The "Korochi" Film Festival kicks off in Kaliningrad in a new edition

The Russian Minister of Culture, Olga Lyubimova, said in a video message to the participants that the festival has become an important and interesting event for the public, participants and the film industry as a whole, noting that during its years it has revealed new talents and given young filmmakers an opportunity to enter this industry.

She added that the festival receives, as usual, a large number of applications for participation, considering this evidence of the presence of a large number of creative and talented filmmakers in Russia, and she wished the participants interesting films, strong emotions, and amazing discoveries.

For her part, Deputy Head of the Government of the Kaliningrad Region and Minister of Sports, Natalia Ishchenko, indicated that the festival has become an established tradition among the residents of the region and part of their personal history. She said that the region's celebration of the 80th anniversary of its founding gives a special significance to the launch of "Korochi" from Kaliningrad, and described the festival as one of the most prominent cultural events in the region, eagerly awaited by its residents and discovered by its visitors.

Ishchenko emphasized that the festival's strength lies in its organizing team, and presented an award to the producer and head of the festival's organizing committee, Anton Kalinkin. Kalinkin thanked the Deputy Prime Minister for the honor, stressing that the award goes to the entire festival team.

In 2026, the Kurochi Festival will take its international format for the first time. The short film competition includes 28 films from Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Georgia, in addition to a joint Russian-Iranian project. This year, the competition received more than 1,500 applications from various countries. The first feature film competition includes eight films by young directors.

The short film competition addresses themes of family ties, loss, and attempts to reconnect, and the program also devotes another group to dreams, freedom of choice, and the desire to transcend the familiar world. Space is presented as a place of dreams, hope and self-discovery.

As for the first feature films, the competition addresses themes of loneliness, unexpected intimate relationships, psychological crises, women’s choices, and the sudden return of the past, in addition to comedy based on absurd and embarrassing situations.

The festival continues in Kaliningrad until August 23, and the performances can be attended for free after prior registration through the official website of the festival. In addition to the two competitions, the program includes non-competition performances, the “Kuroshi.Stars” program, performances in the summer cinema in the Central Park, and educational and professional events.

The festival is held with the support of the Russian Ministry of Culture, the Government of the Kaliningrad Region and the independent non-profit organization "Festival Management", while TASS acts as the general media partner of the festival.