Screening of the film 12 Floors Later by Krasnoyarsk director Dzhafar Agaev

An Auteur’s Voice in Cinema

On October 29, a public screening of 12 Floors Later, a film by Krasnoyarsk director Dzhafar Agaev, took place at the Dom Kino (House of Cinema).

Creativity runs in Dzhafar Agaev’s blood: in his debut feature, he serves as actor, director, screenwriter, producer, and composer. This unconventional film has already made a splash at “Spirit of Fire”, one of the country’s largest film festivals. The original story impressed the festival’s president, Emir Kusturica, while critics noted that the director’s creative vision shares common ground with indie filmmaker Roman Mikhailov.

12 Floors Later is an adaptation of Agaev’s own book, which he wrote in his youth. The surreal plot revolves around a writer trying to make a movie based on parabolic stories. The cast features a stellar lineup of figures from the St. Petersburg art scene—ranging from Evgeny and Marta Tkachuk to Ilya Del and Oleg Garkusha.

The director’s unique auteur voice resonated deeply with the Krasnoyarsk audience, who actively took part in a discussion after the screening, praising the film’s boldness, its catchy soundtrack, and the brilliant acting performances.

12 Floors Later feels like the solitary voice of a man trying to preserve his right to his own intonation in a world of ready-made formulas. However, when the film ended, the theater was filled not only with grateful applause but also with a harmonious symphony of voices from those who recognized themselves in that solitary figure.

Memorable moments from the screening can be found in our photo album

Vladislav Bordushko | Yenisey Kino