Russian cinema has an inspired tradition of genre filmmaking, resulting in a treasure-trove of cult classics that remain sadly unknown to American audiences. Coined in Russia, the term "film fantastika" attempts to describe this body of work, presented here in films made by noteworthy as well as virtually unknown directors.  This series is the first to pay tribute to the many artistic talents of the Russian film industry, honoring their creative innovations and recognizing their influence on the development of the visual effects so ubiquitous in current world cinema.  Russian visual-effects pioneers created stunning visions of man's voyage to outer space more than a decade before Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey.  Ironically, many of these visually astonishing works from Russian cinema did reach Western screens, but they were altered beyond recognition.  At the height of the Cold War enterprising U.S. producers like Roger Corman purchased Russian science fiction films cheaply as assignments for up-and-coming American directors  including Francis Ford Coppola, Peter Bogdanovich, and Curtis Harrington, who refashioned the films with newly shot footage to suit Western B-movie sensibilities.

From the Tsars to the Stars features restored and brand-new English subtitled prints of the legendary Russian originals, many of which have never before screened in the U.S.