“Spirit of Fire” Has Announced the Dates for the 25th Festival

KHANTY-MANSIYSK, June 29. The Organizing Committee of the XXV International Debut Film Festival "Spirit of Fire" has announced the dates of the anniversary screening and its theme. The festival will be held in Khanty-Mansiysk from March 10 to March 14, 2027. Applications for participation in the screening will be accepted from October 1, 2026.

As it was noted in front of Ugra Government at the organizing committee, the anniversary year for the Spirit of Fire, co–organizer Gazprom Neft, communication partner Roscongress Foundation and the festival team with an important and responsible task: to sum up the way they have traveled and outline new horizons by creating a program that will pay tribute to the legacy of the Spirit of Fire and it will set the vector of its development for years to come.

 

"Over the past 25 years, Spirit of Fire has become one of the most respected international debut film festivals, and the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug — Ugra has become a place of attraction for young filmmakers from all over the world. New names were discovered here, many of which later gained worldwide recognition. It is important for us that, while preserving the best traditions of the Spirit of Fire, the festival continues to grow, expand international cooperation and open up new opportunities for young authors. I am sure that the XXV anniversary festival will mark the beginning of a new stage in the history of the Spirit of Fire and will inspire a new generation of cinematographers," Ruslan Kukharuk, Governor of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug — Ugra, said.

The festival traditionally includes five competitive programs: the International competition, "Russian Debuts", "Debut — short meter", the international program of films for children and youth "Your Cinema" and the program "Film-in-progress".

At least six feature films, including at least one Russian film, will participate in the International Competition. Only the first or second feature-length works of directors in feature films that have not previously been shown in Russia can participate. 

At least six feature films, which are the director's first work in the field of feature films, will be selected in the Russian Debuts competition. 

No more than 18 short feature films of up to 30 minutes in length will take part in the "Debut – Short Meter" competition. 

"Your Cinema" is a competition program dedicated to modern cinema for children and teenagers, which includes Russian and international premieres.

The Film-in-progress program is the industrial section of the festival, where directors and producers present unfinished films to their colleagues. 

The competition programs of the XXV Film Festival include films that were completed no earlier than January 1, 2026.

About the festival

Spirit of Fire is the leading debut film festival in Russia and abroad and one of the main venues for young directors. It was initiated in 2002 by People's Artist of the Russian Federation, film director Sergei Soloviev, who remained the permanent president for almost twenty years. 

Since 2023, the new president of the festival is the famous world film director Emir Kusturica.

The Spirit of Fire Festival is held with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation.

The festival has been held with the continued support of the Government of the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug – Ugra since its foundation. 

Since 2007, the Spirit of Fire Film Festival has been held with the support of Gazprom Neft. The company co-organizes the festival and its cultural and educational program, awards the best Russian film in the nomination "For the preservation of cultural traditions".

The Roscongress Foundation is the festival's communication partner.