Owner of the Altai Mountains

The plot takes place in the Altai Mountains, where snow leopards, rare and majestic predators, face the threat of extinction. The main character of the film is a baby snow leopard, who has just been born, whom the staff of the Sailyugemsky National Park name Tural, which means "immortal" in the Altai language. He got this name after all his fellow badgers died during the winter feeding season, and Tural turned out to be the only survivor. But when the threat to life has passed, the baby suddenly disappears from the field of view of the staff of the National Park. Will he be able to survive in the wild? And will he ever return to his native Sailugem?

Directed by Ilya Tsyganov, Vadim Vitovtsev, Owner of the Altai Mountains leans on a strong ensemble — Nikolay Drozdov, Konstantin Khabenskiy — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about documentary titles of 2024.