The Winter Festival has started for the fourth time at the Khudozhestvenny Cinema

The Russian Film Festival of author's cinema "Winter" has opened for the fourth time in the capital's Khudozhestvenny cinema. This festival has become a significant event for the Russian cinema, showcasing the most striking author's works, increasing the prestige of Russian cinema, promoting author's projects, summarizing the results of the film season and strengthening the film distribution system in the country.

The ARTEMIEV group gave a special atmosphere to the evening by performing their compositions. The host of the evening was actress Yulia Khlynina, assisted by singer, composer and musician Pavel Artemyev. Yulia Khlynina reflected on the development of auteur cinema, on the creative dialogue and confrontation between director and producer, supporting this with examples from the history of Russian auteur cinema. "To be or not to be an author's movie? There is no such question. Of course it should be," the presenter noted. Maxim Korolev, the general producer of the festival, and Natalia Mokritskaya, the program director, also took the stage, officially declaring the festival open.

Maxim Korolev, the general producer of the festival: "Today we begin to write the history of the fourth Winter film festival. It seems that we recently opened the first festival — time flies instantly. Many thanks to the authors and producers who provided the paintings for the festival. We love you very much. And as Yuri Bykov said at the presentation of this year's program: “Don't worry if you don't get anything, the most important thing is that you have already got to this festival, you have already won!” Many thanks to the jury for agreeing to this difficult choice. In general, it will be difficult for you. The program today is very, very interesting."

Program Director Natalia Mokritskaya: "I am proud of our program. Thank you to the producers for submitting the films for selection — today it is a difficult task to be a producer of an author's film. This year's program is interesting and varied, but all the films have a very clear author's message. Also this year, we have come up with a new program "Program Director's Choice", where film critics and program directors of Russian festivals will present their chosen films, thus summarizing the main results of the year. I am especially proud of the film "Razlogov" — I thank its creator Anastasia Razlogova for the honor of opening our festival with this picture. Thank you all for the full house. Come to our shows every day, we will be waiting for you here."

Eight full-length films participate in the "Winter" competition program. The Winter Film Festival awards prizes for "Best Visual Solution" (to the cinematographer of the film), "Best Actor", "Best Actress", "Best Screenplay", "Best Director" and the Main Prize.

This year's jury included director Yuri Bykov, actress Ekaterina Vilkova, actor Denis Vlasenko, producer Julia Mishkinene and film critic Ivan Kudryavtsev. Director Alexander Veledinsky became the chairman of the jury. The presenters noted that the festival as a cultural phenomenon has become a cross-cutting theme of the "Winter" this year. It is no coincidence that the opening film was a picture dedicated to the memory of Kirill Razlogov, an outstanding film critic and program director of the Moscow Film Festival, a man who spent most of his life in the cinema.

For the first time, the Winter Cinema Market of Auteur Cinema will be held within the framework of the festival, and the business program of the festival will address key issues of the modern film industry. The Winter Festival also presented a loyalty card designed for connoisseurs of auteur cinema and unique style. Cardholders will be able to take advantage of special offers and discounts from the festival's partners from December 1, 2025 to February 28, 2026.

The objectives of the festival include restoring the audience's interest in auteur cinema, supporting the creative search for a new film language, developing young talents and strengthening the authority of Russian cinema.