The applications call for the international pitching of film projects, which will be held within the XXI Kazan International Film Festival “Altyn Minbar”, starts. The pitching is being held for the sixth time and is an important platform for supporting and promoting new cinematic projects.
Pitching is the public presentation and defense of film projects before an expert council. Participants present their scripts and ideas to attract the attention of producers, directors, and other professionals interested in the project. The Expert Commission includes well-known figures of cinema in the Russian Federation, CIS countries, and foreign countries. They evaluate the projects and select the winners.
Pitching Goals:
- Stimulating the development of joint film production with the Republic of Tatarstan.
- Discovering new names in the cinematic world.
- Presentation of new projects and search for fresh ideas for the development of cinema.
- Introduction of film filmmakers with producers, directors, and other specialists.
Terms of participation:
- The following are invited to participate: Russian and foreign cinematographers with experience in the field of film production. Both personal presence and online participation are possible during project defense.
- To apply, you must fill out a form on the website, https://kazan-mfmk.com/pitch. Each application must contain one project.
- Deadline for submitting applications: until August 1, 2025 (inclusive, until 23:59 Moscow time).
- Categories: applications and scripts in English and Russian are accepted in the category “Feature films,” synopses and scripts of feature films.
- The project must be in co-production with the Republic of Tatarstan.
After the deadline for accepting applications, a shortlist, including at least 10 projects, will be formed. The shortlisted participants must send their presentations by August 20, 2025. The public defense of the projects will take place during the film festival (September 5-9, 2025).
The winner will be awarded 500 000 rubles and will be provided with assistance in the film project’s implementation, free provision or discounts on various types of services in the field of cinematography, valuable prizes, etc.
You can check the pitching regulations on the official website of the festival.
We invite you to take part in the pitching and become a part of a big cinematic event.
REGULATIONS on Pitching of film projects
within the XXI “Altyn Minbar” Kazan International Film Festival
- GENERAL PROVISIONS
1.1. Pitching of film projects (hereinafter – the pitching) is held within the XXI “Altyn Minbar” Kazan International Film Festival (hereinafter – the Festival) in Kazan, the Republic of Tatarstan from September 5 to 9, 2025. Organizers: Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan, GBUK RT “Tatarkino”, LLC Kinofest.
1.2. Pitching is a public presentation and defense of film projects (scripts or story outline — synopses) before the Expert Council with the aim of attracting the attention of persons or organizations interested in the project’s implementation, in accordance with the timing provided for each project.
1.3. The main task of Pitching is to stimulate the development of joint film production with the Republic of Tatarstan in the regions of Russia, including the participation of foreign countries, discovering new names in the cinematography world, presenting new projects, searching for fresh ideas for cinema development, creating a database of filmmakers from Russian regions and foreign countries, and introducing filmmakers to producers, directors, and others, interested in joint film projects. Pitching provides an opportunity for talented cinematographers to implement their creative projects.
1.4. Within the pitching educational programs, meetings with representatives of the Pitching Expert Council and workshops are held.
1.5. The Pitching is organized by the Executive directorate of the Festival, whose functions include:
– development of Pitching Regulations;
– involvement of the Selection Committee and Expert Council members from among the leading producers, directors, film experts, and screenwriters from Russia and other countries of the world;
– informational support of the event;
– involvement of co-organizers, partners, informational partners;
– holding a Pitching-session.
1.6. The preliminary selection of projects for pitching is carried out by a Selection Committee, formed by the pitching organizers. Its functions include:
– consideration of participants’ applications (entry forms, synopses; scripts);
– evaluation of the participants’ projects;
– shortlist formation.
- Participation
2.1.Applications are accepted from citizens or a team of the Russian Federation and foreign countries, experienced in the field of film production no less than in one feature film. Applications and scripts are accepted in English and Russian.
2.2.Works in the category “Feature film”, synopses/scripts of feature films are accepted.
2.3. Co-production with the Republic of Tatarstan is obligatory.
2.4.Submission and participation in pitching are free.
2.5.The Organizing Committee of the festival and Pitching does not undertake costs on flight, accommodation, and meals of Pitching shortlist participants.
2.6.For participation in pitching you need to fill out the application form on the website www.kazan-mfmk.com.
Selection of applications
3.1.The selection of applications starts from the moment of the announcement of the pitching and ends on August 1, 2025 (inclusive, at 23:59 Moscow time). Each application should contain one project.
3.2. Applications including several scenario proposals at once will not be considered.
3.3. The preliminary selection for the pitching is carried out by a Selection Committee, formed by the pitching organizers. According to the results of selection committee work, a pitching shortlist, containing no less than 10 projects,is formed.
3.4. Participants included in the pitching shortlist should send their presentations until August 20, 2025.
- Presentation requirements
4.1. Please mention the following while preparing your presentation:
4.1. Format:
- Electronic format (PDF, PowerPoint).
4.2. Composition and structure:
Logical sequence: preface (the author’s motivation/value argumentation/artistic value—no more than 5 sentences) → synopses → references → team → production → promotion.
- Clearly highlight the key points (titles, citations, visual elements).
