REGULATIONS

1. GENERAL PROVISIONS

The VGIK International Student Film Festival (hereinafter referred to as the Festival) is an
annual event held in October and November. The main events of the Festival are carried out at VGIK
and Moscow cinemas, as well as in over 35 cities of Russia. The festival comprises three
competitions:
● Stage One. Internal Competition
● Stage Two. International Competition
● International Theater Competition
The Festival program also includes technical presentations, retrospective screenings, Q&A
sessions, master classes, special screenings of recent Russian films and films of previous prize
winners, exhibitions, press conferences and panels and a screenwriting competition.
The events and screenings are held in both Russian and English.

1.1. ORGANIZERS
The host of the Festival is the Russian State University of Cinematography named after S. A.
Gerasimov (hereinafter VGIK).
The festival is held with the assistance of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, the
RF Cinematographers’ Union, Moscow Government and the Ministries of Culture of the Russian
Federation constituent entities.

1.2. ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
The Organizing Committee of the Festival is appointed by the order of VGIK Rector, or by a
person acting as such.
The Organizing Committee is presided by the Rector.
The vice-presidents of the Organizing Committee are members of the VGIK administration.
The members of the Organizing Committee are VGIK’s deans of the faculties and heads of the
departments and sub-divisions.
The Student Organizing Committee is appointed by the Festival Organizing Committee in
coordination with the deans of the faculties.

1.3. FESTIVAL OBJECTIVES
▪ Demonstration and evaluation of the creative endeavors of VGIK students, students of
Russian and international film, television and drama schools;
▪ Screenings and free discussion of the accomplishments of the creative workshops for the
period from June 30, 2023 to June 30, 2024;
▪ Enhancing international relations, expanding creative and professional contacts, exchange of
experience and ideas between creative workshops, film schools, students of Russia and other
countries;
▪ Highlighting the work of would-be film and television professionals. Familiarization with
the work of VGIK students and viewers in the regions of Russia;
▪ Supporting young cinema, the formation of its high socio-cultural status.
Discovering and supporting the most talented and promising students, directors and teachers;
▪ Expanding national audience;
▪ Expanding the possibility of business cooperation between VGIK and foreign film
and theater institutions of higher education.
▪ Disseminating and strengthening the cultural code of the VGIK and the best techniques of
Russian film industry

1.4. JURIES
The assessment of the student entries is performed by professional and student juries,
appointed by the Organizing Committee.
The professional jury consisting of leading figures of culture and art is formed for each stage
of the Festival.
The Organizing Committee covers the costs of accommodation for jury member, their travel
to and from the festival (including transfer in Moscow), as well as visa invitations and consular fees.
The student jury is appointed by the Organizing Committee from the students of VGIK and
other creative universities in Russia for the entire duration of the Festival.
The number of jury members is determined by the Organizing Committee.

1.5. PRIZES
1.5.1. Stage One Prizes
The Stage One professional jury awards prizes in the following categories:
Grand Prix
● Best Narrative Film Director
● Best Non-Fiction Film Director
● Best Television Director
● Best Animation Director
● Best Multimedia Project Director
● Best Actress
● Best Actor
● Best Screenplay
● Best Cinematography in a Narrative Film
● Best Cinematography in a Non-Fiction Film
● Best Sound Designer
● Best Production Designer
● Best Costume Designer
● Best Producer
The Stage One student jury awards:
● Student jury prize for the best film of Stage One of the VGIK International Student Film
Festival
Special prizes of the Festival are awarded by governmental and non-governmental organizations and
VGIK departments:
● Diploma of the Roman Carmen Foundation for the Support of Non-fiction Films
● Vadim Yusov Prize of the Cinematographers’ Guild
● Vladimir Bakhmutsky Special prize "In Search of the Lost..."
● Y. A. Mikhailov Special prize
● Sergei Lazaruk Special prize "For the search for new ways of artistic expression in film
language"
● Lev Felonov Prize of the Department of Feature Film Directing "For best editing"
On the results of the audience poll, the following is awarded:
● "Audience Award" for the best film created by VGIK students.
1.5.2. Stage Two Prizes
The Stage Two professional jury awards prizes in the following categories:
Grand Prix
● Best Film Program
● Best Narrative Film
● Best Documentary
● Best Animated Film
● Best Multimedia Project
Following the results of Stage Two of the Festival, the student jury awards:
● Student Jury Prize for the best film of Stage Two of the VGIK International Student Festival
On the results of the audience polls, the following is awarded:
● "Audience Award" for the best film of the VGIK International Student Festival
●A special prize "Recognition of Generations" is awarded to honored filmmakers.
1.5.3. Prizes of the International Theater Competition
According to the results of the International Theater Competition, the professional jury
awards:
● Grand Prix
● Best Actress
● Best Actor
● Special Jury Prize
● The prize of the T. F. Makarova and S. A. Gerasimov Foundation for the best acting is
awarded to students of the VGIK acting department
● The special prize of the Film Actors Guild of Russia "Creative Prospect" is awarded to
students of the VGIK acting department
Based on the results of the audience poll – guests and participants of the Festival – the
following is awarded:
● Best Acting Team

