Movies Around the World | Paris, 15 October 2026
Five Russian short films. Two award winners. One evening celebrating imagination and cinematic discovery.
Following the success of its first Russian Short Film Evening in October 2025, the Festival du Film Merveilleux & Imaginaire returns to the Centre Spirituel et Culturel orthodoxe Russe de Paris for a second edition on Thursday, 15 October 2026, at 7:00 PM at 1 quai Branly 75007 PARIS
Free entrance – RSVP link here : https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6xOR51V9Kz3vU1NEaVm3tg_DrhvGk_1Zn7sLGFFcQK8pOAg/viewform
Presented as part of Movies Around the World, the Festival’s international screening programme, this new event brings together five Russian short films exploring imagination, human relationships, technology and the extraordinary. The screening will be followed by a friendly drinks reception.
Four films were selected for the Festival’s 16th edition in September 2026, including Above, winner of the Best Film Award, and Omnivore, recipient of the Jury Prize.
From Paris to Rostov-on-Don
The first Russian Short Film Evening took place on 14 October 2025 at the Russian Orthodox Spiritual and Cultural Centre in Paris, the evening brought together audiences around five short films: La Louve, Tweet Tweet, Hymn of the Plague, Sirène and Son.
This adventure continued on 28 March 2026 with the Alliance Française of Rostov-on-Don, with a special screening of French films presented through Movies Around the World. The following movies were programmed : La louve, Toc, La fille accordéon, Le garçon et le slip et Le monde des petits mondes.
La Louve, screened at both events, became a cinematic bridge between the two programmes.
The October 2026 evening marks another chapter in this collaboration, bringing newly awarded films back to audiences in Paris and continuing the Festival’s commitment to cultural exchange through cinema.
The 2026 Film Programme
1. Don’t Dust Up
Anastasia Pastory | Russia | 10 min 06 sec
An elderly woman’s peaceful routine is unexpectedly disrupted when her granddaughter gives her a talking robot vacuum cleaner. A humorous and touching encounter between generations, technology and everyday life.
2. What Keeps Us Together
Sergei Annenkov | Russia | 13 min
A mysterious stranger approaches Max, claiming that his wife is a witch who must be killed. As suspicion grows, Max faces a disturbing question: how well does he truly know the woman he loves?
Director Sergei Annenkov returns following his Best Screenplay Award for The Tooth at the 2025 Festival.
3. Omnivore
Daria Garonika | Russia | 14 min
Jury Prize — Festival du Film Merveilleux & Imaginaire 2026
Inside a dilapidated hotel, guests encounter unsettling reflections of their own identities. A surreal exploration of human nature, perception and the hidden sides of ourselves.
4. Hydrosphere
Andrey Sokolov | Russia | 16 min 42 sec
Deep beneath the sea, a young and inventive octopus dreams of exploring the universe. After building her own spaceship, she journeys towards the stars but eventually finds herself on Earth, in an unfamiliar and hostile world where returning home proves unexpectedly difficult.
The final work of director Andrey Sokolov, a student of renowned animation filmmaker Aleksandr Tatarsky, associated with Pilot Studio.
5. Above
Dmitry Borzykin | Russia | 19 min 49 sec
Best Film Award — Festival du Film Merveilleux & Imaginaire 2026
In a future where space exploration has been banned, a young boy discovers an abandoned space museum and its mysterious caretaker. Their encounter rekindles his fascination with the stars and the possibility of dreaming beyond the limits of his world.
Movies Around the World
Since its creation in 2010, the Festival du Film Merveilleux & Imaginaire has championed imaginative cinema as a universal language capable of bringing together audiences from different cultures.
Through Movies Around the World, the Festival extends the life of its official selections beyond the annual competition in Paris, collaborating with cultural institutions and international partners to create new opportunities for films to reach audiences.
The Russian Short Film Evening reflects this approach: celebrating individual filmmakers, encouraging artistic discovery and building lasting connections through storytelling.
The Festival & its stories continue to resonate.
Practical Information
Date: Thursday, 15 October 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Venue: Russian Orthodox Spiritual and Cultural Centre
Address: 1 Quai Branly, 75007 Paris, France
Programme: Five Russian short films with French subtitles
Screening duration: Approximately 74 minutes
Recommended age: 12+
Admission: Free, registration required https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd6xOR51V9Kz3vU1NEaVm3tg_DrhvGk_1Zn7sLGFFcQK8pOAg/viewform
For booking enquiries or cancellations: [email protected]
Our Partners
Russian Orthodox Spiritual and Cultural Centre in Paris (CSCOR)
Inaugurated in 2016 and designed by French architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, the Russian Orthodox Spiritual and Cultural Centre (CSCOR) is located on the banks of the Seine, in the heart of Paris.
Bringing together cultural, educational and artistic activities, the Centre hosts exhibitions, concerts, film screenings and public discussions, providing a space for cultural discovery and exchange.
For the second consecutive year, the Centre welcomes the Festival du Film Merveilleux & Imaginaire for a special evening dedicated to Russian short cinema, continuing a collaboration built around the arts and the shared experience of storytelling and wonder.
Festagent — International Film Festival Promotion
Founded in 2011, Festagent is an international film festival platform and promotion agency supporting filmmakers in bringing their work to audiences worldwide.
Through festival strategy, international submissions and professional support, Festagent helps short films, feature films and animation projects reach festivals across the globe.
Together, these collaborations embody the spirit of Movies Around the World: supporting filmmakers, encouraging artistic discovery and creating opportunities for cinema to connect people across cultures.
