Poster for My boyfriend, a mannequin, directed by DMITRY NIKOLENKO, AFIN 2026

Feature Film AFIN 369

My boyfriend, a mannequin

Directed by DMITRY NIKOLENKO

AFIN 2026 Nominee · 5 nominations

  • 2026
  • 1h 20m
  • Russia
  • Russian
  • PG
  • Romance
  • Fantasy
First-time filmmaker

AFIN members rate and talk about this film. Sign in

Comments from members, below

Stills

6 frames

Nominee

Best Visual Effects

Part of this film's cast or crew? Let us know to add or correct credits, genres or details. Filmmaker sign-in opens with the claim email at Awards Night, 19 September 2026.

Credits

Cinematography

Visual Effects

Costume Designer

Production Company

  • 12Frame
  • APREL

Synopsis

Vika is an unusual girl. Only she can see the enchanted guy in the mannequin, the son of the mall owner who disappeared a year ago. By putting a magical mask on him, she brought Radmir back to life, but even he didn't believe Vika. Let alone the people around them, who, under the influence of ancient magic, can't see or hear Radmir. Vika proves to him that magic is real, and they team up to break the spell.

On the nomination

Our film is about magic, love and a choice between being normal or going on an adventure.

What makes this one special

  • Australian PremiereThe filmmaker tells us this is where it happens
  • Nominated in 5 AFIN categoriesBest Feature Film · Best Visual Effects · Best Sound & Music · Best Film Editing · Best Lead Performance
  • A first-time filmmaker

From the Judges

From the Judges

A love story built on an unusual premise that holds you from the first frame to the last. Shot after shot lands like a postcard, with wide compositions finding symmetry in the landscapes and a palette of rich colour running through every set, prop and costume. The chemistry between the leads carries real warmth, grounded and effortless, with gentle comic moments threaded through, and the production design gives the whole thing an artistry that extends from the creature work to the medieval cosplay.

Curated, anonymised highlights drawn from the judges' notes.

Also selected at

1 official selection across 1 other festival

  1. SelectionVeliky NovgorodOfficial selection · Russian Federation · 2025

Recorded by the filmmaker on their entry.

Director's Biography

DMITRY NIKOLENKO, filmmaker portrait provided to AFIN. DMITRY NIKOLENKO Director

Graduate of the Faculty of Economics at VGIK. Specialty: Film and TV Producer. Graduate of the Higher Courses for Scriptwriters and Directors (Khotinenko V.I. workshop). Experience in various departments of film production. General Producer of the Film Company APRIL LLC - https://kinoaprel.ru/ Nikolai Rastorguev Production Company LLC, Moscow Project: "72 Hours" Full-length, feature film - 2018 Position: Producer Nikolai Rastorguev Production Company LLC, Moscow Project: "MHAT.doc" (МХАТ.doc) Full-length, non-fiction - 2021 Position: Director Nikolai Rastorguev Foundation, Moscow Project: "Small Peoples of Russia. Altai Republic" (Малые народы большой страны. Республика Алтай) Full-length, non-fiction - 2021 Position: Producer Nikolai Rastorguev Production Company LLC, Moscow Project: "Between the Sky and the Taiga" (Между небом и тайгой) Full-length, non-fiction - 2021 Position: Producer "Nikolai Rastorguev's Production Company", Moscow Project: "Who Drew Us?" (Кто нас нарисовал?) Series, non-fiction - 2021 Position: Director 12 Frame LLC, April Film Company LLC, Moscow Project: "Illegal" Full-length, feature film - 2022 Position: Producer

Trailer

Official laurels

Each recognition carries a permanent, verifiable AFIN credential - a link a filmmaker can put on a CV - plus a downloadable laurel for posters and press kits.

Nominee toolkit

Everything you need to share and credit this recognition.

Ready-made announcement

Copy this for your socials, newsletter or press kit.

My boyfriend, a mannequin was an official Nominee for Best Feature Film, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound & Music, Best Film Editing and Best Lead Performance at the AFIN International Film Festival 2026, a Top 100 Best Reviewed and IMDb-qualifying festival.

Add it to IMDb

IMDb adds festival awards from the festival's event page, not from your film's page.

  1. Open the AFIN International Film Festival event page on IMDb and choose the 2026 edition.
  2. Choose Edit (contribute), then Awards, and add your film under the category (Best Feature Film, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound & Music, Best Film Editing and Best Lead Performance) with the outcome shown on your laurels above.
  3. Submit. IMDb reviews it and publishes it to the event page and to your film's page.
Open the AFIN event on IMDb

From AFIN members

No comments yet.

AFIN members can rate this film and comment on it. Sign in or see membership.

AFIN 2027

Entries for 2027 are open

On FilmFreeway since Sunday 1 November 2026. 22 awards, and every film can be up for several.

↑↓ navigate · Enter open · Esc close