The film directors and artists who will guide finalists at the ArtMasters Open International Team Competition have been revealed. The event is scheduled to take place in September in Ekaterinburg as part of the International Festival of Youth.
“The ArtMasters Open format offers young professionals an opportunity to collaborate directly with established masters – directors, artists, and experts – and to gain hands-on experience within a real production environment. It is precisely this cross-generational and cross-cultural exchange that drives new industry standards and brings future leaders to the forefront,” said Borislav Volodin, Director of the ArtMasters NGO.
The finalists comprise 100 young creative professionals from around the world. They will form international teams across two tracks: Film and Music.
Alexey Kupriyanov, a seasoned filmmaker, cinematographer, and director with approximately 1,000 music videos and commercials to his name for leading Russian and international brands, including Sber, Ozon, Mercedes, Beats, and World of Tanks, has been appointed as the lead director for the Film track. He has also contributed to feature films and music videos for renowned Russian artists such as Basta, Zivert, and Dima Bilan. Under the mentorship of acclaimed Russian directors whose works have been recognized at international festivals, finalist teams will produce videos on the theme “The Art of Being Human,” exploring culture as a universal language in an era of technological change and artificial intelligence.
In the Music category, finalists will create music videos for prominent Russian performers, including Margo, Hollyflame, and Leon Kemstach. The lead director for this track is Sergey Grey, a music video director, producer, and founder of Serghey Grey Production. He serves as the regular director for Mari Kraimbrery and has directed music videos for Arthur Pirozhkov’s hits, which have collectively garnered over 500 million views. Over the past decade, Grey has helmed more than 300 music videos and 150 live performances, working with artists such as Polina Gagarina, Zivert, Olga Buzova, and the band Vintage, among others. He has also produced documentary content and music videos for internationally acclaimed performers. For two years, he has acted as a mentor for ArtMasters national teams in the Music track.
“The International Festival of Youth brings together talented young people from across the globe, fostering an environment where new ideas, professional networks, and long-term international projects flourish. ArtMasters Open will be a centerpiece of the Festival’s program, offering young professionals not only the chance to learn from celebrated experts but also to co-create original works within international teams. This model helps transcend cultural and linguistic boundaries, find like-minded peers, and marks the first step toward future collaborative efforts. I am confident that for many, ArtMasters Open will serve as a launchpad for their careers and open new avenues for international cooperation,” noted Dmitry Ivanov, General Director of the World Youth Festival Directorate.
Eligibility for ArtMasters Open was extended to professionals aged 18 to 35, with English proficiency as a mandatory requirement. In addition to international applicants, candidates included finalists from the ArtMasters National Open Creative Competitions, including the Junior category, as well as participants from the ArtMasters Regional Team Competitions. Applicants could select from 15 competencies across the Film and Music tracks.
International participants had the option to compete in the following areas: Graphic Designer, Media Composer, Motion Designer, Film and TV Cameraman, AI Prompt Engineer, Film Editor, and SFX Make-up Artist. Finalists from ArtMasters projects could choose from Sound Designer, Video Maker, Production Designer, Stylist, Scriptwriter, Art Director, SFX Make-up Artist, and Costume Designer.
ArtMasters is Russia’s leading platform for creative industry professionals, spanning fashion, design, digital art, and performance. Since 2020, the ecosystem has nurtured talent through educational initiatives, grants, and collaborative projects. The ArtMasters National Open Championship is the premier competition for creative industry specialists in Russia, with a particular focus on backstage and digital arts. The seventh season is centered around the theme “The Power of Unity: Art That Brings Us Together.” The project cultivates a pool of highly qualified experts and supports the expansion of the creative sector, aligning with national priorities for developing creative industries and human capital.
The competition forms a core component of the ArtMasters ecosystem, which connects creative professionals. Participants gain access to a far-reaching platform of opportunities, sustained by educational programming, grant support, and collaboration. All ArtMasters projects remain open to new entrants and specialists from Russia and abroad, designed to unlock creative potential with backing from business, government, and industry experts.
The initiative is carried out with support from the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Russian Ministry of Education, and the Russian Presidential Administration. Over six years, more than 130,000 individuals have taken part in the Championship. Over 1,700 have reached the finalist stage, and 489 have received money prizes.
Overview:
The World Youth Festival took place in Sirius on March 1-7, 2024, according to the Decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the development of international youth cooperation. The WYF-2024 brought together 20,000 young leaders from 190 countries.
In line with the Russian President’s instructions to preserve and further develop the legacy of the World Youth Festival, festival events are now held annually across the Russian Federation. In 2025, the World Youth Festival Assembly was held in Nizhny Novgorod, bringing together 2,000 young people from 120 countries. In 2026, the International Festival of Youth will welcome 10,000 participants. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will take place in 2030.
The World Youth Festival Directorate continues its work to strengthen international youth cooperation and develop a global community of young people committed to shaping a better future.