Space, technology, science: 20 youth teams reach the final of the "Dreams of the Future" contest at the National Centre RUSSIA

The qualifying stage of the 2nd video essay contest "Dreams of the Future" has concluded at the National Centre RUSSIA. The expert commission selected the 20 best entries in the 12-15 and 16-18 age categories. A total of 3,740 participants from Russia, CIS countries and Transnistria took part in the contest. The winners will be announced on 7 June during the official award ceremony at the National Centre RUSSIA.

For participants in the 12–15 age category, the most relevant theme proved to be "Technology and Nature". Drawing inspiration from classic Soviet science fiction, the young participants explored the balance between progress and nature, technological development and the preservation of the Earth's biosphere. For example, a team from the Sevastopol Children's School of Arts used Alexander Belyaev's novel "Amphibian Man" as the basis for their video essay, presenting a story about how modern-day technologies can help people protect water purity and preserve the marine environment from pollution. Teams "Loud Guys" from the Sverdlovsk Region, "Seahorses" from the Moscow Region and "MaLiVi" from the Vologda Region also addressed this theme.

The subject of space attracted the attention of teams "Nizhny Novgorod Wave" from the Nizhny Novgorod Region, "Solaris" from the Republic of Moldova and "Cosmostudio "STAR-SOSH"" from the Moscow Region. The participants shared their dreams of exploring other planets and highlighted the importance of human warmth among the cold stars.

Teams "DetiSHKI" from the Chuvash Republic and "The Sea Within" from Sevastopol presented their own vision of a future that is already being built today. Meanwhile, the "Academic Alliance" team from Moscow dedicated its video essay to the theme of uniting scientists in the struggle for a better future.

Participants selected for the top 20 in the 16–18 age category showed particular interest in interpreting the theme "The Future Is Built Today". Their sources of inspiration included novels by Alexander Belyaev, Ivan Yefremov, Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, Sergei Lukyanenko, literary and cinematic stories about the famous visitor from the future Alisa Seleznyova, as well as computer games and the modern series "Cybervillage". In their video essays, the participants raised questions about the meaning of life, responsibility for our planet and the evolution of human relationships in the age of super technologies.

For example, the work of the "CODe – Club of the Open Doors " team from the Altai Territory encourages viewers to reflect on the fact that the future begins with a person — with their choices, curiosity and readiness to create a new world. Teams "Guardians of the Future" from the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic, "Architects of the New World V2" from the Stavropol Territory, "Prime" from the Republic of Khakassia, "Three+1" from the Republic of Bashkortostan, "Young Journalists of the Future" from the Moscow Region and "Flying Above the World" from the Vladimir Region also explored this theme.

The theme of harmony between nature and technology was addressed by teams "#CyberSaplings" from the Republic of Belarus and "Project 27" from the Khabarovsk Territory. The young participants from Khabarovsk presented a world where science draws inspiration from nature and creates living cities and self-healing construction materials. Meanwhile, the "Deadline Yesterday" team from the Belgorod Region was inspired by the theme of space. In their video essay, the participants spoke about dreams connected with space, discovery and the courage to go beyond the boundaries of the familiar world.

Teams from all 89 regions of Russia, as well as from 10 neighbouring republics — Uzbekistan, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic — took part in the competition. A total of 935 applications were submitted.

The entries were evaluated by an expert jury consisting of renowned science fiction writers and experts in media, culture, science and AI technologies. The judging criteria included relevance to the selected theme; quality of video, sound and editing; originality of presentation; artistry; quality of AI technology use; and references to science fiction literature, games and films. Teams received an additional point for references to works included in the recommended reading list.

Winners and prize-winners will receive valuable prizes: a laptop for first place, a tablet for second place and a smartphone for third place. A special prize from Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA, will be a trip to one of the branches of the National Centre RUSSIA for all members of the winning team.

As part of its special nomination, the Skolkovo Foundation has prepared a special technology prize from among its developments for teams that made it into the top 20, as well as an online educational course for teams selected through the overall evaluation process. The most talented participants in the second special nomination will receive a certificate worth 60,000 roubles for products from the Chitai-Gorod federal bookstore chain for the winning team in the senior age group, book sets from UF (Youth) Media for two teams in the senior category and three teams in the junior category, while the Hedgehog Academy of Modern Professions will award one month of free online classes to one team in the senior age category.
The "Dreams of the Future" video essay contest continues the work of reviving public interest in imagining and designing the future, which began during the international symposium "Inventing the Future". The contest is held within the framework of the Decade of Science and Technology with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.

Contest partners include the Russian State Library for Young Adults, the Council for Science Fiction and Adventure Literature of the Union of Writers of Russia, the Russian Movement of Children and Youth "Movement of the First", the Federal Foundation for Social and Economic Support of Russian Cinematography (Cinema Fund), Roskino, the Russian Union of Youth, the Artek International Children's Centre, the VCIOM Analytical Centre, the Coordinating Council for Youth Affairs in Science and Education, the National Open Championship of Creative Competencies ArtMasters, the Association of Technology Clubs, the Creative Economy ANO, the Russia – Land of Opportunity ANO, the Russian society Znanie, Nauka@Mail.ru, the Skolkovo Foundation, the TopBLOG national project, the Artificial Intelligence Technology Development ANO, the Media Laboratory, the Eksmo-AST Publishing Group, UF reading media, the Hedgehog Academy of Modern Professions, the Chitai-Gorod federal bookstore chain, the animation company YARKO, the Video Game Industry Development Organisation, and the NAUKA 0+ International Festival.
Information partners include MIC Izvestia, the News Mail and Vfokuse Mail media projects, the 1MI media holding, News Media Holding, the popular science outlet Indicator.Ru and InScience.News, TechProsvet VKontakte, NOP.RF, Snob, Hightech, the magazine Nozh and the News of the First.