The Planet’s Secret

Science fiction is a genre that narrates tales of distant worlds and other times, yet it always speaks to the era in which the work was created. The animated short film, «Mystery of the Planet, ” reflects our contemporary reality—the processes and challenges accompanying our time, as well as my overall consumption of science fiction as a viewer.

The visual style and plot reference both Soviet science fiction, primarily from the 1960s–1980s, and international works from the 2000s. The second part of the film shifts its genre: losing its visual element, it becomes a reference to audio dramas from vinyl records, maintaining the fairy-tale atmosphere and the nostalgic undertone characteristic of older science fiction.

Duration: 40 minutes 52 seconds

A disillusioned 19-year-old, Arina, accidentally saves a quirky alien named Yi from the police—Yi arrived on Earth on a research mission. She takes him home, and they quickly become friends: Yi tells her about his immortal planet, Iyomoyo, where life follows strict rules and death is unknown, while Arina speaks of terrestrial freedom, which ultimately leads to loneliness and doubt.When Arina, in a fit of disbelief, declares that aliens don’t exist, Yi dies, leaving behind only his helmet. When she puts it on, Arina teleports to Iyomoyo, and her conviction that death is real spreads across the planet like a virus: buildings collapse, residents begin to die for the first time, and Arina is accused of Yi’s murder and the catastrophe. During an absurd trial, she demands an answer from the aliens: why are they so indifferent to the death of their compatriot, Yi?In the finale, Arina teleports back to Earth, realizing that Yi brought her home. Sometime later, Arina finds Yi, reuniting with her friend.

Director, Screenwriter — Yulia LozhkinaCinematographer — Aleksandra PleshkovaMusic — Sofia IvanovaVenue Provision — Olga Kasheeva, Marina Lozhkina, Arina RichterSet Design Provision — Kamilla OberemchukActor Casting Assistance — Polina Mansurova

Iy — Polina KhvalynskayaArina — Arina RichterKatya — Polina MansurovaFriend 1 — Veronika HotkinaFriend 2 — Kamilla OberemchukFriend 3 — Sofya IvanovaTaxi Driver — Olga OberemchukWaiter — Matvey Vedyashkin

Mom — Anastasia MansurovaDad — Din MansurovUncle — Anatoly KhasanshinAunt and Controller — Marina KhasanshinaNiece — Alexandra PleshkovaWanderer, Male — Daniil VinogradovNarrator — Ekaterina MansurovaJudge — Matvey VedyashkinAliens 1 and 5 — Polina MansurovaPresident — Veronika HotkinaPriy — Sofia IvanovaAunt — Polina Khvalynskaya