AIO Studios, a Polish film production company, has officially announced that the highly anticipated film “Putin” will premiere on September 26, 2024. The film, directed by renowned Polish director Patryk Vega, will feature an AI-rendered version of Russian President Vladimir Putin. It will be simultaneously released in 35 countries, including major markets such as the USA and India, reaching a potential audience of over three billion.
The recently released trailer, which runs for 2.5 minutes, promises a detailed and intimate analysis of Putin’s life and psyche over the span of 60 years. Using advanced AI technology, viewers will get a closer look at the Russian leader’s story, including some of the most personal moments of his life.
Director Patryk Vega explains, “Inviting Putin to the studio for 20,000 shots wasn’t an option, and the archival materials available online weren’t suitable for training a high-resolution deepfake model for cinematic use. That’s why, after almost two years of development, we have created our pioneering AI-driven technology, allowing us to create the cinematic character without relying on a real human model.”
Filmed over three years in various locations including the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Israel, Syria, Jordan, and Poland, the film’s timeliness is one of its most significant aspects. The storyline also shifts to present-day, providing viewers with insights into the internal mechanisms of Russian politics that influenced the perception of the 2024 presidential elections. To add to the film’s authenticity, director Vega collaborated with Ukrainian cinematographers who captured real events during city bombardments and soldiers’ combat.
“Putin” is not just a film, it is a response to the global quest to understand the motives and actions of one of the most controversial figures in contemporary politics,” Vega states. “My production’s mission is to provide viewers with a ‘user manual’ for Putin, aiming to alleviate the fear and uncertainty that dominate today’s world.”
The film, which falls under the genre of psychological thriller and biopic, is written and directed by Patryk Vega, with script consulting by Kevin Bernhardt. The cast includes Slawomir Sobala, Thomas Kretschmann, Maksymilian Zielinski, Justyna Karlowska, Przemyslaw Bluszcz, Tomasz Dedek, Aron Jonczyk, Michal Karmowski, Marek Kasprzyk, Andris Keiss, Jan Monczka, Krzysztof Stawowy. The film’s director of photography is Michal Goscik, and it is edited by Tomasz Widarski. The soundtrack is composed by Lukasz Targosz, with sound by Maciej Pawłowski and Piotr Lasota, costumes by Malgorzata Bednarek-Chumakou, and makeup by Maja Lukaszewicz and Justyna Zaranek.
Kinostar will handle international sales, and the film is produced by AIO Studios. The world premiere of “Putin” will take place on September 26, 2024.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.