Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On November 27, the pre-New Year's film for the whole family, "Letter to Santa Claus," was released. The film, produced with the support of the capital's Department of Culture, will be the year's major release for the Gorky Film Studio, part of the Moscow film cluster. This year, the studio also celebrates its 110th anniversary.
The story centers on Pyotr Bezuglov, a serious lawyer who has forgotten what it means to dream. One day, his son Vanechka discovers his father's childhood letters to Father Frost and sends them through a magical mailbox. Afterward, Pyotr's world is turned upside down: the lawyer is overtaken by all his childhood fantasies—from rivers of soda and living toys to the appearance of Natalia Oreiro, the heroine of his youth. Pyotr embarks on an incredible journey to find that mailbox, cancel his wishes, stop the chaos, and save his family.
Leading adult roles
In the film "Letter to Santa Claus," audiences will see Ivan Okhlobystin, Anton Filipenko, Kristina Asmus, Ekaterina Temnova, Dima Bilan, Anatoly Tsoi, and other renowned Russian actors. One of the film's leading roles is played by world-class Argentine actress and singer Natalia Oreiro. According to director Kirill Kuzin (author of the projects "Sergiy vs. Evil Spirits," "Diagnosis: Lucky," and "Londongrad. Know Ours"), her agreement to participate in the film was a key moment in the film's development—a casting call for Russian actors followed.
The central male role, lawyer Pyotr Bezuglov, was played by Anton Filipenko. The actor is known for his roles in the films "Poplar Fluff," "I Am a Goddess," and "First on Olympus," as well as the TV series "Frozen Land," "Project Anna Nikolaevna," and "Sasha and Peter."
"Every director usually sees two or three versions of their characters. And it's amazing to see how everyone you imagined ultimately turned out exactly how they did, how the actors played exactly what you imagined. For example, we quickly figured out who our hero was and what he was like. Anton Filipenko, while not my first choice for the role, was always on the shortlist. I imagined he would perfectly play a klutz who puffs up like a turkey when people of lower social status are in front of him. And then deflates when he sees his own father," noted Kirill Kuzin.
Ivan Okhlobystin, known for his roles in "Kholop," the series "Interns," and dozens of other projects, played the stern Papa Peter. He was also the only one who didn't have to audition for the role. The director and producers made this decision simultaneously, without consulting. They say this actor, despite his energy, is a grandfather in a good sense—someone with experience and optimism, having seen and lived through it all.
Kirill Kuzmin noted that Ivan Okhlobystin improvised the most on set, while also helping Anton Filipenko and Kristina Asmus, who played the protagonist's ex-wife and mother of his children, develop their characters. The director explained that many actresses auditioned for the lead female role. However, the star of "Interns" and "District Center" was the perfect fit, as she, with the confident gaze of a former athlete, looked the complete opposite of her on-screen partner.
Pro kids and an Argentine star
Casting actors for the children's roles proved challenging. Despite the large number of talented young actors, experience and preparation are crucial for large-scale projects. According to the director, the set can be tense at times, so everyone involved must be prepared to work hard—to never tire or give up.
The film stars established young actors. Ekaterina Temnova, known for her role as Manyunya, plays Alisa, the protagonist's daughter, while her brother Vanechka is played by Konstantin Karimov, who previously starred in Yolki-12, The King and the Jester, and Blood Type. The role of young Pyotr Bezuglov goes to Miron Provorov, familiar to viewers from the projects The Chemistry Between Us and The Bremen Town Musicians.
Kirill Kuzin explained that the main challenge when working with child actors is their rapid growth. A child can undergo a significant transformation in just two or three months. The director cited Konstantin Karimov as an example, whose appearance changed during the film's production. Kuzin also noted the young actor's stamina. He said that even after five consecutive night shifts, when the adult crew members were already tired, Kostya remained energetic—running around, entertaining those around him, and inviting everyone to the set.
The director paid special attention to Natalia Oreiro's preparation for filming. The actress would play one of the lead roles and deliver most of her lines in Russian. Before Natalia's arrival in Russia, she and the director held regular video conferences.
"It was 40 degrees Celsius for her, and -20 degrees Celsius for us. She'd come home from filming tired and immediately dive into her work, trying to grasp Russian phrases and internalize them. But our conversations weren't about pronunciation; the specialists were able to explain that to her without me having to. We were more concerned with what and how we were performing in each episode. Because she had to embody not just herself on screen, but the self of a Russian boy's fantasy. And she had to waltz between that same 'wild angel' and the global superstar Natalia Oreiro, which she accomplished brilliantly," said Kirill Kuzin.
The Gorky Film Studio revealed the secrets of the stunts in the film "Letter to Santa Claus."
Gorky Film Studio is one of the largest in Russia and the oldest film studio in Moscow. It has produced over a thousand films, including "Seventeen Moments of Spring," "Officers," "Morozko," "…The Dawns Here Are Quiet," "Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka," "Guest from the Future," "Moscow—Cassiopeia," "Carnival," "You Never Dreamed of It…," "Pirates of the 20th Century," "Three Plus Two," and many others.
Today, the Gorky Film Studio is one of the main venues of the large Moscow film cluster, actively modernizing its studio complex. The production center produces feature films and documentaries, popular science series, and series for youth and children's/family audiences. The studio also operates sound stages. virtual production studio, costume and props complex, digital content creation studios and a youth creative space Gorky Cinema Campus, and also pass excursionsThe film studio hosts festivals, exhibitions, and professional events for filmmakers.
The Moscow Film Cluster comprises infrastructure facilities, services, and facilities for filmmakers, developed by the Moscow Government as part of the "Moscow – City of Cinema" project. Its structure includes the Moskino Cinema Park, the Gorky Film Studio (with locations on Sergei Eisenstein Street and Valdaisky Proyezd), the Moskino Film Factory, the Moskino cinema chain, the Moskino Film Commission, and the Moskino Film Platform.
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