Russia Takes the Lead with First Feature Film Shot in Space

Russia has premiered the first feature film shot in space, titled "The Challenge," beating a rival Hollywood project announced in 2020 by Tom Cruise, NASA, and SpaceX. The film is about a surgeon sent to the International Space Station to save an injured cosmonaut. Actress Yulia Peresild and director Klim Shipenko spent 12 days on the ISS in October 2021 to film scenes aboard the orbiting laboratory. The film was a joint project of space agency Roscosmos and top Russian TV network Channel One, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has lauded the film.