Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Mosfilm Film Concern – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
February 17, 2026
News editorial office
45
The sound post-production of "The Ninth Planet," a sci-fi action film with a star-studded cast (CTB Film Company), is underway at Mosfilm's Sound Studio. Directed by debutant Nikolai Rybnikov, the film stars Yura Borisov, who conquered the Cannes Film Festival, Irina Starshenbaum, one of Russia's brightest stars, and several other renowned actors. Sound engineer Pavel Stasenko (Atmosfera Studio, pictured) spoke to Mosfilm.ru about the film's sound.
– At what stage is the sound production for the film “The Ninth Planet”?
The project has been in post-production since August 2025. Voice and sound recordings have been completed, background noises and some sound effects have been edited, and pre-mixes have begun.
– Does Atmosphere Studio handle all of the project’s sound post-production?
– Yes, the leading sound engineers from the Atmosfera studio are working on the project – Pavel Doreuli, Pavel Stasenko, Dmitry Vasiliev, Andrey Kireev, Almaz Sakhipov, Andrey Gushchin and others.
"The Ninth Planet" is a science fiction film. Did it require sound design? Or was the film's sound design more or less traditional, following canons and standards?
There are no standard projects. In "The Ninth Planet," the action takes place in two parallel locations—familiar modern-day Moscow and, indeed, on a strange and alien planet. Naturally, we strive to maximize this contrast with sound. This is especially true since Planet Nine resists human invasion: life there is structured like a militarized quasi-corporation, and the intelligent natives sometimes take forms that are completely alien and incomprehensible to our consciousness. It is at the intersection of this conflict that the film unfolds. And love, of course, wins!
– Will there be a lot of sound from the set in the film? And what, conversely, had to be added?
"As usual, we're mainly taking speech from the set. Although quite a diverse array of material was recorded there. Given the objectives, we often have to find unusual sounding versions of familiar objects. On the one hand, this is to highlight the film's genre in places; on the other, to highlight the biological, quasi-intelligent entity's imitation of the technological achievements of a technogenic civilization."
– Is there a lot of music in the film? In your opinion, does it reflect the film's dramaturgy – does it highlight certain themes, or add emphasis? Who composed it?
The film's composer is Konstantin Poznekov. The search for a musical solution is still ongoing, but the work that has been done is impressive. Of course, the most emotionally charged part of the sound score is the music. So the music doesn't just underscore the drama; it largely creates it.
"After an accident, auto mechanic Dima Khrust's mind flashes with memories of his service on the Ninth Planet: amazing landscapes, an Earthling base, battles with monsters, friends, and his girlfriend, Polina, whom he once saved… Khrust's fellow soldiers twirl their fingers at their temples, as they have completely different—ordinary—military memories. But when Dima meets Polina in real life, he no longer doubts: someone has altered their memories. Who and why? The truth can only be discovered by returning to the dangerous planet," states the synopsis for the film "The Ninth Planet."
Filming took place in Moscow, Morocco, Socotra Island in Yemen, and the Indian Ocean coast. Central Partnership served as distributor. The premiere is scheduled for September 24, 2026.
Sergey Selyanov, producer: "You could say that serious fantasy is Terra Incognita for the Russian industry. We're always interested in finding the key to a new genre, trying to open it up to a wider audience, as we did with fairy tales. We have a young director on the project, Nikolai Rybnikov. How else can we recruit new faces into the industry if not by inviting young directors to major films? It's a risk, but it also brings new ideas and a fresh perspective."
The Ninth Planet (16)
Genre: Sci-Fi, ActionDirector: Nikolay RybnikovScreenplay: Igor TkachenkoProducers: Sergey Selyanov, Efim Lyubinsky, Tina Kandelaki, Alya Somkina, Alexandra LyubinskayaCinematographer: Alexander DmitrievComposer: Konstantin PoznekovArtists: Sergey Tyrin, Evgenia Rublina, Marina MikhnevichStarring: Yura Borisov, Irina Starshenbaum, Aleksey Serebryakov, Maxim Emelyanov, Daniil Spivakovsky, Konstantin Beloshapka, Semyon Litvinov, Danil Steklov, Nikolay Evstafyev, Vadim Pirozhenko and others.Production: STV Film Company, Dixy TV, Gazprom-Media HoldingWith the support of the Kino FundPremiere in Russia: September 24, 2026, Central Partnership
Photo: STV Film Company
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