Антарес международный кинофестиваль (3)

Festival Start: 11 September 2026      Festival Ende: 25 September 2026

ANTARES - International Film Festival of Labor and Profession.

The Antares Film Festival showcases films where work is not just a backdrop, but the heart of the story. We prioritize talented works that use the protagonist's profession as the foundation of their drama, allowing us to explore characters, conflicts, dreams, and achievements.

Our focus is on individuals whose hands and minds perform everyday feats, such as steelworkers and teachers, doctors and farmers, engineers and fishermen. We value stories where work is not just a job, but a destiny. Where a machine, a blackboard, an operating room, or a construction site becomes a space for personal growth, struggle, triumph, or tragedy.

The festival was initiated by the Association of Employers "Safety and Quality". The film festival was produced by: Open Communication Group LLC

VII - PRIZES AND AWARDS (from the film festival regulations)

THE BRONZE STATUETTE "ANTARES" IS AWARDED TO:

• The best film of the film festival by the decision of the jury - the Grand Prix of the Antares film festival
• The best feature film
• The best short film
• The best documentary film
• The best animated film
• The best screenplay of the screenplay competition


THE ANTARES FILM FESTIVAL AWARDED:

In the competition of feature films:
• Best adaptation of a profession
• Best screenplay
• Best director
• Best cinematography
• Best male role
• Best female role
• Best song / soundtrack / music
• Audience Award

In the competition of short feature films:
• Best adaptation of a profession
• Best screenplay
• Best director
• Best cinematography
• Best male role
• Best female role
• Best song / soundtrack
• Audience Award

In the documentary film competition:
• Best adaptation of a profession
• Best script
• Best director
• Best cinematography
• Best song / soundtrack
• Audience Award

In the animated film competition:
• Best adaptation of a profession
• Best screenplay
• Best director
• Best visual implementation
• Best music / soundtrack
• Audience Award

In the script competition:
• Best script about a profession
• Best script about a labor hero
• Best dialogue in a script
• Best original plot
• Special diploma for the relevance of the topic

REGULATIONS (RULES) OF THE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL "ANTARES"

PREAMBLE

The rhythm of work beats in the heart of the world. It is the rhythm of machines and symphonies, discoveries in the silence of laboratories and lessons in noisy classrooms, the rhythm of creation that turns ideas into reality. But behind this rhythm is always a human being, with their character, dreams, struggles, and triumphs. The International Film Festival "Antares" is dedicated to becoming the voice of this human being. Our festival is a bridge between creative vision and a multi-thousand audience hungry for meanings and authentic stories. It is a space of dialogue where copyright and artistic integrity are an indisputable value. Let us together tell the most important stories of our time – stories about those who create the future through their work.

I - GENERAL PROVISIONS

Antares International Film Festival of Labor and Profession, will be held in Moscow from September 11 to 25, 2026.

Thematic core and criteria for selecting works: The Film Festival's program includes films and screenplays where the theme of labor is the central dramatic element rather than a background circumstance. Special attention is given to projects where the protagonist's professional activities serve as the basis for revealing their character, internal conflicts, aspirations, and achievements. The Festival focuses on stories about people from various professions (including workers, engineers, teachers, doctors, farmers, and many others) whose daily work is an act of creation. The priority is given to works that portray work as a calling and destiny, and that transform the workplace—whether it's a factory, a school classroom, an operating room, or a scientific laboratory—into a space of personal transformation, resilience, triumph, or drama.

Goals and objectives: The film festival is held in order to develop domestic cinema, create a unique platform for understanding the image of the Working Man in modern cinema, as well as to popularize professions and increase their prestige, develop international cultural exchange and strengthen cooperation between filmmakers around the world.

The festival is addressed to a wide range of viewers — from recognized cinema professionals to the broadest public interested in relevant social issues and inspiring stories about people who create the reality around us.

The screening of the best international films focused on the theme of work within the framework of the festival is intended to enrich Russian filmmakers, giving a new impetus to the creation of high-quality films about professions in Russia. The exposure to advanced creative and technical solutions presented within the festival program will contribute to the development of new approaches and enable the creation of Russian films on this topic that meet high global standards.

