Report : Mohammad Shahzad Shafi Staff Reporter Pakistan in the World
The Russian cinema was in Islamabad Pakistan screening four selected movies with heartwarming stories and unforgettable characters at Centaurus Cineplex from 28 to 30 Sep.
The titles of the movies were Angels of Ladoga and Baby for all while The Golden Key : A New Pinocchio Story and Chebi 2 : My Fluffy Friend were for kids. Tickets were free to facilitate the maximum number of Pakistanis can watch the movies.
The Embassy of Russian Federation , through screening of movies enhanced the knowledge of Pakistanis about their country that has mostly been portrayed as a very hard state with no human feelings and with no struggle for survival. The movies portrayed the soft images of Russia in Islamabad.
The quality of production, performance of the charachters, direction, camera work was upto international standards. The movies were in Russian language but English subtitles were easy to understand and create interest in the stories depicted in the movies.
The Russian Embassy staff was present during all movies’ screening and discussed the stories and the standard of production with Pakistani audiance to get their feed back.
The weekend started with the screening of Angels of Lagoda ;
“Angels of Ladoga” (released internationally as Angels of War; Russian: Ангелы Ладоги) is a 2026 Russian war drama film directed by Alexander Kott. The movie tells the historic and heroic story of young iceboat (buer) racers and sailors operating during the brutal Siege of Leningrad in World War II.
Key Details & Plot
The Story: Set in November 1941, the thin ice of Lake Ladoga cannot support heavy trucks to bring supplies into blockaded Leningrad. Former sports rivals are recruited to use fast wind-powered iceboats to deliver ammunition across the treacherous ice. The mission turns into a high-stakes rescue when they discover and attempt to evacuate stranded orphans across enemy lines.
Director: Alexander Kott. Main Cast: Tikhon Zhiznevsky, Roman Evdokimov, Viktor Dobronravov, Polina Agureeva, and Kseniya Treyster. Run Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
Release: It premiered as the opening film of the 48th Moscow International Film Festival on April 16, 2026, followed by a theatrical release.The film has recently been featured at global cultural screenings, including free cultural festival releases with English subtitles by local embassies.
BABY – The Kid – Malysh
The Kid (Russian: Малыш, or Malysh) is a Russian war drama film directed by Andrey Simonov that premiered in theaters on February 26, 2026.
- Real-Life Basis: The screenplay is heavily based on the real-life experiences of Pavel Chertok, a Makeyevka native who became one of the youngest assault commanders for the Donetsk People’s Republic. Chertok served as a co-writer on the script and made a cameo appearance in the movie.
- Filming Locations: Production took place on location in Crimea, Donetsk, and the Azovstal iron and steel works in Mariupol.
- Creative Team: The film was produced by BBG and Gryphon film companies with backing from the Russian Cinema Fund and Channel One. The score was composed by Yuri Bardash and Pavel Dodonov.
THE GOLDEN KEY
The phrase “Golden Key” in Russian cinema primarily refers to The Golden Key (Zolotoy klyuchik), a famous story by Aleksey Tolstoy. It is a Russian adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, featuring a wooden boy named Buratino instead of Pinocchio.
The Original Classic: The Golden Key (1939)
- Director: Aleksandr Ptushko.
- Format: A groundbreaking black-and-white feature film that famously blended live-action acting with stop-motion puppet animation.
- Plot: Buratino and his puppet friends (like Malvina and Pierrot) go on a quest to find a literal golden key to open a secret door, all while fleeing from the wicked puppet master Karabas-Barabas
- Director: Igor Voloshin.
- Format: A high-budget, modern live-action musical fantasy remake.
- Cast: Features prominent Russian stars like Fyodor Bondarchuk as Karabas and Alexander Petrov as Bazilio the Cat. It has been heavily promoted internationally through Russian cultural initiatives.
CHEBI : MY FLUFFY FRIEND 2
Chebi: My Fluffy Friend 2 (also known as Cheburashka 2) is a 2026 Russian live-action animated family comedy film directed by Dmitriy Dyachenko.
Cheburashka (Chebi) gets used to living with Gena. Like a growing child, Chebi starts showing excessive independence and mischief. Their happy life continues until an extraordinary incident changes everything…….
- Release Date: January 1, 2026 (in Russia) Director: Dmitriy Dyachenko Starring: Olga Kuzmina and Sergey Garmash Production Companies: Soyuzmultfilm and Yellow, Black & White.
