Despite the love it received at these festivals, Firebird's screening at the Moscow International Film Festival was met with outrage. After that, the movie made its way through the festival circuit, screening at institutions like Frameline: San Francisco International LGBTQ+ Film Festival - where it received an honorable mention for Best First Feature - Outfest in Los Angeles, and Toronto's Inside Out Film Festival (among many others).
Based on Sergey Fetisov's memoir The Story of Roman, Firebird was adapted for the screen by the film's director Peeter Rebane (making his feature directorial debut) and its lead actor Tom Prior ( Kingsman: The Secret Service).įirebird made its world premiere at the BFI Flare: London LGBTIQ+ Film Festival in March 2021, effectively carving out a spot for itself among other period movies with LGBTQ+ characters, stories, and themes.
Set during the Cold War at a Soviet Union air base, Firebird tells the real-life tragic romance between Sergey, a soldier who dreams of becoming an actor after his conscripted service ends, and Roman, a fighter pilot who has his eyes on moving up in the military.
