The Industrial Programme will return to the festival for the fourth time, taking place from 19 to 21 October 2026 in St. Petersburg. It is organized by the team behind the 36th Message to Man International Film Festival, with financial support from the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives and organizational support from the “Strana.DOC” Club.
The programme will feature pitching sessions for documentary and experimental projects, presentations by online platforms, and discussions on current industry topics. This year, the Industrial Programme will focus on expanding post-production opportunities in documentary filmmaking and the role of artificial intelligence in this process.
Over the past three years, the festival’s Industrial Programme has become a unique platform for professional exchange and collaboration among creators of auteur and experimental films, as well as content for online platforms and social media.
The pitching sessions will be held in two categories:
- Message to Tomorrow — documentary projects currently in production or post-production.
- Experimental Project Competition — experimental projects at any stage of production.
The total prize fund is 700,000 rubles.
Participants will also have the opportunity to compete for special awards from the Industrial Programme’s partners, including post-production studios and companies specializing in film and video equipment rental.
Call for submissions opens: 12 August 2026
Submission deadline: 12 September 2026
The full pitching regulations and application form are available on the website docindustry.ru.