OPENING NIGHT: NUREYEV | 2026 SF Dance Film Festival

Nureyev

The extraordinary story of an artist who not only transformed the world of ballet, but stood as a symbol of artistic freedom and individual self-determination.

UNITED STATES PREMIERE  |  Experience a live performance capture of the multi-award-winning ballet Nureyev, choreographed by Yuri Possokhov (San Francisco Ballet Choreographer in Residence) in collaboration with stage director Kirill Serebrennikov, with a score by composer Ilya Demutsky.

The production blends ballet, opera, and drama into a sweeping homage to one of the 20th century’s greatest dancers, tracing his rise in the Soviet Union, his dramatic defection to the West, his open expression of his homosexuality, and his enduring influence on Western ballet.

The ballet premiered at Russia’s Bolshoi Theatre in 2017 to widespread acclaim, but was permanently removed from its repertoire in 2022 under Russia’s expanded “gay propaganda” law. Staged by Staatsballett Berlin in 2026, marking the first time Nureyev had been performed outside of Russia, this live performance capture brings that landmark production to the screen.

Following the screening, join Nureyev stage director Kirill Serebrenikov, composer Ilya Demutsky, and co-stager Dana Genshaft for a live Q&A moderated by SFDFF Artistic Director Garen Scribner.

Director: Myriam Hoyer
Director of Photography: Henning Brümmer
Production Company: Bel Air Media (in co-production with ZDF and ARTE)
Stage Directors / Creators: Kirill Serebrennikov (Stage Director), Yuri Possokhov (Choreographer), Ilya Demutsky (Composer)
Venue: Deutsche Oper Berlin / Staatsballett Berlin
(Germany, 2026)

Tickets purchased at the door will cost $1 additional per ticket.

6:30p | House Opens

7:00p | Program begins

Runtime: 122 minutes

Venue Accessibility: Accessible parking is available at the front entrance of Lucasfilm in the cul-de-sac off of Letterman Drive. For accessible entrance into the Lucasfilm Building, proceed to past the Yoda Fountain to the doors to the right. Entrance is on the ground level.

About the 2026 San Francisco Dance Film Festival: 

The San Francisco Dance Film Festival marks its seventeenth year this fall with over 80 films celebrating dance in all its forms, from world-class ballet to endangered folkloric traditions. Eighteen in-person screenings run October 23 through November 8 at venues across San Francisco, complete with artist Q&As, panels, and community gatherings, followed by an Online Festival from November 9 through 30 featuring short film programs and online-only features. Join SFDFF 2026 for intimate documentaries, dazzling screendance, and thrilling live performance captures that celebrate the ever-evolving intersection of dance and film.

For more info please visit our website.