On May 16, as part of the official program of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, director Anatoly Balchev held a special screening — effectively a premiere — of his latest film, “Vysotsky. Unknown… True Stories.” The event was attended by producer and guest of honor Anna Shtukkert.
The film brings together previously unreleased footage of Vladimir Vysotsky and his close circle, shot during the artist’s lifetime by Pyotr Soldatenko, along with dramatized scenes from the life of the iconic poet and bard. The cast includes Marina Vlady, Mikhail Shemyakin, Vadim Tumanov, Vsevolod Abdulov, as well as Vasily Mishchenko, Evgeny Tkachuk, and others.
In addition to officially accredited guests of the festival, many representatives of the first wave of Russian emigration were in attendance. As expected, the film evoked a powerful sense of nostalgia for a bygone era, and some audience members who had personally known Vysotsky were visibly moved to tears.
Prior to the screening, Anatoly Balchev announced that work has already begun on the third and final film of his Vysotsky trilogy. The upcoming project, titled “Vysotsky. They Won’t Put Up a Monument to Me in the Park…”, began filming on May 9 in the town of Gorokhovets, near the monument and fountain dedicated to Vysotsky. Premiere guests were introduced to Gio Pika, a popular modern chanson-rap artist who plays a key role in the new film.
The Cannes premiere was organized with the support of IFREE LLC, a studio specializing in the production of high-tech digital music content.
During the event, IFREE LLC also announced the upcoming release of a digital performance titled “V. Vysotsky. Singularity”, which features Gio Pika alongside Diana Ankudinova, Nikita Dzhigurda, Nelli Baimatova, and others. Organizers of the Cannes Film Market have expressed great interest in the continuation of the Vysotsky-themed projects, expected to premiere next year.
