Dmitry Krymov’s “Diary of Madmen” and “Peter Pan. Syndrome”

“Dmitry Krymov is one of the world’s finest theatermakers.” — The New York Times

A visionary force in contemporary theater, Dmitry Krymov left Moscow in 2022 and has since continued to create bold, original work around the world—from Latvia and Lithuania to Milan, Prague, and New York City, where he leads his Theatre Lab. Krymov’s productions have faced cancellation and defamation both in his home country and abroad. As a result, the filmed versions presented here are, in some cases, the only remaining records of these extraordinary works. The festival offers two ways to experience Krymov’s latest internationally produced work. Diary of Madmen will be presented as a standalone screening, while a special double-feature presentation pairs Diary of Madmen with the sublimely moving Peter Pan. Syndrome, both shown in HD, feature-length film format. The double-feature screening will be followed by a one-of-a-kind conversation between Dmitry Krymov and renowned writer, poet, and critic Dmitrii Bykov.

FEATURED SCREENINGS:

DIARY OF MADMEN (Presented in Russian with English subtitles)
Directed by Dmitry Krymov
Produced by Aparté Theatre and We Exist Foundation
Distributed by Stage Russia HD and Art Seen Films

Premiered in Riga in 2024, Diary of Madmen is an ode to theater as both escape and salvation from a collapsing world. In this deeply personal work, two acclaimed actors, Chulpan Khamatova and Maksim Sukhanov, portray artists confronting the loss of their familiar lives and the meaning of their craft. Even as madness and despair close in, Krymov insists on the power of resistance, of laughter and love, and of art as the last refuge of inner freedom.

Running time: 1 hour 49 minutes

PETER PAN. SYNDROME (Presented in Latvian with English and Russian subtitles)
Directed by Dmitry Krymov
Produced by the Latvian National Theatre
Distributed by Stage Russia HD and Art Seen Films

Inspired by the tales of J.M. Barrie, Dmitry Krymov's "Peter Pan. Syndrome" is about art and the artist – the creator who, even when trapped in a dead end, when despair tightens around the throat and the urge to abandon everything feels unbearable, still returns to creation. Overcoming pain, he, like Peter Pan, cannot grow up from his passion for art; he continues to make miracles because he knows no other way to live. You want to let him go, to say, "Rest!" – but he is so radiant, his miracles so beautiful, and his heart so full of love that the audience, weeping, cannot bring themselves to release him.

Running Time: 1 hour and 45 minutes

SCHEDULE

Single Screening

12:00 PM - 1:50 PM: Diary of Madmen (109 min)

Double-Feature and Post-Screening Discussion

3:00 PM - 4:50 PM: Diary of Madmen (109 min)
5:10 PM - 7:00 PM : Peter Pan. Syndrome (105 min)
7:10 PM - 8:10 PM: Post-Screening Discussion with Dmitry Krymov and Dmitrii Bykov

ABOUT DMITRII BYKOV:
Dmitrii Bykov is a writer, poet, journalist, literary critic, and public intellectual, widely regarded as one of the most influential Russian-language voices of his generation. He is the author of numerous novels, poetry collections, essays, and biographies, including acclaimed works on Boris Pasternak, Vladimir Mayakovsky, and Bulat Okudzhava.. A sharp cultural commentator and gifted lecturer, Bykov is known for his incisive analysis of literature, history, and contemporary society, as well as for his distinctive wit and moral clarity. In recent years, he has lived and worked outside Russia, continuing his literary, educational, and public work internationally. Bykov’s long-standing dialogue with theater, literature, and political reality makes him a singular and compelling interlocutor for Dmitry Krymov’s work.