In Russia, there are plans to make a movie about schoolchildren who fly drones for 72 million rubles
A project for a children’s feature film titled “Heavenly Lions” was presented in Russia; the main character will be a schoolboy who is fascinated by drones. The film’s total budget is estimated at 72 million rubles, of which the filmmakers hope to secure 50 million from the state budget. The film is planned as an adventure story for children and teenagers, but its plot is directly linked to teaching schoolchildren how to fly drones.
In Russia, there are plans to produce a children’s feature film about schoolchildren learning to fly drones. The project, titled “Sky Lions,” was presented at a pitching session at the Russian Ministry of Culture. According to the Russian “Film Distributor Bulletin,” the company “NG Production” will be working on the film. Polina Kutikhina will direct the film. This will mark her feature film debut.
The project’s creators have requested 50 million rubles in state funding from the Ministry of Culture. The film’s total budget is estimated at 72 million rubles. The film is being positioned as an adventure movie for children and teenagers. Its estimated runtime is 80 minutes.
What the Film Is About
The main character of *Sky Lions* is Levka, a sixth-grader. According to the plot, the boy is fascinated by video games and later decides to participate in a school drone-piloting competition. In other words, the story begins with an ordinary schoolboy who loves computers and games. But gradually, his passion evolves into hands-on training in drone operation.
Judging by the poster for the upcoming film, the filmmakers also want to draw a parallel between Soviet pilots and modern drone operators. Thus, they plan to portray the drone pilot through the theme of heroic military professions, which is familiar to Russian cinema. It is not yet known exactly when the film will be released. The project is currently in the presentation phase and seeking government funding.
Russia is already focusing on teaching children how to operate drones
The idea for the film emerged amid a broader campaign in Russia, where schoolchildren are increasingly being involved in drone training. After the start of the full-scale war against Ukraine, clubs and programs began appearing in Russian schools and other educational institutions where children are taught to operate UAVs. In this way, the authorities are attempting to make drone operation part of the standard training system for young people.
A separate incentive for schoolchildren has been the promise of extra points when applying to Russian universities. This applies to students who complete the relevant training and can demonstrate drone piloting skills. Thus, in Russia, drones are being presented not only as military technology but also as a field of study and a future profession.
They even want to include drones in the GTO program
Another telling example is the Russian “Ready for Labor and Defense” program, known as GTO. In May 2026, Russian Minister of Sports Mikhail Degtyarev stated that they plan to add a drone piloting test to the program. According to him, the discipline is set to be included in the program as early as this year, and starting in 2027, anyone across Russia who wishes to do so will be able to take this test.
In other words, authorities in Russia are gradually trying to make drone piloting a common skill that can be acquired as early as elementary school. Against this backdrop, the release of a children’s film about a schoolboy drone pilot appears to be part of a broader trend. Through movies, school clubs, and sports programs, Russian authorities and affiliated organizations are promoting the topic of drones among children and teenagers.
Another film was also presented at the pitching session
During the same pitching session at the Russian Ministry of Culture, another film for teenagers was presented—the drama “April. Gentle May.” The film is aimed at viewers aged 12 to 17. According to the creators’ concept, the plot will center on a homeless child who later “becomes a defender.” The film plans to depict events from the 1990s, as well as “recent events” in the Kursk region. Thus, this film is also intended to combine a children’s story with themes of war, protection, and heroism.
At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Culture has previously identified themes it considers priorities for state support of the film industry. These include “heroism and self-sacrifice” of Russian and North Korean military personnel, the role of Cossacks in the war against Ukraine, and Russia’s so-called “peacekeeping mission.” Consequently, state funding for Russian cinema is increasingly being directed toward stories related to military themes. Now, a children’s story about a schoolboy who is fascinated by piloting drones has been added to this list.
In the case of *Sky Lions*, the creators have so far only presented the project and requested funding. If the proposal is approved, they plan to spend a total of 72 million rubles on the film, 50 million of which are to come from the budget.