1.6. CONTACTS
Festival’s official site: www.vgikfestival.com
The host of the Festival is the "Russian State University of Cinematography
named after S. А. Gerasimov", address: 3 Wilhelm Pieck str., Moscow, 129226, Russia.
Program Department
e-mail: info@vgikfestival.com
International Department
e-mail: international@vgikfestival.com
International Theatre Competition
e-mail: theatre@vgikfestival.com

2. STAGE ONE OF THE VGIK INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL

2.1. PROGRAM
● Showcase of the VGIK workshops’ output with subsequent public discussion of the
submitted films and their selection for the program of Stage One of the Festival;
● VGIK students' Screenwriting Competition;
● Exhibitions of paintings and graphic works, photographs;
● Out-of-competition screenings;
● Special events.

2.2. DATES
The Stage One Festival takes place from October 14 to 25, 2024 according to the following schedule:
October 14-19, 2024 — presentation of VGIK workshops, open discussion and selection of
works in the program for Stage One by the selection committee;
October 23-24, 2024 — screening of selected works (competition program) for the
professional jury composed of VGIK faculty members;
October 25, 2024 — summing up the results of the Stage One and awarding the winners.

2.3. SELECTION PROCEDURE AND REQUIREMENTS TO THE ENTRIES
The program of films of the workshops for the competition program of Stage One is compiled
by VGIK faculty from among student works created from June 30, 2023 to June 30, 2024.
The lists of recommended films should be submitted to the Organizing Committee of the
Festival no later than September 13, 2024.
The total duration of the student films presented by the workshops should not exceed 27
hours.
The final list of films recommended for participation in the selection should not exceed 26
hours in total duration. The final list is compiled by the following departments and branches of VGIK
by the following ratio:
● Department of Feature Film Directing — no more than 7 hours;
● Department of Non-Fiction Film Directing - no more than 4 hours;
● Department of Television — no more than 3 hours;
● Department of Animation and Multimedia — no more than 3 hours;
● Department of Cinematography — no more than 2 hours;
● VGIK Higher Film and Television Courses — no more than 4 hours
● Rostov, Sergiev Posad and Irkutsk branches of VGIK, VGIK College, VGIK branch in
Tashkent – no more than 3 hours
The Department of Sound Design, Production Design, Acting, Producing, Screenwriting and
Film Studies Departments can submit an additional list of recommended films for participation in the
selection, featuring their students and highly appreciated. In additional list of films, one from each of
the specified divisions of the VGIK can be included, and their total duration should not exceed 1
hour.
The total duration of the selected films for participation in Stage One should not exceed 12
hours.
The duration of an individual movie should be no more than 30 minutes. Longer films can be
shown during Stage Two of the Festival in one of the non-competitive programs.
The graduate students and teachers of VGIK Screenwriting and Cinema Studies Departments,
shall be directly involved in the workshops’ screenings, organize and moderate the discussions of the
submitted works.
The competition program of Stage One of the Festival is formed by the Selection Committee.
The Selection Committee shall include at least two representatives (a faculty member and a
student) from the departments of Screenwriting and Cinema Studies, Directing, Producing, Acting,
Cinematography, Production Design, Animation and Multimedia, Sound Design, the VGIK Higher
Courses of Film and Television, as well as members of the Organizing Committee.
The results of the student polls (rating survey of the screenings and discussions participants)
are publicly announced on October 25, 2024 by the Organizing Committee.
The films awarded with the Grand Prix, Best Narrative Film Director , Best Non-Fiction
Director, Best Animation Director and Best Multimedia Project Director Prizes, by the decision of
the Organizing Committee, shall represent VGIK in the international competition.

2.4. APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION
The full package for participation in Stage One of the Festival must be submitted to the
Organizing Committee of the Festival no later than September 16, 2024. Applications submitted later
will not be considered.
Applications are submitted on the Festival’s official website of www.vgikfestival.com
till 23:00 Moscow time on September 16, 2024.
The digital application package must contain:
● a filled-in application form;
● a digital movie file;
● the director's photo;
● stills from the movie;
● a trailer/fragment not exceeding 30 seconds;
● the screening version of the film with English subtitles (if available).
All the documents are filled out and uploaded on the official website of the Festival.

