The third documentary film festival is scheduled to be held in Moscow on March 19–26, 2026, and works from foreign authors will be accepted for the first time.
The festival organizers are NTV, Gazprom-Media Holding, VGTRK, Moskino Cinema Park, and the Russian Geographical Society. It is being held with the support of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural initiatives.
«Last year, the competition received 604 entries from 67 Russian cities, complemented by applications from Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan. We see that interest in Russian documentaries is growing worldwide. Therefore, this season the festival is open to international participants for the first time, which is a logical step that promotes intercultural exchange and establishment of connections in the new world order.»
The competition program will feature a new nomination, Soul of Russia, reflecting stories of creation, mutual assistance, and the inner strength of the country. The festival’s business program will focus on the development of documentary filmmaking, film production, and distribution.
The mission of Unknown Russia is to bring audiences and documentary filmmakers closer, help authors exchange experiences, and create films that are understandable and interesting to the modern viewer.