All rights to the films and screenplays presented at the Film Festival, including intellectual property, remain with their respective owners. Submitting an application means granting the Festival Organizing Committee a limited, non-exclusive license to demonstrate work within the Festival's programs and non-commercial events in accordance with these Regulations.

Organizers: The festival is initiated by the Association "Security and Quality" and is held annually with the assistance of a consortium of state, commercial, and industry structures. The film festival is operated by the Open Communication Group LLC.

II - FESTIVAL PROGRAM

1. INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS:

feature films (up to 120 minutes)
short films (up to 20 minutes)
documentary films (up to 30 minutes)
animated films (up to 20 minutes)
screenplay competition (up to 30 pages in Russian or english) - works dedicated to the theme of work and professional activity

2. NON-COMPETITIVE PROGRAMS:

non-competitive screening of films about professions
retrospective screening of films dedicated to labor heroes

3. online PROGRAM "ANTARES LIVE":
In 2026, the Antares Festival launches a special online program so that viewers from all over Russia can become part of our event in real time.

Important condition for participants: Participation in the online program is optional. By default, films will not participate in the online screening. Your work will be shown in the online program only after receiving your direct written consent, which the Organizing Committee will request separately after the official selection of the film for the competition program.

Why should authors take part in Antares LIVE?
By giving your consent to the online screening, you not only expand the audience for your film, but also get the opportunity to compete for additional awards:

Audience Award: All films in the online program become participants in a special online voting. Viewers from Russia will be able to evaluate your work, and based on their votes, the Audience awards will be presented in each of the festival's competitions.

Certificate from the festival: According to the voting results, the best online programs will also receive special festival certificates, which will be an additional recognition of your work by a wide audience.
This is a unique chance to receive a direct response from the festival's thousands of audience and be awarded a special prize.

Format and security of the screening:

The films of the competition screening (in agreement with the copyright holders) will be broadcast in a closed online hall on the official website of the festival www.antares.film at the same time when the film is running in the main cinema zone. Thus, the audience in the hall and online will see the premiere simultaneously.

online screening is available exclusively in the territory of the Russian Federation with the use of geo-blocking technologies.

The broadcast is carried out through a secure video service that uses digital protection means to prevent unauthorized storage and distribution of content.

III - CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION

All, without exception, films of the competitive screening must be completed after January 1, 2024. For competitive programs, priority is given to films that have not had prior public screenings (including online platforms) in the Russian Federation. The production date is determined by the copyright indicated in the film or video copy.

The application deadline is January 1, 2026, and July 31, 2026 (for films produced in 2025, it is possible to submit a rough cut).

Submission of an application for participation in the Festival's competitive programs is subject to a fee. The amount of the organizational (entry) fee, which is non-refundable, is determined by the category of the application and the deadline for its submission in accordance with the current rates. The fee is charged for the review of the application and the film. Films that have a Russian National Film Certificate (NFC) in accordance with Article 4 of Federal Law No. 126-FZ dated August 22, 1996, "On State Support for the Cinema of the Russian Federation" are exempt from paying this fee.

Payment of the entry fee is a prerequisite for the consideration of the application after the specified deadlines. The entry fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.

IV - SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS

Procedure for submitting and processing applications

1. Methods of submitting applications:
Applications for participation in the selection process can be submitted in the following ways:

By filling out an electronic form on the official website of the festival: www.antares.film

Through specialized online platforms for filmmakers, such as "Our Festivals," Festhome, and others, as listed on the festival's website.

2. A set of mandatory materials for films:
For consideration by the competition committee, the application must include a full package of documents:

A film (only digital copies of films) in DCP (Digital Cinema Package) format or files in QuickTime containers (with Apple ProRes 422 HQ codec or higher) or MP4 (with H.264 codec)
A participant's questionnaire filled out according to the established form. The questionnaire must contain the following information: the title of the film, the director-producer, the country and year of production, and other details.
subtitles: All films must be subtitled in Russian or english. A file with subtitles (in the format .srt, .stl or .vtt) must be attached to the application.
A playbill or poster for a movie.
Teaser (promotional video) of the movie (up to 60 seconds).

