Stories from the life of Kamchatka bears will form the basis of the “Clubfoot Story”
Filming of a new documentary about Kamchatka bears “The Clubfoot Story” by Dmitry and Anna Shpilenkov is underway on Kuril Lake in the South Kamchatka Nature Reserve, Kamchatka.Today reports with reference to the message from the Kronotsky Nature Reserve.
After the reconnaissance expedition in the fall of 2024, the main filming period started at the end of March, which will last until the end of 2025.
One of the most technically difficult parts of the work, filming the bears’ exit from their dens, has already been completed. Alexey Bezrukov, an experienced wildlife photographer and former state inspector of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve, joined the project to strengthen the team. He watched the bears wake up at the Kambalny volcano, and his knowledge of the area and skills in dealing with predators proved invaluable.
“Alexey worked for a year and a half at the Travyanaya cordon, where the main shooting is taking place. In such conditions, it is important not only to master technology, but also to understand the behavior of animals,” said Dmitry Shpilenok.
The team is now preparing for a massive salmon run into Kuril Lake, a key event of the summer that attracts dozens of bears. This will be followed by filming of animals leaving their dens and winter landscapes. It is possible that in 2026 an additional expedition will take place in parallel with the installation.
The authors use an approach tested in their previous hit, “The Fiery Fox,” the highest–grossing Russian documentary.
“We shoot not just facts, but stories with characters, like in a feature film. It is important to preserve the drama without overloading it with zoological details,” explained Anna Shpilenok.
“Clubfoot Story” will be released in 2027-2028. The project is supported by the Kronotsky Nature Reserve and the Nature Defenders Fund.
The author of the photo is Dmitry Shpilenok