Apply now for the film project pitching session at the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future"

Applications are still being accepted for the International Film Project Pitching "Cinema as a Tool to Combat Future Shock", which will be part of the programme of the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future". Directors, screenwriters and graduates of specialised educational institutions aged 35 and under who are interested in exploring the future and rethinking the challenges and anxieties associated with it through positive images are invited to take part. The authors of the 10 best projects will present their work during a public pitching session on 12 November at the National Centre RUSSIA. Finalists will have the opportunity to receive prizes and offers of cooperation from project partners and key players in the film industry. Applications can be submitted until 10 October via the link.

The pitching will focus on feature films and series about the future, including science fiction. Young filmmakers from different countries aged 35 and under can take part: directors, screenwriters and graduates of specialised educational institutions who already have experience working on short films but would like to develop a feature film or series. The National Centre RUSSIA is the organiser of the pitching. The co-organisers are the Internet Development Institute (ANO IRI), ROSKINO, the New Media Workshop (NMW) and the VK Video platform.

Participants in the International Film Project Pitching will be selected through an open call for applications. Participants may apply individually or in teams of up to three people. To take part, applicants must submit a synopsis of a feature film or series of up to three pages, a teaser of up to 120 seconds, and a portfolio of the participant or team. AI-generated teasers are accepted, although an original creative style and distinctive visual solutions rather than standard AI-generated content will improve an application's chances during selection. Authors must also explain which anxieties about the future their project helps to rethink. Series projects may also be accompanied by a pilot episode.

Ten finalists will be selected in October. They will take part in an online film laboratory that will allow them to explore the theme of the future in greater depth, refine their projects and prepare for the pitching session. The New Media Workshop (NMW) is the organiser of the educational programme. Experts from National Media Group (NMG) and the Wink online cinema will deliver lectures for participants as part of the programme.

The public film project pitching session will form part of the "Culture and Art" track of the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future". This year, the Symposium will bring together more than 7,000 government officials, scientists and researchers, heads of corporations and business alliances, representatives of the creative industries and public organisations, and young professionals from countries around the world. The "Culture and Art" track will include events and discussions on the future of cultural institutions and creative industries, science fiction, art and technology.

On 12 November, participants will present their projects to an expert jury in a public pitching format. The jury will include representatives of the Internet Development Institute (ANO IRI), ROSKINO, the New Media Workshop (NMW), National Media Group (NMG), the VK Video platform, the Okko, Wink and Ivi online cinemas, the RUTUBE video hosting platform, the PREMIER online cinema, the Moviestart Production Centre, the National Priorities autonomous non-profit organisation, the Gorky Film Studio and the HSE Institute of Film. Renowned Russian science fiction writer Sergei Lukyanenko will also serve on the jury. After a five-minute presentation and screening of their teaser, participants will answer questions from the jury and receive recommendations from experts.

At the end of the pitching session, the jury will name three award recipients. All 10 finalists will present their projects directly to industry representatives, who may offer the authors further cooperation following the pitching. Finalists will also receive prizes and special opportunities from pitching partners: subscriptions to Okko, Wink and Ivi; support for the winning projects from RUTUBE; an internship at the Moviestart Production Centre; an opportunity to speak as a lecturer at the Gorky Film Studio Film Campus; and participation in ROSKINO events and networking programmes. If particular projects attract interest, Moviestart will consider entering into a production agreement, while the HSE Institute of Film will offer an opportunity to study free of charge on one of its short-term programmes.

Networking will be an important part of the pitching session, giving young creators an opportunity to speak with film industry experts, ask questions and receive feedback on their projects.

The International Film Project Pitching at the National Centre RUSSIA is a project that will bring together young creators interested in producing content about the future and representatives of the film industry. It will create a space for international cooperation and the exchange of experience, ideas and technological approaches. Young filmmakers will be able to communicate directly with producers and film industry representatives. Major platforms will have an opportunity to discover promising new creators working with the theme of the future. In this way, the pitching will help establish direct dialogue between young filmmakers and major industry players.

Registration for the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future", which will be held on 12–13 November at the National Centre RUSSIA, is open on the official website.

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The International Symposium "Inventing the Future" is organised on the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, under the auspices of the Decade of Science and Technology, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. The Symposium was first held from 4 to 6 November 2024 and brought together more than 6,000 people from 101 countries. Participants included representatives of government and business, scientists and engineers, futurists and forecasters, public figures and representatives of the creative industries from BRICS, SCO and CIS countries. The Symposium became a platform for discussing innovative ideas and projects that contribute to the development of science and technology.

The II International Symposium "Inventing the Future" was held on 7–8 October 2025. It was attended by 7,000 people from 86 countries, while online broadcasts of the events were watched by more than 50.8 million people. More than 260 experts from various fields took part in the expert programme. The main outcomes of the Symposium were the development of practical scenarios for the future and their visualisation.

The International Symposium "Inventing the Future" was the first event to launch the work of the National Centre RUSSIA, established on 1 July 2024 by order of the President of the Russian Federation. The Centre is intended to preserve the legacy of the International RUSSIA EXPO and showcase the achievements of the country and its people. Federal authorities, state-owned companies, corporations and regions take part in the Centre's work.