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Learn moreOn September 20, the finale of the 4th online cinema festival, "New Season," took place at the Rosa Khutor resort in Sochi. This unique event features Russian streaming platforms presenting their upcoming hits, but only in a closed format, accessible exclusively to industry professionals. Film critic Timur Aliyev, who attended all the competition screenings, singled out the five most exciting series worth watching:
- The third season of the series "Vampires of the Middle Lane."
- "Cyber Village", season two;
- "Heat";
- "Half-Life";
- "Tunnel".
In addition, he shares information about what this festival is and highlights projects from previous years that are worth noting.
"Bloodsuckers from Central Russia"
Season: third
The director is Alexey Akimov.
Platform: Start
Production launch.
Premiere: unknown
The third season of "Vampires of the Middle Lane" became the culmination of one of the most popular Russian series in the field of urban fantasy. Alexey Akimov, who directed the first season and played a key role in shaping this unique universe, has returned to direct.
The new installment of the series significantly expands its scope. The Ural vampires, previously mentioned in the second season only in the context of the Supreme Council, now occupy the role of the main adversaries. Yegor Druzhinin's character, Boris Felixovich, returns—a villain and vampire who becomes a sinister foil to the Smolensk humanist, Grandfather Slava.
Yuri Stoyanov remains a key figure in the series. Viewers have fallen in love with his character—the vampire grandfather—since the first seasons. He can show care and tenderness toward his relatives in one scene, and harshly reprimand the respected guardians of vampire secrets in the next. One moment he's gently stroking their heads, the next he's striking their backs. The series' creators managed to create a unique image of a charismatic patriarchal hero in Russian cinema, one who doesn't contain a drop of toxicity, but rather radiates wisdom and charm. His inimitable verbal creativity deserves special mention: "Your tangled mess—you should comb it out," "A nose like a nose, not a *** grown to your forehead."
The introduction of a new actor as Zhenya (Timofey Kochnev replacing Gleb Kalyuzhny) is carried out with a fair amount of wit. According to the plot, the head of the previous version of the young vampire is torn off, and a new one, played by a different actor, is sewn in its place. This seems quite natural, although the interaction between the new Zhenya and Grandpa Slava is not particularly expressive yet.
Apparently, the final part of "Vampires of the Middle Lane" outlines an epic battle between two opposing sides, which cannot help but be reminiscent of the ending of "Twilight." One can only hope that the third season will be the final one. It is important that, despite the show's high ratings, its creators decide to stop here, leaving viewers with only pleasant memories of the Smolensk vampire family, and nothing else.
"Cyber Village"
Season: Second
Director: Sergey Vasiliev.
Service: "Kinopoisk"
Creators: "Place of Power", "Plus Studio"
Premiere: October 18
The second season retains the bold and provocative atmosphere inherent in the first, but adds a sharper satirical tone. At the beginning of the episodes, viewers find themselves in a space penal colony called "Venerovsky Central," where the authorities assure no one will be able to escape. Thinkers, members of parliament, and other prominent figures serve their sentences in this facility. While some inmates pursue creative hobbies—designing 4K tattoos and singing in a local choir—others, like farmer Nikolai, plot escape. When Nikolai finally manages to break free, he finds himself in a wild version of Moscow in the future, separated from Earth and now wandering the vast expanses of space. In this new world, the capital is populated only by crazed tribes. One such tribe is led by Pavel Derevyanko, who shares the story of how Muscovites arrived at their current existence—without courier services, scooters, neural networks, or annual tile changes.
The sequel actively references beloved Russian series such as "Unprincipled" and "Two Hills" (the wild Moscow setting truly resembles the world of "Two Hills"). Despite the entertaining tone of the first episodes, the creators of the second season do not lose sight of the importance of social commentary. Nikolai, imprisoned, longs for his family—the very family that is the foundation of his life. The humor here is sometimes enough to cause confusion—recall the jokes about Muscovites who, after twenty years, dream of returning to Earth, to their native lands. Overall, this cyberpunk road movie continues to set a high standard, combining Russian gloom with witty insights and current trends.
