VII Международный кинофестиваль «Мартовский КиноКот» (7)

Festival start: 28 March 2026      Festival end: 29 March 2026

«March KinoKot» will be held in a hybrid format, including an online selection of entries by a jury consisting of figures from the film industry in Russia, the United States, France and Scotland, as well as an in-person award ceremony in Moscow at the end of March 2026. The purpose of the Film Festival is not only to celebrate talented directors throughout Russia and abroad, but also to help them advance in the film industry, as well as to make new acquaintances.

Nominations:

Best Screenplay
Best Director's Work
Best cinematography
The best work of a director of editing
The best color correction
Best Child Role
Best Male Role
Best Female Role
Best Feature Film
Best Animated Film
Best Documentary Feature
Grand Prix


Prizes:

Diplomas and reviews from the jury members
Unique statuettes of the Film Festival
Gifts from partners
Participation in a Round table discussion with the members of the jury
The films of the directors will be shown as part of the full-time Film Festival in Samara.

REGULATIONS OF THE VII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

«MARCH KINOKOT»

GENERAL PROVISIONS

ARTICLE 1
The 7th International Film Festival «March KinoKot» will be held in a hybrid format, including online selection of competition films by the members of the jury and an in-person Award Ceremony in Moscow at the end of March 2026.

ARTICLE 2
The purpose of the Film Festival is to discover new talents in Russia and abroad, to present their works to the jury composed of representatives of the Russian and international film industries.

NOMINATIONS

ARTICLE 3 – Nominations:
- Best Screenplay
- Best Directing
- Best Cinematography
- Best Film Editing
- Best Color Grading
- Best Child Performance
- Best Actor
- Best Actress
- Best Live-Action Film
- Best Animated Film
- Best Documentary Film
- Grand Prix

The jury reserves the right not to determine a winner in certain nominations and age categories if the submitted works are deemed non-competitive.

Only one participant of the Film Festival may receive the Grand Prix.

Nominees for victory are the participants whose films have been selected for the short list.

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE FILM FESTIVAL

ARTICLE 4
The Directorate is responsible for ensuring compliance with copyright of the submitted films and for maintaining the confidentiality of the personal data of the Film Festival participants.


WHO ARE THE JUDGES?

ARTICLE 5 – The Jury of the Film Festival includes:

Anthony White – Composer, music producer, honorary member of the Royal Society of Arts

Oliviia Tcargush – Hollywood actress, TikTok blogger, appeared in projects by Sony, Netflix, Apple TV+

Bulat Sabitov – Director, founder of TomatFilms and the YouTube show “Well, are we filming?”

Artyom Zhilyaev – Screenwriter, Editor-in-Chief of the Daria Lebedeva Screenwriting Academy

Mariia Nikolaeva – Actress, blogger, vocalist, teacher, stand-up comedian

Evgeny Ivakin – Colorist, founder of IVAKIN AGENCY and the YouTube channel “Notes by the colorist Ivakin”

Loïc Porcher – Producer, cinematographer, Cannes International Film Festival participant, collaborated with Warner Bros.

The composition of the jury may be changed by the decision of the Directorate.


PARTICIPATION TERMS

ARTICLE 6
Short films produced between 2015 and 2026 with a duration of no more than 35 minutes are eligible for participation in the Film Festival’s competition program.

Preference is given to films whose themes are based on traditional spiritual and moral values.

A distribution certificate is not required.

ARTICLE 7
Films must be submitted between December 1, 2025 and February 15, 2026 (inclusive).

Films that have participated in or won awards at other festivals are eligible.

ARTICLE 8
The Film Festival is open to:
- Russian and foreign professional and non-professional filmmakers
- School, youth, and independent film studios
- Students of colleges, technical schools, universities of creative and other specializations

ARTICLE 9 – Age categories:
- 12 to 16 years old
- 17 to 24 years old
- 25 years old and older

APPLICATION

ARTICLE 10 – The application must include:
- Full name or pseudonym of the director
- Email of the director or contact person
- Age category
- Country and city of residence
- Link to social media account (Telegram or VK preferred) or phone number
- Film title
- Film duration
- Age rating
- Link to the film with download option
- Short synopsis (3–5 sentences)
- Film poster and still images
- Full names or pseudonyms of the main cast

ARTICLE 11
The participant grants permission to use film materials (synopsis, poster, still images) for media coverage.

ARTICLE 12
Participants consent to photo/video recording and processing of personal data for festival purposes.


AWARDS AND SCREENINGS

ARTICLE 13
In case of winning, the participant consents to a single non-commercial screening of the film during the Closing Ceremony in Moscow.

ARTICLE 14
Nominees are expected to attend the Award Ceremony in person. Travel and accommodation expenses are borne by the participant.

ARTICLE 15
Winners receive the official Film Festival laurel. The use of the festival logo in promotional materials is welcomed.

ARTICLE 16
Winners and nominees receive diplomas signed by jury members (electronic format possible).

ARTICLE 17 – In addition, winners receive:

- Unique Film Festival statuettes
- Written review from the jury
- Participation in a Round Table with the jury
- Gifts from festival partners
- Screening of the winning film during the in-person Film Festival in Samara


FINAL PROVISIONS

ARTICLE 18
No limit on the number of films per author. One film per application. Each application must be submitted and paid separately. Volume discounts may apply.

ARTICLE 19
Participation fee: 2 USD/EUR via Festhome.com

ARTICLE 20
Participation implies acceptance of all provisions of these Regulations.

ARTICLE 21
Subscription to VKontakte or Telegram channels is recommended but not mandatory.

ARTICLE 22
Meow!