Almost There: A Cross-Cultural Collaboration Led by Stepan Burnashev
Cloud11 Studios from Japan, Les films du Sillon from France, and Saidam Baryl Ltd. from Hong Kong have teamed up for a new project called Almost There, led by Sakha filmmaker Stepan Burnashev. The collaboration was announced during the Cannes Film Festival's Marché du Film. Almost There is described as an intimate, character-driven road movie that is currently in development and aims to be an international arthouse feature with cross-cultural appeal. The goal is to have a completed script and production ready by 2027.
Stepan Burnashev, known for his work on films like Aita, Our Winter, Black Snow, and The Penthouse, is a prominent figure in Sakha's film industry. Almost There is set in Japan and follows the unexpected encounter between a Japanese man and a man from the Sakha Republic. Despite their different backgrounds, they find themselves in a similar emotional state and embark on a journey together to confront their pasts. The film explores themes of memory, isolation, male vulnerability, inner conflict, and unspoken emotions.
Almost There aims to combine cultural specificity with universal resonance, incorporating elements of lightness, humor, and cultural misunderstandings. The Japanese landscapes are expected to bring a meditative quality to the film. The producers, Hiroyuki Yoshihara, Emmanuelle Faucilhon, and Stepan Burnashev, are focused on further developing and financing the project. The film is described as a restrained yet emotionally intense male drama that transcends borders and language barriers to showcase a deep human connection.
Yoshihara highlighted the film's confidence in its storytelling approach, emphasizing rhythm, character development, and silence. Faucilhon praised the emotional precision and quiet strength of the film, noting the director's determination to create amidst challenging circumstances. Almost There is a project that aims to resonate internationally with its universal themes and nuanced storytelling.