**Russia Opens Applications for International Film Session 'Creativity Unites'**
The Russian Cultural Foundation has announced the opening of applications for an international film session aimed at young filmmakers from countries that share Eurasian values. This initiative, titled 'Creativity Unites', is part of the prestigious Diamond Butterfly award and is set to take place from October 19 to November 13 at the Nikita Mikhalkov Academy of Cinematographic and Theatre Arts.
The session is designed to engage filmmakers from member states of the Eurasian Film Academy, as well as from other nations, with the goal of supporting projects that reflect the spiritual and moral traditions, history, customs, and cultures of the participating countries.
Participants will benefit from six masterclasses led by established Russian filmmakers, where they will have the opportunity to develop three-minute film projects. The final selection will be made by an expert council, which will choose ten participants based on applications submitted by the September 5 deadline. The names of the selected filmmakers will be announced on September 15.
Elena Golovnina, the Director General of the Russian Cultural Foundation, emphasized the significance of this session as a platform for emerging filmmakers to collaborate with experienced professionals. She highlighted the organizers' desire to discover "sincere, humane stories" that have the potential to connect people across borders and languages.
Nikita Mikhalkov, a prominent director known for his award-winning film 'Burnt by the Sun', played a pivotal role in establishing both the Eurasian Film Academy and the Diamond Butterfly award, with backing from Russia’s Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The initiative aims to promote cultural exchange and encourage films that embody both "national" and "universal spiritual and moral values."
The Diamond Butterfly award was launched in 2025 as an international alternative to prominent Western film awards. The inaugural ceremony took place in Moscow in November of the same year, where the top prize was awarded to Chinese director Xu Zheng for his film 'Upstream'. The competition featured a diverse array of 34 films from 17 countries, including Russia, China, Türkiye, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, South Africa, Venezuela, and Cuba.
The first 'Creativity Unites' session also attracted participants from various nations, including Russia, China, India, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan, reflecting the initiative's commitment to fostering a collaborative environment among filmmakers from different cultural backgrounds.
As the deadline for applications approaches, the Russian Cultural Foundation is poised to welcome a new wave of creative talent, aiming to enrich the cinematic landscape with stories that resonate across cultures and generations.