I Am Not Afraid

Misha and Philip have been best friends since childhood. Misha is quiet and hides his sensitivity behind an air of cool reserve, while Philip is the more confident of the two. When Philip learns that his parents are moving the family to another city, the news shakes their friendship to its core. What once felt like innocent play between two boys starts to give way to new and unfamiliar feelings, and Misha struggles to put into words what Philip's departure means to him. Written and directed by Vladimir Beck, this Russian short stars Illarion Marov as Misha and Mark Eidelshtein as Philip, with Olga Balatskaya and Svetlana Vyripaeva. Running about twenty minutes, I Am Not Afraid is a delicate coming-of-age story about first love, friendship and the courage it takes to be honest about who you are.