Panfilov's 28 Men

Panfilov's 28 Men depicts events from the 1941 Battle of Moscow during World War II, focusing on a small group of soldiers from the 316th Rifle Division, later redesignated the 8th Guards Rifle Division, who reportedly confronted advancing German tanks. The soldiers served under General Ivan Panfilov and are said to have destroyed numerous enemy tanks in a desperate last stand. The film dramatizes this legendary episode on the Eastern Front.

The story of Panfilov's 28 Men is based on a Soviet-era propaganda account that has been the subject of significant historical debate. Post-Soviet archival research has suggested that details were embellished for morale purposes and that several of the supposed 28 men actually survived the battle. The film engages with this contested history while presenting the patriotic narrative.

Panfilov's 28 Men was notable for being partially funded through a crowdfunding campaign that raised money from Russian citizens who wanted to see the story brought to screen. This grassroots funding approach was relatively unusual for a large-scale Russian war film. The production also received support from more traditional film industry sources.

Panfilov's 28 Men was co-directed by Kim Druzhinin and Andrey Shalopa, with Shalopa also credited as the screenwriter. The directing duo aimed to create a modern Russian war film that honored the Soviet-era legend while employing contemporary special effects for the tank battle sequences. The film was released in the mid-2010s to domestic audiences in Russia.