Open Russian Film Festival of Auteur Cinema "Zimniy"

About

The Open Russian Film Festival of Auteur Cinema "Zimniy" is held to enhance the prestige of domestic cinema, promote its auteur segment, and facilitate the distribution of Russian auteur films.

The Open Russian Film Festival of Auteur Cinema "Zimniy" serves as a final national film forum featuring the best Russian-produced films of the year, selected and highly evaluated by the festival's expert selection committee.

The Festival's mission is to expand interest in auteur cinema, preserve the high artistic standards of Russian cinematography, support creative exploration of new cinematic language, provide creative support to Russian filmmakers who align with the auteur cinema tradition, ensure continuity and development of the best traditions of the national film school, raise professional standards, and discover new talents.

Awards

Within the feature film competition, the Jury awards the following official prizes:

— Grand Prize
— Best Director Award
— Best Screenplay Award
— Best Actor Award
— Best Actress Award
— Best Visual Design Award

Rules

The feature-length film competition program includes 8–9 films.

Eligible entries are feature-length narrative films with a runtime of no less than 60 (sixty) minutes, produced in 2023–2024, that have not been broadcast on television, released in theaters, on DVD, or through VoD platforms, made publicly available online, or uploaded to streaming services or online platforms.

Films may be submitted by film companies, studios, independent producers, distributors, or any copyright holders.

To participate in the competition, links to the films must be submitted to the Festival’s Organizing Committee for review at: otbor@zimnyfest.ru.

The submission must also include the following information:
— Film title and runtime
— Director
— Producer
— Production company
— Year of production

Premiere Requirements

No premiere requirement

Jury and Organizers

Festival Founders:
— LLC "Alliance Film Company"
— All-Russian Public and State Organization "Russian Cultural Fund"

With the Support of:
— Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation

The competition program for feature-length films is evaluated by the Festival Jury.
The Jury consists of 5–6 renowned cultural figures and masters of Russian cinema. The Festival Directorate appoints the Jury Chairperson from among its members.

Individuals involved in the production or distribution of competing films are not eligible to serve on the Jury.