On May 16, 2025, at 17:45 in the Cinema Hall Arcades, the 78th Cannes International Film Festival will host the premiere of “Vysotsky. Unknown… A True Story,” a powerful new film by Anatoly Balchev and Apollo Film Production.
Directed and authored by Anatoly Balchev — a filmmaker, composer, writer, and close friend of Vysotsky since 1974 — the film offers an intimate and uncompromising portrait of the legendary poet. This is not a standard biopic or another polished myth. Instead, it is a raw chronicle from within, created by someone who witnessed the man behind the symbol.
Supported by SGS Studio (Dubai), the film revisits the life of Vysotsky using rare archival footage, private recordings, and firsthand memories. The result is a vivid portrayal: Vysotsky as alive, broken, brilliant, loving, tired, fearless, and deeply human. The film features appearances by Marina Vlady, Lyudmila Abramova, Vsevolod Abdulov, Mikhail Shemyakin, Vadim Tumanov, Bella Akhmadulina, Bulat Okudzhava, Evgeny Tkachuk, Vasily Mishchenko, and others.
The project’s European partner is Anna Shtukkert, representing Apollo Film Production and curating cultural initiatives on the international stage.
Known for blending art and technology, SGS Studio contributes its expertise to the project. Their innovative portfolio includes multimedia experiences that combine cinema, music, and immersive digital spaces. In 2025, they will unveil “Entropy: Requiem of Water,” a large-scale digital show inspired by the music of Klaus Schulze, created with Unreal Engine and motion capture. SGS Studio is also behind “The History of the Tragic Century in the Rhymes of Vladimir Vysotsky,” a unique audiovisual journey through the 20th century, guided by the Poet’s works.
“Vysotsky. Unknown… A True Story” may not satisfy those who seek polished, official narratives. It is a challenge, a personal confession, and an act of recognition. Films like this often become the true gems of Cannes — the ones that audiences hunt for.
In addition, Apollo Film Production, together with IFREE Studio, announces the upcoming launch of another project: “Vysotsky. ‘They Will Not Erect a Monument to Me in the Park…'”
