It's been over 50 years since Russian astronaut Yuri Gagarin took part in the first successful manned space flight in history. Cosmonautics Day is celebrated in Russia to commemorate this international milestone; a day that sparked liberation and pride for the people of Russia. In honour of this celebration we would like to present to you Kokosmos. A beautiful love letter to space.

Kokosmos is a film exploring magical realism and the intriguing scope of the imagination. An deeply innovative concept penned by award winning director and multi-disciplinary artist, Anna Radchekno.

This film fiercely combines unearthly imagery and an original music track created by duo Playhead, alongside London based singer Alyusha Chagrin. As well as collaborating with successful model Yana Dobroliubovas, who is one of the inspirations for the film, Kokosmos encourages us to explore the extraordinary.

Post- soviet imagery is interestingly woven into the film. The visual elements do a great job of shedding light on Anna's intrigue with space as well as her relationship with it, being from Russia herself. With fashion being one of the standouts in this film, Anna worked with majority Russian designers to include clothing that feel familiar, although in an otherworldly atmosphere. Ultimately creating an fascinating contrast through viewing.

Describing space as an “unknown entity we were trying to reach out to” Anna does this greatly through Kokosmos, acting as an ode to her home. The country that entered space for this first time in history. The film begs us to question our own imagination and views on space and the extra terrestrial.

Check out the film here and Happy Cosmonautics Day!

You can follow director Anna Radchenko on Instagram @radchenko_academy

Credits:

• Director and Executive Producer: Anna Radchenko (@radchenko_academy) - KODE media (@kodemedia)

• Co-director: Mikhail Svjatogor (@mikhail_svjatogor)

• DOP: Roman Yudin (@yuare)

• Producer: Anastasia Limarenko (@sonic__lee)

• Model: Yana Dobroliubova (@yananay1)

• CG Artist and Supervisor: Murat Kılıç

• CG artist: Yanis Georges (@ethikdesign)

• CG compositing: Murat Kılıç

• Music and Sound Design: Lister Rossel (@listerrossel), Utkucan Eken (@utkucaneken) - We Are Playhead (@we_are_playhead)

• Singer: Alyusha Chagrin

• Editors: Suga Supiah, Ikki Dhesi (@ikkidhesi)

• Colour: Tobias Tomkins - CHEAT (@cheat_it)

• Post-production producer: Jack Goodwin (@jack_kode) - KODE media

• Make-up: Darya Kholodnykh (@darya_kholodnykh)

• Stylist: Anna Bakhareva (@bakharevaa)

• Fashion designers: o5o.moscow (@o5o.moscow), AVA11, Go Authentic (@Go_Authentic_), Anya Komyagina (@komyaginaanya)

Words: Venetia Faye Acquah