As the premier platform for new Russian content, the Key Buyers Event is putting its muscle behind showcasing the hottest Russian talents ready to take off on the global stage.
“Our key goal is to promote top national projects that will put their creators and cast on the spotlight,” said Evgenia Markova, head of Russian film promotion body Roskino, which organizes the event running online June 8-10. “But this year we have also dedicated a stand-alone session to Russian talents and their perspectives on the global scene.”
The session will feature international casting director Frank Moiselle, actor and Key Buyers Event Ambassador Yuri Kolokolnikov, and talent agent Richard Cook, as well as rising actress Sofia Lebedeva and producer Gudny Hummelvoll.
“It is a hot topic to discuss with more global projects coming up, starring Russian actors or featuring Russian creators,” said Markova, pointing to the recent announcement of the lineup for this year’s Cannes Film Festival, which includes six Russian films (including two in the main competition), as further evidence that Russian stars are on the rise.
“From my point of view, Russian talents have their own outlook on the world, which is a mix between their deep cultural roots and, at the same time, their open-mindedness and bravery to talk about complicated issues and explore all kinds of topics that touch people in Russia and worldwide,” she continued. “They aspire to create authentic stories that would reach out to global audiences.”
Here’s a rundown of 12 top Russian talents ready to soar in 2021.
Pictured, from l. to r.: Alexander Kuznetsov, Paulina Andreeva, Yuri Kolokolnikov