"Heat"
Season: First
Directed by Artem Aksenenko.
Platform: "Ivi"
The project was created with the participation of "World Russian Studios".
Premiere: Unknown
"Heat" is a bold interpretation of the author's view on the essence of creative genius. At the center of the narrative is an eccentric chef from Moscow named Mark Levinsky. His outstanding culinary gift is closely intertwined with a destructive character: the hero suffers from neurasthenia and irascibility. At the beginning of the story, Levinsky is fired from his prestigious restaurant. During this time, he meets a young man named Aaron (Mark Eidelstein), who once dreamed of joining the chef's team. Now they join forces to open their own establishment.
Daniil Vorobyov's creative work certainly demands special attention. For starters, he's difficult to recognize on screen: the actor uses striking makeup. Vorobyov has managed to create a complex, multifaceted character, constantly at odds with the surrounding reality. He pushes away everyone around him, seemingly for no apparent reason.
The director crafts the plot as an exploration into the depths of creative passion. The culinary space is transformed into a symbol of an artistic laboratory, where characters, habits, aspirations, and ambitions mingle and churn. For Levinsky, cooking is not just a way to make money, but a true art. The chef's art is presented as a means of self-expression, sometimes bordering on megalomania.
The musical score is a lively jazz composition created specifically for this series. The first episodes don't feature any striking cinematography, but they do offer interesting plot twists. Screenwriter Andrei Stempkovsky, known for his works "Whirlpool" and "Kept Women," strives to combine personal dramas with a variety of genre elements. The series features elements of an erotic thriller, a crime drama, and even hints of an action film. Initially, the series seems lost in its search for its identity, unsure how to position itself.
For the Ivi and NTV Zhar platforms, this project represents a kind of film experiment that will undoubtedly evoke a variety of emotions in viewers. Behind the obvious provocation, apparently, lies a profound exploration of the essence of creativity, but at the moment, capturing its essence is proving to be quite difficult.
«Half-Life»
Season: First
Directed by Maxim Sveshnikov.
Platform: Okko
Production activities are carried out by the production company «Sreda».
Premiere: unknown
Director Maxim Sveshnikov and screenwriter Oleg Malovichko created a historical drama dedicated to the Totsky military exercises that took place in the USSR. In September 1954, a nuclear bomb was tested at a test site in this area, and local residents were not notified of this event. The film "Half-Life" acts as a true anti-war manifesto and is one of the first works of its kind in the modern history of Russian cinema.
Two time periods - 1954 and 1988 - are intertwined, forming a single tragic narrative. Journalist Nadezhda Keller, brilliantly portrayed by Anna Mikhalkova, decides to investigate the abnormally high cancer mortality rate in her home region. Her father died of cancer, and her teenage son was saved by surgery to remove part of his thyroid gland, damaged by radiation exposure. Nadezhda's unwavering determination overcomes the doubts of the newspaper's editor-in-chief, played by Filipp Yankovsky, as well as the fears of the people she interviews, who fear "they might get a slap on the wrist, since this is a matter of state."
The series utilized both film and digital cameras—a rare approach that more closely resembles the visual experimentation of Christopher Nolan than the usual practices of the Russian streaming industry. "Half-Life" is a shining example of a candid approach to pressing issues, while also considering the appropriateness of discussing them in today's world. This is a remarkable opportunity for online cinema platforms to offer not only entertaining content for passive viewing, but also true works of art capable of awakening inner experiences, provoking doubt, and inspiring struggle and deep reflection. Ultimately, this leads to the possibility of drawing parallels with real life.
«The Tunnel»
Season: First
Director: Flyuza Farkhshatova.
Platform: Kion
The production process was carried out by Kionfilm and Team Films in cooperation with the NTV channel.
