The 22nd Spirit of Fire International Debut Film Festival will take place in Khanty-Mansiysk on 23–26 March as part of Russia’s Chairship of BRICS in 2024.

Governor of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra Natalia Komarova, Special Envoy of the President of the Russian Federation on International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy, Head of Cinematography and Digital Development Department of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation Dmitry Davidenko, Director of Multilateral Humanitarian Cooperation and Cultural Relations Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Alexander Alimov, Vice-President of the Spirit of Fire International Film Festival Maria Zvereva, Chairman of the Spirit of Fire Festival Selection Committee Petr Shepotinnik, Deputy CEO of the Roscongress Foundation Elena Marinina, and Deputy General Director of Gazprom-Media Holding Yulia Golubeva participated in the press conference.

The list of international and Russian competition programme participants was unveiled during the press conference together with the full jury for the main and Russian competitions. The festival business programme was presented as well. This year’s festival will feature outstanding films by directors from Russia and 10 other countries. The theme of the festival is ‘The Special Language of National Cinematography’.

Since 2002 the festival has enjoyed unwavering support of the Government of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra. In 2022 film director Emir Kusturica became the new president of the festival.

The Spirit of Fire cultural and educational programme was prepared with assistance of the general partner Gazprom Neft, which has supported the festival for the last 18 years.

The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s BRICS Chairship and will serve as communication partner for the festival.

Official website of the festival