4.2. Content and presentation:
- Clarity: minimum text, maximum visibility (font Times New Roman 12 is preferable).
- No information overloading. Each sentence should make sense.
- Use clear fonts and colors that are readable even on a wide screen.
- The use of English:
- All crucial points are doubled in English (subtitles, clarifying notes).
- Synopses, team, and budget data are provided in two languages (Russian and English).
- Interactivity and dynamism:
- It is allowed to use short video reels, illustrations, graphics, storyboards, characters, and costume sketches.
- Practicality and technical side:
- Compliance with the time limit for the presentation (up to 7 minutes for a presentation + 5 minutes for experts’ questions).
- Remote presentation (in case of no possibility to present in person).
- Additional evaluation criteria:
- Having a planned budget and a realistic production plan for the film.
- Co-production with the Republic of Tatarstan is obligatory and is specially highlighted in the presentation.
- Defense of projects
5.1. Authors and representatives of the shortlisted teams are obliged to be present in person or remotely (to participate in the public defense – pitching of projects) on the day of the Pitching. In case of refusal to participate in the defense, the Pitching Organizing Committee has the right to offer participation in the defense of the project to the next candidate who received the highest number of points.
5.2. Brief information about the authors of the projects, included in the shortlist as well as synopses, will be published on the information resources of the festival.
5.3. The projects selected in the shortlist are evaluated by the Expert Council formed by the Executive Directorate of the Festival. When making assessments, preference will be given to projects in which the Republic of Tatarstan will be evolved as one of the participants of the film production process.
5.4. The order of speeches and presentations at the pitching is determined by the Executive Directorate of the Festival. The presentation of the project is given no more than 7 minutes. For questions from the pitching experts and partners and discussion of the project after the presentation, 5 minutes are given.
5.5. According to the results of the speeches, the Expert Council determines the winners of the pitching and awards them certificates and prizes. The amount of remuneration given to the winner of the pitching is 500 000 (five hundred thousand) rubles provided by the budget of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan.
5.6. As a prize can be film production, assistance in the film project’s implementation, free provision or discounts on various types of services in the field of cinematography, valuable prizes, etc.
- Informational support
6.1. The authors of the projects, included in the pitching shortlist, in case of their implementation, are obliged to post information about participation in pitching and the logo of the festival in the final credits of the project.
6.2. The authors of the implemented projects included in the pitching shortlist are recommended to provide information (a press release) about their project to the Executive Directorate of the Festival for publication on the websites of the organizers and for mailing informational partners of Pitching and the Festival.
6.3. The Executive Directorate of the Festival reserves the right to use all information and material, provided by the Pitching participants as well as to use the video recording of the Pitching aiming at promotion of the Pitching achievements on the Internet and media.
- Copyright
7.1. The pitching participant guarantees that he or she has all full powers (possession of exclusive rights or the corresponding permission of the copyright holder) to provide materials for participation in the pitching.
7.2. Responsibility for possible claims and suits by third parties related to copyright and related rights lies with the pitching participant.
7.3. In case of claims by third parties concerning the ownership of the rights to the projects provided for pitching (scripts and applications), the organizing committee of pitching reserves the right to withdraw the pitching participant’s project from consideration until all circumstances are clarified.
7.4. The participants of the pitching shortlist should provide copies of copyright agreements for filmmaking, as well as copies of copyright agreements for the acquisition of the exclusive right for screen adaptation in the case of cinematographic use of the literary source.
- The final provisions of Pitching
8.1. The Executive Directorate of the Festival preserves the right to present additional (non-competition) projects within pitching (no more than 2 projects).
8.2. The Selection Committee and the Expert Council preserve the right not to explain the reason for the refusal to include the project in the shortlist, and not to comment it.
8.3. The Executive Directorate of the Festival preserves the right to make changes in the regulations of Pitching at the time of applications acceptance.
Entry form for participation in the competitive selection of film projects within the XXI Kazan International Film Festival “Altyn Minbar”
| Full name: | |
| Phone number: | |
| E-mail: | |
| Date of birth: | |
| Education: | |
| Name of the script: |
- For participation in the competitive selection of pitching you need to send:
- A brief synopsis of the script submitted for the competition (a synopsis but not an abstract, i.e., it should contain the end of the story).
- If this script is completed, then the full text of the script.
- This entry form with fully filled in fields (see the list of questions below).
Send the materials to the address info@kazan-mfmk.com
By sending us this entry form, you thereby confirm that you have read published on the website www.kazan-mfmk.comprivacy policy and terms of the competition and agree that the process of reviewing this application with all its annexes including business correspondence with the author, will be carried out within these conditions.
- In the field right down the “logline” or “formula” of the story – brief retelling of the story, containing no more than three sentences.
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- List several existing films or TV series, which you can call as your reference points during writing of this story.
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- Which region of the Russian Federation, foreign country you want to co-produce the submitted film with? _____________________________________________________________________________
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- Tell about yourself in a free form. If you are going to work as a co-author, provide the data of all co-authors. List the films you have taken part in production of (in case you have such). __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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