Firebird

Now a Multi Award Winning Motion Picture from Director Peeter Rebane, Starring Tom Prior.

An inspiring memoir, Firebird: The Story of Roman chronicles one man’s unwavering resolve to follow his heart above all else. Sergey’s remarkable life story fosters understanding and empathy, driving support for LGBTQ+ equality around the world.

In 1970s Soviet occupied Estonia, handsome soulful soldier Sergey is serving out a compulsory two-year conscription at a Soviet Air Force Base. While stationed there, he meets and falls in love with a maverick fighter pilot, Roman. The two young men begin a secret affair. But, at the height of Communist rule, the risks of exposure are grave. Never one to back down from the face of injustice, Sergey chooses courage and love over fear. Inspiration for the major motion picture Firebird.

“This sweeping yet intimate story, so rich and romantic, needs now more than ever to be widely known. It has been made into a beautiful film and stands as a powerful testament to love, courage and honour.”
– STEPHEN FRY

“The gay military epic that enraged Putin's Russia”
– KEVIN MAHER, THE TIMES (UK)

“On par with Brokeback Mountain or Call Me By Your Name"
– PETER GUTTING, PROGRAMMKINO

“The film’s exploration of love, courage and the price of speaking your truth is as timely as it’s
ever been”
– THE GUARDIAN, Leslie Felperin

“A kind of Cold War-era “Brokeback Mountain” (with a dash of “Top Gun”)”
– LA TIMES, Gary Goldstein

Born in Oryol, Soviet Russia in 1952, Sergey Fetisov graduated as an actor from Moscow's prestigious GITIS institute. In addition to an extensive theatre career, he acted in over 40 Soviet and later Russian films and TV series, including the Estonian feature film Georg (2007). He was one of the founding members of the "Russian Style Theatre" in Oryol. His memoir The Story of Roman was first published in the early 90's under the pseudonym Sergey Nizhny and was the basis for the 2021 feature film Firebird by Estonian director Peeter Rebane. After battling long-term illness, Sergey passed away on May 3, 2017. A force of unconditional love, he never ceased to approach life with courage, joy and wonder.

Actor, writer and producer, Tom Prior, is known for his work on both the screen and stage.Tom trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) graduating in 2012. His acting work includes; The Theory of Everything (2014 / Working Title) playing Eddie Redmayne's son Robert Hawking. Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014 / Twentieth Century Fox, Marv Films) and Endeavour (2014) series for ITV.Tom co-wrote Firebird (2020), a touching love story, based on true events, set in the Soviet Air Force, during the Cold War - in which he plays the lead role. He also produced the film. He recently completed his latest acting role playing Private Love, in Just Noise (2020), telling the true story of the British Government's cover up of military intervention during the struggle for independence in Malta.Tom has starred in London's West End productions of Tory Boyz (by James Graham), Prince of Denmark, and Romeo & Juliet. Tom was selected to train with the National Youth Theatre REP Company, he was one of 15 actors selected from around the UK; working in collaboration with the National Theatre, BBC, Royal Shakespeare Company. He wrote his first short film Breaking the Circle in 2014.Tom considers himself a versatile filmmaker - and enjoys his time in front of and behind the camera. He now develops films with a clear mission to create films which uplift, inspire and heal audiences.

Born in Estonia, Peeter has studied, worked and lived around the world, including USA and the UK. His directing portfolio includes feature films Firebird (2021), Sailing to Freedom (in development), documentaries Tashi Delek! (2015) and Robbie Williams: Fans Journey to Tallinn (BBC Worldwide, 2014) as well as numerous music videos including Moby's "Wait for Me" and Pet Shop Boys' "Together."Peeter produced and directed the 22-camera concert film Robbie Williams: Live in Tallinn (2013). He has also produced the 2010 European Film Awards, the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest, and hundreds of shows in the Baltic region for various artists including Elton John, Bob Dylan, Madonna, Sting, Lady Gaga, Metallica, Queen, and others. In 2013, Peeter was named Entrepreneur of the Year in Estonia.Peeter has been a jury member at various film festivals including Black Nights Film Festival and Cape Town International Film Festival.He studied as an exchange student at Oxford and graduated from Harvard cum laude in economics, psychology and visual arts. After a career as a producer, he went on to study directing at the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts and trained in acting for directors at Judith Weston's studio. Peeter has travelled the world, sailing around Cape Horn, crossing the Atlantic & Pacific four times, and hiking the mountains of Tibet. He has a global perspective and a passion for telling local human stories with a universal resonance.