2.5. PROVIDING MASTER COPIES FOR DISPLAY
Master copies of films to be shown at the festival are provided as a digital file (technical
requirements: H.264 compression type, any formats except *.wmv and *.mov), or on DCP.
Master copies of the films must be submitted to the Organizing Committee of the Festival no
later than September 22, 2024.

2.6. SPECIAL PROVISIONS
The participants who have passed the qualifying round provide the following documents:
● transcript;
● сopies of contracts with the authors of the film;
● music reference.
3. STAGE TWO OF THE VGIK INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL.

3.1. PROGRAM
● Screenings of the Stages Two and One of the Festival;
● Out-of-competition screenings (premieres, retrospectives, special
programs);
● Press conferences, panels, workshops;
● Scientific and practical conferences;
● Special events;
● Concert and entertainment events.

3.2. DATES
Stage Two of the Festival takes place from November 11 to 15, 2024.

3.3. ELIGIBILITY
Films created in public professional institutions of higher education that train personnel for
film and television and implement higher education programs are allowed to participate in Stage Two
of the Festival.
Narrative films, documentaries, animations and multimedia projects created between June 30,
2023 and June 30, 2024 are allowed to participate in the competition.
The film schools select the entries for the competition independently according to their
internal rules.
The total duration of the films submitted by each film school for the competition should not
exceed 1 hour.
The total duration of the program for Stage Two of the VGIK International Student Festival
should not exceed 12 hours.
Films that did not enter the competition may be presented in other special film programs.
The selection of films is performed by the Selection Board appointed by the Organizing
Committee of the Festival.
The Selection Board decides on the admission of the film to the competition program by
October 1, 2024.

3.4. APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION
The full application package for participation in Stage Two of the VGIK International Student
Festival must be submitted to the Organizing Committee of the Festival no later than September 15,
2024. Applications submitted later will not be considered.
Applications are submitted on the official website of the Festival www.vgikfestival.com
till 23:00 Moscow time on September 15, 2024.
The digital application package must contain:
● a filled-in application form;
● a preview copy of the film with English subtitles (file size no more than 3 GB);
● the director's photo;
● 3 stills from the film;
● a trailer/fragment of the film not exceeding 30 seconds;
● the screening version of the film with English subtitles (if available)
● a dialogue list in English
All the documents are filled out and uploaded on the Festival’s official website.
The postage of the film materials intended to be shown in the competition is paid for by the
participant. The DVDs will not be returned.

3.5. PROVIDING MASTER COPIES FOR DISPLAY
At the request of the participant, a preview copy of the film can be used to show the film at
the festival as a master copy of the film.
If the participant intends to show their film at the festival in a different format/quality, then the
master copies of the films must be submitted to the Organizing Committee of the Festival no later
than October 6, 2024.
Master copies of the films to be shown at the festival are provided as a digital file (technical
requirements: H.264 compression type, any formats except *.wmv and *.mov), or on DCP.

3.6. TRANSPORTATION AND INSURANCE OF MASTER COPIES
Insurance of the master copies on the territory of Moscow is assumed by VGIK in the case of
a special request.

3.7. PARTICIPANTS AND GUESTS
The Organizing Committee of the Festival invites one representative – the creator of the film
from each school, for whom accommodation and three meals a day are provided at the expense of the
Festival for the duration of the Festival on November 10-16, 2024 (including the days of arrival and
departure). The Organizing Committee does not pay for additional days of stay outside the established
duration of the Festival.
The Organizing Committee of the Festival provides meals and accommodation to nonresident
and foreign participants, according to the approved lists.
The Organizing Committee of the Festival does not bear the cost of travel for participants and
guests of the Festival.
The Organizing Committee of the Festival does not pay for accommodation and meals for
additional school representatives.
The deadline for submitting applications from Festival participants for accommodation is
October 11, 2024.
The deadline for providing the exact dates of your stay is October 11, 2024.

