanitarian aid, the military commissar doesn't come for them with a summons, and even their dog doesn't get sick. It's a comedy, but it's not funny, it's satirical and tough. And Marchenko seems to have a great future ahead of him: the producers around him were noticed more than once at the festival.

By the way, one of the roles in the film was played by the Moscow Art Theater actress Sofia Raisman. In 2022, her black-and-white lyrical comedy about small exploits in the name of love "Merry Monday" won the prize for best Film.

"Gandhi was Silent on Saturdays," directed by Yuri Zaitsev and starring Mark Eidelstein, could also claim the main award, but the film about protesting teenager Sasha, who brought a homeless woman home to spite his parents, did not really convince the jury. But the audience liked it. There are a lot of stars in the film — this is a sign of a young cinema today, which needs to make its way. Victoria Tolstoganova, Alexander Pashutin, Anastasia Krasovskaya. The homeless woman was played by Daria Ekamasova and it's difficult to recognize her — her hair is cropped, her makeup is "age-related", and only her piercing gaze betrays a great actress.

Director Yura Zaitsev used to be a glossy photographer. After receiving additional education, he joined the cinema. He worked as a cameraman and producer. In "Gandhi was Silent on Saturdays," he is not only a director, but also a screenwriter. And it is possible that his glossy work experience and good relationships with artists helped him assemble such an ensemble for his debut.

Bekmambetova's "Son"

Surprisingly, the animated film "Son" by Zhanna Bekmambetova won the prize for the best short film. In June, he also won the main award, the Golden Cup, at the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival. This is a story about a boy and his dad who live in a small house on the edge of the steppe. The boy is confined to a wheelchair and cannot even take a spoonful of porridge. Dad is close to despair, but everything changes when the latest robot landing on Mars is shown on TV one day... This parable film is dedicated to all parents who don't give up.

It is worth remembering such a name as Yuldus Bakhtiozina. A director who came to the cinema as a famous photographer. She calls herself the ambassador of the "Tatar Baroque". The girl managed to work as a costume designer, collaborated with Mariinka, took part in the production of "Aisha and Abhaya" at the London Rambert Theater, dressed the artists. And now she's awarded "Shorter" for directing. Her short film is called "Perfectly Rejected." If you want to see beauty on the screen, this is exactly the case, which is quite natural.

A great future surely awaits actor Denis Khokhrin. A year ago, he received a diploma from the Moscow Art Theater Studio School. In the movie "Bird Boy," he played an orphanage resident, Vanya, not like everyone else. His voice won't change in any way. The guy has grown up, but he speaks like a child. And it annoys others. Such complex, dramatic roles are noticed by producers and directors.

Judging by the work of this year's festival, "Shorter" no longer quite lives up to its name. The scale, locations, and number of applicants are increasing every year. And the show itself is getting longer, adding new days to show everything selected. And here it is clearly visible: it is still difficult to say what the future of Russian cinema is, but it is for sure that it exists.