3. Confirmation of the application:
Participants who have submitted an application through the platforms can track the status of their application in their personal account on the respective platform. When submitting an application through the form on the film festival website, a confirmation is sent to the specified email address.

V - JURY OF THE FILM FESTIVAL

The films and screenplays selected for each of the competitions are evaluated by a jury composed of leading Russian and foreign film figures (directors, producers, cinematographers, screenwriters), as well as film critics and film scholars. In order to comprehensively assess the artistic merit and authenticity of the professional themes, the jury may also include recognized experts in the relevant fields, such as representatives of trade unions, labor veterans, holders of honorary titles in their respective professions, and distinguished scientists and engineers.

The jury for each competition consists of at least three (3) members.

The composition of the jury for all competition programs changes annually. The jury may not include individuals who are involved in the creation or commercial distribution of the films submitted to the competition. All members of the jury are required to refrain from making public statements about the competition films (including mentions and direct references to the winning films, as well as the publication of open-source references and/or reviews of the winning films or any other references that indicate the winners of the competition) until the official award ceremony and the announcement of the winners.

All jury decisions are final and cannot be discussed.

VI - FILM FESTIVAL PROGRAM

The official competitive program of the film festival (Shortlist), including the schedule of screenings, the list of films and the list of competitive scenarios, is published on the website www.antares.film 30 days before the start of the festival. The non-competitive program of the film festival is also published on the festival website www.antares.film. For the participants, guests and partners of the festival, an electronic catalog is issued with film summaries and creative biographies of the authors.

VIII - TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES

Submission of screening materials: Participants whose films have been selected for participation in the competitive and non-competitive programs are required to submit high-quality screening materials to the Festival Organizing Committee by August 15, 2026. The materials must be submitted exclusively through a secure online file-sharing platform, and a link to the platform will be provided to the selected participants. If the film is not submitted within the specified deadline, the Organizing Committee reserves the right to exclude the work from the Festival program. Detailed technical requirements, including resolution, bitrate, and audio tracks, will be sent to each selected participant individually, along with an official invitation.

subtitles: Providing a file with subtitles in english or Russian is a prerequisite for the inclusion of the film in the screening program.

The participant is fully responsible for the technical quality and functionality of the materials provided for selection and screening. The Organizing Committee has the right to remove the film from the competition if the provided copy does not meet the stated technical requirements or has defects that prevent a high-quality public screening.

IX - FILM PROMOTION

The participants of the Film Festival grant the Organizing Committee the right to use fragments of their films (up to 10% of the running time, but no more than 3 minutes), as well as frames, photos, trailers, and text materials, for the coverage of the Festival in the media (TV, Internet, print) and in any official printed materials and online publications of the Festival.

X - INVITATION TO THE FESTIVAL

The directors of the films included in the program will be invited to the Festival. In the event that the director is unable to attend the Festival, they may (in agreement with the Festival's organizing committee) transfer their invitation to another member of the film's crew. The Festival provides representatives of the competition films with an invitation to obtain a visa to the Russian Federation or to arrange a business trip.

The festival reserves the right to invite distinguished guests, participants in non-competitive screenings and other programs, leading master classes, heroes of the films presented at the festival, representatives of the media, and various cultural organizations.

XI - FORCE MAJEURE

The Festival Organizing Committee reserves the right to make changes to the dates, format of the event (including the transition to fully or partially online screenings) and the Festival program in the event of force majeure, including but not limited to: orders of government agencies, threats to public health, natural disasters, technical failures of a global nature and other situations beyond the control of the Organizing Committee. In such cases, the entrance fees are transferred to the following year.

XII - CONFIRMATION OF AGREEMENT WITH THE CONDITIONS

By submitting an electronic application for participation in the Antares Festival, you confirm that you are the copyright holder of the film or its authorized representative and agree to all the above-mentioned points of this Regulations in full.

Premiere Requirements: No premiere requiremen