Three-part documentary series about the oldest art school in Russia.

St. Petersburg Academy of Arts named after Ilya Repin was founded in 1757 and it takes its roots from the Imperial Academy of Arts. Since XVIII century, it has been the cradle of almost all Russian painting, architecture and sculpture.

What is the Academy today? Is it a secret brotherhood where geniuses are being raised or a platform for a rigorous selection of the most talented artists from all over the world?

Repin Academy in XXI century is the only former Imperial Academy in the world that has preserved the traditional training system.

The magic of the location and the mysticism of human fates, the magnificent architecture in the style of Classicism and the human anthill, the professors’ view of the past and the students dreaming of the future – all that you can see in the documentary series “Academy of big stories”.

The project was launched with the support of the Internet Development Institute (IRI) in 2023.