A story of fortitude and unity: the film "Peresvet the Nebes" to premiere at the National Centre RUSSIA

On 12 March, the National Centre RUSSIA will host the premiere of the documentary-drama film "Nebes Peresvet" (Not-a-Demon Peresvet), directed by Olesya Shigina. The film's concept and the story of its main character were presented at a pitching session of the #SVOeKINO (OwnCinema) workshop at the "Tavrida.Art-2025" festival, where the project received support. Olesya Shigina has been filming at the front since the very beginning of the special military operation. Her film "The Brave" was one of the first frontline documentary testimonies to the heroism of our soldiers.

The film "Nebes Peresvet" is a conversation about the meaning of life, about love, about the unity and brotherhood born at the front in the face of trials; it is a conversation about how a common noble goal unites people, overcoming any differences. Victory is achieved not by weapons, but by spirit.

The film director's camera lens is directed on young men, born in the 2000s, who bravely rose to defend the Fatherland, children, and true values. Not a lost generation, but a generation of honour.

The film was born from life itself: the camera of the film director with the call sign "Mama" captures priceless moments that form the story of a person, the story of our time and our country. Filming took place over three years on the front line and behind the lines. The project's geography is extensive, covering the Republic of Tatarstan, Tver, Moscow, St Petersburg, Chechnya, Lugansk, Zaporozhye, Belgorod, Samara, and Kursk. At the centre of the narrative is a person's destiny. The spiritual journey of a young volunteer from Tatarstan, Aybulat Immatullin, is revealed through the transformation of his call sign: from "Bes" (Demon), Aybulat becomes "Peresvet" (Peresvet is a name of a Russian Orthodox monk who fought in single combat with the Tatar champion Chelubey, at the opening of the Battle of Kulikovo on 8 September 1380).

The film director Olesya Shigina became an adoptive mother for the main character, who was abandoned by his parents in early childhood. Aybulat himself was baptised for the sake of a little girl who once saved him. Through a personal story, the film reveals the profound meanings of our time. The life of Aybulat-Peresvet has become testament to the fact that we are all one people, one family, and we have nothing to divide: we need to save Russia and live for one another.

The film "Nebes Peresvet" has an unusual style: it combines documentary truth with artistic imagery. The filming of the dramatic parts took place under completely documentary conditions. The film crew worked in Donbass and Novorossiya: in Maryinka, Alexandrovka, and Tokmak – the places where fighting is still ongoing.

Real people play roles in the dramatic parts of the film. The film features: in the lead role, Khizar Salamov, commander of an assault company of the "Akhmat" special forces; violinist Maria Andreyeva, who was one of the first musicians to play on the streets of liberated Mariupol in April 2022; Virineya Shigina, who went to the front at the age of 19 to paint portraits of the soldiers, which led to the birth of the movement "Coal of the Russian Land".

On the day of the premiere, a photo art exposition will be presented for guests. You will be able to see photographs from the filming process, the faces of the military men – the film's heroes, as well as paintings by leading Russian artists that emphasise the meanings embedded in the film. The paintings to be shown at the premiere form part of the artistic value gallery "Painting in Service to the Fatherland. Coal of the Russian Land", which is being created by the authors of the film "Nebes Peresvet"

Admission to all events at the National Centre RUSSIA is free of charge; some of them require prior registration.  For more details, visit the website russia.ru, "Events" section.