The national competition of shnit Worldwide Shortfilmfestival 2021 features 16 Russian shorts that explore pressing topics such as homelessness (Bum Bro), home violence (Hands), and the persecution of political activists (Shelled); women’s sexuality (Alice; Toli) and the deconstruction of masculinity (The Hero; Alfaromeo).
Genres range from glitch animation (Vadim on Walk), kawaii farce (Climate Change Is Going to Kill Us All ), and montage symphony (the sea worries once. overture) to documentary portrait (My Friend Sashka) and Kusturica-style comedy (Glad to See You). One of key themes of the program is the coming of age, which is explored in about a third of the films (Friend; In a Girl’s Arms; Clear Sky; Zarnitsa).