Yuri Norstein

Oleg Vidov — one of the Soviet Union's most beloved actors — was persecuted, blacklisted and pushed to the breaking point before escaping to the West and achieving the American dream.

In 1980, renowned Russian animators Yuri Norstein and Francheska Yarbusova began production on a beautiful stop-motion film called The Overcoat. After 40 years of work, the film remains unfinished, and The Overcoat has taken the record for longest animation production of all time.

Yuriy Norshteyn, Russia’s most renowned animator, has crafted many brilliant works, including his award-winning Tale of Tales and Hedgehog in the Fog. He is revered by animation creators across the globe, most notably Japanese masters Osamu Tezuka, Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata. Forty years ago, Norshteyn began work on an ambitious adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s The Overcoat, but after completing 25 minutes of the film, the project stalled and has been shelved for many years. A crew visits Norshteyn’s studio and finds there mountains of sketches, character studies and a shooting table covered with dust. Norshteyn himself talks about its current status and the anguish and passion that has gone into its creation.

Gennady Shpalikov. He was 25 when he offered George Danelia a script for the future film “I walk through Moscow”. At this time, Shpalikov was already finishing the script for Ilyich's Outpost for Marlen Khutsiyev! Both of these films will be called the manifesto of the generation of the sixties, the symbols of the era called "thaw". All his life he had dreamed of “The Quay” ... This script was his favorite work. But “Berth” was never staged "..." "There is no choice in the USSR. Or you drink, or you freak out, or you are not printed. The fourth is not given.

No plot available for this movie.

Norstein conquered the world 36 years ago with the creation of the legendary Hedgehog in the Fog. It was recognized as the best cartoon of all times and peoples according to a survey of film critics and animators from different countries.

He's been called a 'wonderful troublemaker', 'comet man' and 'the last hippy of the pink city'. Robert Sahakyants was a renowned Soviet and Armenian animator. He was a director, writer and artist who created animated films. Robert Sahakyants used his work to express his particular view of the world around him. His animated films feature constant movement, whirls of colour and myriad wonderful characters inspired by Armenia. Robert Sahakyants was a true patriot to his motherland. The love for his people drove Robert Sahakyants to openly criticise everything and everyone he disagreed with. He boldly spoke his mind about anything he found troubling, from political events to ugly sculptures in nearby houses. The film features recollections from Robert Sahakyants's friends and family.

A short documentary about the life and career of cinematographer Georgy Rerberg.

A documentary about the Ghibli Museum. It features Goro Miyazaki speaking with Isao Takahata about the "charm" of the museum and its various influences. Goro tours the viewer around the museum, explaining the intricate details that his father, Hayao Miyazaki made during its construction. The documentary highlights the strong European influences in the museum's architecture, featuring footage of the medieval mountainous city of Calcata in Italy and the historic port city of Genoa, which Miyazaki had visited in the past. These trips would go on to influencing the imagery seen in Castle in the Sky, Kiki's Delivery Service, Porco Rosso, and Spirited Away.

The history of Russian animated films.