The Message to Man International Film Festival of documentaries, live-action shorts, animated, and experimental films announces its dates and opens submissions for the competition programme.
One of Russia’s largest international film festivals will take place in St. Petersburg from October 17 to 25, 2025.
Following the main event, the Echoes of Message to Man will bring the best films of the Festival’s 35th edition to five regions across Russia, running from November 1 to 30.
2025 will mark a milestone year for the Festival as it celebrates its 35th anniversary.
The Message to Man programme traditionally features nearly 200 full-length and short films from around the globe, screened at St. Petersburg’s premier cinema venues.
In 2024, tens of thousands attended the Festival’s screenings and events, reflecting the audience’s ever-growing interest in bold, contemporary cinema.
“The programmers of major festivals often hold the belief that competitions should not be overly strong and that a balance must be maintained between obviously standout films and those less prominent. Our programmers at Message to Man do not adhere to this general rule. As in previous years, we remain committed to seeking out exceptional cinema from all corners of the Earth and sincerely look forward to seeing these works among the submissions for this year’s competition,” says Mikhail Ratgauz, Programme director of the Message to Man Film Festival.
Applications are accepted from January 21 to July 1, 2025.
The Festival’s jury will evaluate films in the following nominations:
- Golden Centaur Grand Prix and RUB 250,000 cash prize for Best Film: awarded by the jury of the International Competition;
- Three special Silver Centaur prizes and RUB 100,000 with each prize: awarded by the jury of the International Competition;
- Special Silver Centaur prize and RUB 100,000 cash prize for Best Documentary Film of the National Competition: awarded by the jury of the National Competition;
- Special Silver Centaur prize of the jury and RUB 50,000 cash prize (with citation): awarded by the jury of the National Competition;
- Silver Centaur prize of the jury in the In Silico Experimental Film Competition and RUB 100,000 cash prize for Best Experimental Film.
Applications from filmmakers may be submitted:
- by filling in a form at the Festival’s website: message2man.com
- via online platforms: FilmFreeWay, FestHome.
No application fee is charged for entries submitted for the National Competition and the In Silico Experimental Film Competition.
There are fees to be paid when applying for the International Competition:
— EUR 20 (or RUB 2,000) for full-length documentaries (40 to 120 min);
— EUR 10 (or RUB 1,000) for live-action short films (up to 30 min);
— EUR 7 (or RUB 700) for short documentaries (up to 40 min);
— EUR 7 (or RUB 700) for animated short films (up to 30 min).
Payments are to be made when applying through online platforms. A submission for the International Competition is considered incomplete and will not be reviewed by the selection committee if payment is not provided.
The Directorate of the Message to Man IFF kindly asks the applicants to carefully read the complete Festival Regulations.
In addition to the main competition programme, the 35th Message to Man IFF will offer viewers a selection of out-of-competition programmes and retrospectives, along with master classes and creative meetings with renowned Russian and international filmmakers.
For the third time, the Festival will also feature the Industry Programme, which includes the documentary project pitching session Message to Tomorrow, premiere screenings of documentary series from Russian streaming platforms, roundtables, and professional discussion panels featuring Russian film industry’s prominent figures.
Stay updated with the Festival news at message2man.com, and follow the Festival account at vk.com/m2mfestival and Telegram channel at t.me/message2man.