  A search for direct production of the $f_1(1285)$ resonance in $e^+e^-$
annihilation is performed with the SND detector at the VEPP-2000 $e^+e^-$
collider. The analysis is based on data with an integrated luminosity of 15.1
pb$^{-1}$ accumulated in the center-of-mass energy range 1.2--1.4 GeV. Two
$e^+e^-\to f_1(1285)$ candidate events are found at the peak of the resonance
and zero events beyond the resonance. The significance of the $e^+e^-\to
f_1(1285)$ signal is $2.5\sigma$. The cross section at the maximum of the
resonance is found to be $\sigma(e^+e^-\to f_1)=45^{+33}_{-24}$ pb. The
corresponding branching fraction $B(f_1(1285)\to
e^+e^-)=(5.1^{+3.7}_{-2.7})\times 10^{-9}$. We consider this result as a first
indication of the process $e^+e^-\to f_1(1285)$. The measured branching
fraction is consistent with the theoretical prediction.