Premiere: unknown
Customs officer Sveta Suvorova (played by Elizaveta Boyarskaya) is distinguished by her restraint in emotions and words, which does not contribute to her interactions with colleagues. Her strict principles contrast with the work of her comrades, for whom most issues are resolved in a "brotherly" manner. At customs, many violations go unnoticed: absenteeism, lateness, and even a careless attitude towards passenger checks at border crossings are perceived as normal. However, one day, Sveta's life takes an unexpected turn when her husband (Sergey Gilev) is drawn into debt by Finnish gangsters due to his passion for gambling. To save her husband, Sveta will have to abandon her principles and compromise her conscience.
Director Fluza Farkhshatova invites viewers to delve into the dark depths of the criminal underworld at the junction of Russia and Finland. From the very first frames, the series creates an atmosphere of tension: close-ups of characters, tense music, and a gray filter that, even against the backdrop of an ordinary school with children playing, evokes a sense of hopelessness. The plot centers on the transformation of Sveta Suvorova, masterfully portrayed by Boyarskaya. An inconspicuous woman, known at school as a "mouse," faces a choice between the law and family, duty and love. She goes from weakness to a ruthless hunter of smugglers, willing to do anything to protect her loved ones. Suvorova becomes a predator, gaining strength and accepting herself with all her flaws.
The series' creators pay close attention to the details of customs operations. Strict inspection and interrogation procedures, the indifferent faces of smugglers attempting to smuggle illegal substances in the most unexpected places—all this creates an atmosphere of authenticity, virtually free of clichés. Judging by the initial episodes, we are witnessing not only a fascinating psychological detective story, but also a vivid portrait of a modern woman who is forced to go against her strict principles in order to protect loved ones and fight the ghosts of her past.
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What is this festival?
The "New Season" festival, dedicated to online cinemas, was founded in 2022 and presents an overview of Russian streaming platforms. The idea belongs to Eduard Iloyan, general producer of Yellow, Black and White. The event screens premiere episodes of series and full-length films, which will subsequently be available in Russian online cinemas.
The festival is organized by leading players in the streaming industry, including Kion, Okko, Premier, Start, Wink, Ivi, and Kinopoisk. Previously, before its merger with Wink, the more.tv platform was also among the organizers. Polina Zueva, who produced Kinotavr in Sochi until 2021, serves as director and producer of "New Season." It is noteworthy that the festival does not have a program director: each service independently selects two series and a film for screening, or three series if a full-length film is not presented.
The events take place in the Rosa Hall concert complex. In 2025, David Kocharov, who serves as General Producer of Rutube and Premier, was appointed Chairman of the Board of Trustees. This role rotates between services each year: Start chaired the board in 2022, Okko in 2023, and Wink in 2024. The Board of Trustees annually awards a special festival prize called "Opening of the New Season."
Interesting projects from previous years worth exploring
In 2022, many memorable projects were released. One such work was the dark fantasy "13th Clinical," starring Danila Kozlovsky and Paulina Andreeva. The plot follows people who encounter the supernatural. Also worth noting is the touching drama "Alice Can't Wait" by Natalia Meshchaninova, which not only introduced audiences to the talented young actress Elizaveta Ishchenko but also won the festival.
In 2023, director Ilya Ermolov debuted on the "New Season" platform with a drama called "Golden Bottom," which centers on a wealthy family dealing with inheritance issues. Viewers were first introduced to the Russian sci-fi project "Cybervillage," which arose from viral videos on the YouTube channel Birchpunk. Ultimately, the series "A Boy's Word" won. "Blood on the Asphalt" by director Zhora Kryzhovnikov, which tells the story of Kazan criminal gangs of the late 1980s.
In 2024, the festival program was expanded with the series "Outsource" by Dusan Gligorov, a striking discovery of the "New Season" and a story about the death penalty trade. Also memorable was the family drama "Children of Change" by directors Sergei Taramayev and Lyubov Lvova, set during the turbulent 1990s. The program also featured a project expanding the bogatyr universe initiated by Russian Disney—the series "The Last Bogatyr. Legacy" directed by Anton Maslov and created with the participation of the Rossiya 1 TV channel and IRI.