Obshchak. Russia’s Main Organized Crime Syndicate
Criminal Russia: the story of the country’s most feared and influential organized crime syndicate.
In the mid-1980s, Yevgeny Vasin—known as «Jam» (aka «Batya, ” or «Father»)—founded a criminal gang called Obshchak in the city of Komsomolsk-on-Amur. Vasin was no stranger to the criminal world—he had several prior convictions, including for hooliganism. Obshchak would become one of the most powerful organized crime groups in Russia, even leaving its mark on popular culture. For instance, in 2024, the series The Wild Ones, inspired by the gang’s activities, premiered on TV. Now is the time to take a closer look at Obshchak through the lens of documentary investigation. Criminal journalists, regional experts, and former gang members explore how Obshchak gained power and influence, what went on inside the organization, and why its emergence may have been inevitable.
Obshchak. Russia’s Main Organized Crime Syndicate
Dir. Vladislav Kuznetsov
Russia, 2025. 25 min.
18+
Sober Village
An upbeat documentary dramedy about how the fight against alcoholism turns into a creative race.
Bringing order to a village is no easy task. Rafimir has just become head of a rural settlement in Bashkortostan and already has to answer a hundred calls a minute from concerned residents. Everything needs fixing, but the budget is tight. What to do? Rafimir decides to enter the Sober Village contest, which has been held in the republic since 2011. Contestants compete for a substantial cash prize by reducing alcohol consumption among villagers and proving that there are plenty of other ways to have fun.What unfolds is a true superhero story, as Rafimir battles more than alcoholism. Energetic Lyaysan, head of another village, joins the race and is willing to do whatever it takes for the wellbeing of her people. It gradually becomes clear that beyond the money, there are even more valuable prizes to compete for—motivation to keep moving forward and hope for a future where people don’t need alcohol to be happy.
Sober Village
Dir. Yulia Sergina
Russia, 2025. 81 min.
18+
