TobolFilm has offered an insight into the plot of a new movie filmed in Tobolsk
2 august 2023
On July 19 through July 26, Tobolsk turned into a set for filming a short feature movie titled "Once Upon a Time in Tobolsk", produced as part of the TOBOLFILM project supported by SIBUR's Formula for Good Deeds social investment program. The project's objective is to foster cinema tourism across Tyumen Oblast.
The project showcases Tobolsk at its various locations that often get visited by travelers coming to the city including the city’s train station, Tobolsk's Kremlin, and the Tobolsk Serpentine. The primary location where the film's action takes place is the Tobol theme park, a site where cinema and tourism get fused together.
Maria Kazakova, the actress starring in the film’s leading female role:
While all of us were united in our professional commitment to get our job done, there's no way I could describe this process other than as a joyful and relaxing experience. Beautiful nature, great atmosphere, the beauty of the Tobol Park, all these things enhanced the filming process immensely.
Artur Yevtushenko, actor:
The Tobol Park is not just a venue with great scenery that was a perfect background for filming a movie; it left us with fond memories of meeting the people who work there, love the place, and cherish the history of their native land.
In the lead-up to the actual filming process, the crew gave a series of master classes attended by the would-be extras.
Polina Oldenburg, director:
I think we came together to put in place a really beautiful piece of mosaic. This was the best crew, the best cast, and the best extras! That's how luck would have it.
Vladislav Shklyaev, an actor starring in the leading male role:
Short films are always about creating. There are virtually no standards to follow, because you have to say a lot of things in a short space of time. Within the short time, attendees of our master classes got so active that they were able to become a part of the filming process. Projects like this are few and far between. This is very unique know-how.
This project in Tobolsk gave birth to a creative duo of two teams representing the Alafey Hill Film Festival of Modern and Contemporary Cinema and the Tobol Theme Park, respectively, to lay the foundation for the TOBOLFILM project.
TOBOLFILM.RF is a platform that will showcase all of the opportunities available to the film industry in the region including casts, filming locations, and information about cinema-related projects being implemented in the region.
Sergey Novozhilov, President, Alafey Hill Film Festival:
I was very happy to collaborate with TOBOLFILM! Those eight days that we spent in Tobolsk while filming our collaborative movie, Once Upon a Time in Tobolsk, thanks to SIBUR-Holding’s support, were probably the most splendid, because we were able to build an understanding between our two teams representing Moscow and Tobolsk. Everything was dealt with swiftly, promptly, and with the right quality. That's why nobody wanted to leave each other's company! I am certain that we will turn out a great movie about the beautiful city of Tobolsk. And we will definitely present it at the 3rd Alafey Hill Festival.
The film will premiere as part of the Alafey Hill 2024, an open festival of modern and contemporary Russian cinema.
Anastasia Romanova, director of the Tobol Theme Park, producer:
It is very gratifying to see that in these challenging times there are people and companies that are ready to shore up cinema, ready to embark on new projects together with us and able to see the future in that. The TOBOLFILM project represents an association of creative people making movies that set the proper patriotic tone, offer great promise, and help bring the professional community together.
Maria Trofimova, Director of Tyumen Oblast's Consumer Market and Tourism Department:
We need new areas of focus and projects that will attract the attention of our visitors, help build our recreational program so as to make such a location as the Tobol Theme Park a very attractive place to visit for all guests of Tobolsk. This is what proper cinema tourism is about, and not only in terms of attracting visitors to the park per se and to the film set as this also represents a location that attracts professional audiences. In that sense, the TOBOLFILM project, that is being implemented with the support of SIBUR, is now closing the circle of tourism in the park itself for the benefit of diverse target audiences. This is a new step in our development, a new advance and, in general, a serious milestone in turning the city of Tobolsk and Tyumen Oblast as a whole into a region where cinema tourism can thrive in all its aspects and forms.