On April 20, 2023, Russian screens premiered the film “The Challenge” by director Klim Shipenko. The story of talented surgeon Evgeniya Belyaeva could have been just another film about the selfless work of doctors, if not for one crucial detail. Part of the movie was shot aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where the director and lead actress spent 12 days filming.
For Klim Shipenko, “The Challenge” was a continuation of his love for space-themed films after the successful release of “Salyut-7” in 2017. According to the director, it was precisely his reluctance to say goodbye to space that led him to contemplate a new project, this time without the green screen and with actual footage from a real space station. So, when the production company Yellow, Black & White, and First Channel’s CEO, Konstantin Ernst, approached him with an offer to take on a space project, Shipenko agreed without hesitation.
Only two additional people could be sent to the ISS for filming, the director and the lead actress. More than 3,000 applications were submitted for the lead female role, from which only about 20 were selected. Actress Yulia Peresild, who eventually starred as the main protagonist, initially did not participate in the casting as she was busy with another project. However, all the selected actresses failed the required medical examination, and after prolonged tests and exams, Peresild landed the role of a space surgeon.
Preparations for the shoot took several months on Earth. During this time, the director and lead actress were trained at the space center, studying equipment, taking exams on the ISS structure, and rehearsing the necessary actions that could be useful during launch, docking, and return to Earth. Klim Shipenko had to lose more than 15 kilograms to meet the necessary medical requirements. On the ISS, he acted as the film and art director, cameraman, and makeup artist. On October 5, a film crew of two and a backup crew of two professional astronauts were sent into space.
To organize a full-fledged shooting process, special film equipment was delivered to the ISS. In addition to cameras, sound recording and lighting equipment, some non-obvious items were also brought, such as a rugby helmet. As Yulia Peresild later recalled, Klim Shipenko needed a helmet, as he frequently flew backward in weightlessness. Without such improvised protection, his “chance of cutting off his head in the first 10 seconds of flight dramatically increased.” During their stay at the ISS, Peresild and Shipenko shot about 78 hours of footage, some of which made it into the film’s final cut. Filming took place both on the space station and during the crew’s launch and descent. According to the director, approximately 60% of the footage was improvised, as even with minute-by-minute planning for filming days on Earth, it was impossible to anticipate the impact of weightlessness and adaptation to the ISS. To avoid losing footage and to present the unique shots on the big screen, a communication channel was established with Earth, where all recordings were sent daily to the Space Center.
From March 31, the First Channel aired a series called “The Challenge: Firsts in Space” – a nine-part documentary project which detailed the making of the film. All episodes are available online on the First Channel’s website.
