MOSCOW, DECEMBER 25, 2024 — RT Documentary presents its new film, Russia’s Avant-Guardians, exploring how modern trends in music, cinema and arts in general find a way into the traditional life of Russia’s ethnic minorities. The documentary will premiere on January 1, 2025, airing on RTDoc in English, RTД in Russian, and streaming on rt.doc.
Film director Natalya Kadyrova explains, “There are five stories in the film. We have selected the most impressive ones out of all the projects we have found across our vast country.”
Russian indigenous music group Otyken mixes local folk music with modern pop and produces memorable video clips featuring lush costumes that combine folk and fantasy elements. The group boasts of millions of views on streaming platforms, and in 2024, Otyken provided sound track for the annual Moscow Fashion Week show.
Khanty-Mansiysk-based fashion designer Irina Satygina used AI to create her innovative collection of warm clothes, Mansi Hoodie. “When I was a little girl, I saw people wear traditional clothes in streets, and it defined the life in the North. They wore ornaments made of beads, reindeer shoes. I would like to bring back the magic of traditional clothing to modern people’s life by combining the traditions and new technologies we now have,” she said.
A groups of artists in the Republic of Tatarstan established a movement they call ethnic avant guard 20 years ago. They call themselves avant-guardians and see their mission in creating art galleries in small villages and donating their works to the local people.
Film critics have hailed Yakutian cinema a new Russian cultural brand, which keeps garnering international awards and captivating global audiences. “In Yakutia, local films outperform blockbusters like Spider-Man or The Matrix at the box office,” notes Yakutian filmmaker Sandal Baishev.
A white wedding dress inspired by traditional ceremonial attire has breathed new life into an entire industry. Designer Madina Saralp reflects, “We’re seeing a phenomenal revival of interest in national costumes. It’s a way to counter globalization through fashion and stay true to our identity.”
Russia’s Avant-Guardians will premiere on January 1, 2025, airing on RTDoc in English, RTД in Russian, and streaming for free on rt.doc.
About rt.doc
RT’s newly launched online documentary platform, rt.doc (https://en.rtdoc.tv/), is the first free streaming service showcasing documentaries from around the world. It currently offers over 700 films in Russian and English, including productions by RT, the MovieStart film collection, the St. Petersburg Diary series, and works by independent Russian documentary studios and filmmakers from Asia and Africa.
About RTDoc
RT Documentary TV channel (RTDoc) has produced over 1,000 documentaries since its launch, many of which have earned prestigious awards such as the New York Festivals, Telly Awards, and OMNI Intermedia Awards. For more information, visit https://rtd.rt.com/.