3.8. VISA PROCESSING
The Organizing Committee helps with the preparation of necessary visa documents, including
a formal invitation to Russia. The consular fee is borne by the participant. To secure a Russian visa on
time, the participant must e-mail the filled in "Stay in Russia" form and the scanned first page of the
participant's passport to the Organizing Committee of the Festival in due time – no later than
October 4, 2024 – accompanied by the information about the participant's place of residence and the
city in which the visa will be received.
4. INTERNATIONAL THEATER COMPETITION

4.1. PROGRAM
● International competition of degree stage productions of Russian and foreign film and
drama schools;
● non-competitive performance of degree stage productions of Russian and foreign film and
drama schools;
● master-classes by leading personalities of Russian and international film and stage
industries

4.2. DATES
The International Theater Competition is scheduled for November 11- 15, 2024.

4.3. ELIGIBILITY
Degree stage productions created by graduate students and teachers of Russian and foreign
higher educational institutions engaged in professional training of film, theater and television
specialists are allowed to participate in the competition.
Only one production from an invited Russian and foreign school is allowed to participate in
the competition.
The productions participating in the competition can be performed in the native language. The
scenery of the performance should be mobile. VGIK does not perform the construction,
transportation, insurance and processing of the scenery.
The competitive and non-competitive programs are compiled by the Organizing Committee,
based on the Festival’s goals, regulations and theme. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to
reasonably refuse the school to participate in the festival.

4.4. APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION
The full application package for participation in the International Theater Competition must
be submitted to the Organizing Committee of the Festival no later than September 15, 2024.
Applications submitted later will not be considered.
Applications are submitted on the official website of the Festival www.vgikfestival.com till
23:00 Moscow time on September 15, 2024.
The application package for participation in the competition contains:
● A filled-in application form signed by an official from the school (rector, dean, artistic
director) is provided to the Organizing Committee of the Festival by e-mail: vgik-debut@mail.ru , as
well as in the original version;
● Recording of the performance: either a DVD provided to the Organizing Committee of the
Festival at the address: 3 Wilhelm Pieck str., Moscow, 129226, Russia, marked "20th International
Theater Competition", or a link to a video hosting / file sharing service with a recording of the
performance is provided by e-mail.
● 3 photos from the performance are provided to the Organizing Committee of the Festival by
email.

4.5. PARTICIPANTS AND GUESTS
The Organizing Committee of the Festival invites a school delegation consisting of
1or 2 teachers and up to 10 students participating in the performance, up to 12 participants in total, to
take part in the competition.
The Organizing Committee of the Festival pays for the accommodation of delegations from
other cities and abroad and three meals a day at VGIK for the duration of the Festival from November 10 to 16, 2024. The organizing committee does not pay for additional days of accommodation and meals outside the established deadlines of the Festival.
The deadline for submitting applications from Festival participants for accommodation is
October 4, 2024.
5. LEGAL ISSUES AND COPYRIGHT

Submitting an application for participation in the festival means that the participant
fully agrees with these regulations.

Films containing information, prohibited by the legislation of the Russian Federation, are not
allowed to participate:
● for demonstrating tobacco smoking, if such an action is not a necessary integral part of the
artistic idea;
● for the promotion of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors;
● for propaganda or advocacy of the items that incite social, racial, national
or religious hatred and enmity;
● for the promotion of extremist activities and the use of extremist
materials;
● for using profanity.
● for demonstrating violence and cruelty, materials promoting
non-standard sexual relations and (or) preferences, pedophilia, and gender reassignment.
All the terms and conditions specified in these regulations are mandatory, otherwise the
Organizing Committee of the Festival reserves the right to exclude the film / theatrical project from
the Festival program.

Submitting an application for participation in the festival means the participant's consent to
the processing of their personal data in accordance with Federal Law No. 152 dated 07/27/2006 "On
Personal Data". The Festival Organizer processes the personal data of the Festival participant solely
for the purposes of the Festival.
Submitting an application for participation in the festival means the conclusion of a license
agreement between the participant and the Festival Organizer, according to which the participant of
the Festival (licensor) grants the Festival Organizer (licensee) the right to use an audiovisual work —
a film or a stage production presented by the participant for displaying at the festival, free of charge,
in the following ways:
● screening of the film for the purposes of the Festival;
● distribution of the film for the purposes of the Festival;
● public screening of a film/stage production for the purposes of the Festival;
● the use of the trailer, stills, screenshots and other fragments of the film lasting no more than
3 minutes for publications in the media and the Internet for the purposes of the Festival.

The right to use the film / stage production in these ways is transferred on the terms of a
simple (non-exclusive) license for the duration of the Festival on the territory of the Russian
Federation, as well as on the Internet.
The Festival Organizer has the right to grant sublicenses to third parties without obtaining
additional written approval from the Festival participant, subject to compliance with the provisions of
these regulations.
The use of films/stage productions is possible only for the purposes of the Festival.
Submitting an application for participation in any of the three competitive programs of the
festival means the participant of the Festival confirm that they are the copyright holder of the entry, or
has all the necessary permits from the copyright holders of the entries included in the Festival
program for their use within the framework of the Festival. The participant of the Festival guarantees
to settle independently and at their own expense any claims from third parties regarding the violation
of any intellectual rights.
VGIK International Student Festival 2024