Premiere of the film "My Friend, the Cat and Pushkin" with Yelizaveta Boyarskaya took place at the National Centre RUSSIA

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On 20 September, the National Centre RUSSIA hosted the gala premiere of the new family film "My Friend, the Cat and Pushkin". The event brought together film industry representatives, actors, cultural figures, journalists, children and other guests, who were the first to see the film on the big screen. Produced by Marmot-Film with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and JSC "Channel One. Worldwide Network", the film will be released nationwide on 2 October 2025.

Staging the premiere at the National Centre RUSSIA underscores its role as a unique public venue. The Centre was established by order of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, to preserve the legacy of the International RUSSIA EXPO. It now serves as a platform for major events in art, science, education and international cooperation — a place where generations meet, where key issues for the country’s future are discussed, and where new cultural and technological initiatives emerge. 

"My Friend, the Cat and Pushkin" tells the story of Milana, a Moscow schoolgirl who writes poetry but is afraid to perform in public. An unexpected companion on her journey of discovery and self-confidence is a black cat inhabited by the "soul" of the young Pushkin. The story combines classics and contemporary themes, with references to "Eugene Onegin" alongside rap battles familiar to today’s schoolchildren. It is a film about family, friendship, creativity, and the ability to believe in oneself.

Actress Yelizaveta Boyarskaya shared that working on the film was an important creative experience for her and allowed her to explore the theme of parent–child relationships. 

"My character is a strict mother, a woman who keeps everything under control and genuinely wants her daughter to succeed. But in this pursuit she loses sight of her child’s true feelings and forgets about her own. At the climax, this ‘fortress’ collapses, and the heroine remembers herself as a little girl. The connection with her daughter is restored through Pushkin’s poetry — that cultural code which unites generations. I feel close to this idea: even as adults with many responsibilities, it is important not to forget our inner child, because it is in those moments that we become closer to our children," the actress said.

Yelizaveta Boyarskaya is confident that audiences will see in the film a heartfelt story about family, trust and continuity, as well as the importance of truly listening to one another.

"And they will also discover young actors — brave, talented, full of life. Even in the short time I spent with them on set, I was charmed. This is a kind-hearted family film, and I am sure it will spark conversations between parents and children after watching," she added. 

The director, Alena Mikhaylova, spoke at the screening about the making of the film.

"During filming, we were offered the easy way — to create the main character, the cat, using computer graphics. But we stood our ground and found an extraordinary cat actor! He worked with the children with such enthusiasm, following every command. We all — people and animals alike — understand one universal language: the language of kindness and love. And that is what our film is about — that thanks to friendship and mutual support, the most incredible things can happen. And it is vital to remember that such friends are not only among people," said Alena Mikhaylova. 

At the premiere, a nationwide charitable initiative was also announced: part of the proceeds from every cinema ticket sold across the country will go to the "Charitable Foundation for the Protection of Urban Animals", a non-profit organisation founded in Moscow in 2017 that operates nationwide. In this way, the film will extend its message of kindness far beyond the screen, becoming a source of real support for those in need.

The film features a cast of renowned actors, including Yelizaveta Boyarskaya, Mikhail Yevlanov, Yevgeniya Dobrovolskaya, Yevgeniya Sinitskaya, Alisa Konashenkova and others. The soundtrack includes the track "No One but Us" by popular rap artist Levan Gorozia (L'One), recorded together with the young actors. The song celebrates the strength of the younger generation and encourages young people to pursue their dreams and overcome obstacles.