On September 19, a creative meeting entitled “The Power of Improvisation: How the Skill of Instant Decision-Making Helps in Your Career and Life” was held at the World Youth Festival Assembly’s venue with Arseny Popov, a theater and film actor, showman, and TV presenter. The lecturer from the Russian “Znanie” (Knowledge) Society talked about the intricacies of performing and how jokes come to life on stage and on screen. The event was organized by Rosmolodezh with the support of the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region and the World Youth Festival Directorate on behalf of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
Arseny Popov, while speaking about starting out in the profession, shared his personal rule: “Sometimes it's worth just going ahead and asking. Don't give others the right to decide your fate — take control of the moment.”
He also talked about the exercises and approaches that help develop a sense of humor and the ability to react instantly. Responding to a question about stage fright, the speaker noted that everyone becomes an improviser in stressful situations: “I am often asked if improvisation helps in life. Of course! Each of you has faced a situation where something did not go according to your plan. And the strangest thing is to freeze and do nothing. On the contrary, you have to keep going, find a solution here and now. That is improvisation. Therefore, I am sure that in this sense, we are all colleagues.”
The meeting touched on the issue of emotional burnout: the actor shared what skills help him create lively and funny content without losing inspiration when working on creative projects:
“I believe that hobbies should become part of life. If your work is monotonous, make time for sports, hobbies, or new activities. Let your loved ones involve you in things that were previously unfamiliar to you. Perhaps it will become a source of new inspiration. When you switch gears, you begin to appreciate your main occupation again. That's my personal recipe”, Arseny Popov said.
At the end of the meeting, Arseny Popov addressed participants from different countries: “It's great that we are all different here — from different cities and countries — and it's great that we are all together. May the friendships you make here grow into joint endeavors.” The program of the the Russian “Znanie” (Knowledge) Society at the Assembly is built around the idea of open international dialogue: discussions, master classes, and the open conversations show Russia as a center of friendship and cooperation and support young people in science, education, creative industries, IT, sports, and business.
The World Youth Festival Assembly takes place from September 17 to 21 in Nizhny Novgorod. It is the first festival in contemporary history to be arranged at the behest of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The Russian “Znanie” (Knowledge) Society is presenting an educational program at the Assembly and is also organizing unique special formats where festival participants can learn about Russia's achievements in various fields.
The general partners of the WYF Assembly-2025 are the Russian Music Union, JSC Russian Railways, and Phygital Games. The general information partner is the international television channel RT, and the general media partner is ANO Dialog Regions. The partner for the excursion and regional programs is the More Than Trip program. The strategic partner is VK Tech. Co. The following have also joined the partnership program: “New Generation” program arranged by the Federal Agency for Affairs of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Compatriots Residing Abroad and International Humanitarian Cooperation (Rossotrudnichestvo), the Movement of the First, the presidential platform “Russia – Country of Opportunities”, Sovcombank, the Avito Tech. Co., State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, Russian “Znanie” (Knowledge) Society, the Film Studio Soyuzmultfilm, the Government of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, the Central Bank of Russia, program for young entrepreneurs “Rosmolodezh.Undertake” and the Mashuk Knowledge Center. Information support for the event is provided by Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Argumenty i Fakty publishing house, the African Initiative and the Window to Russia project of ANO “TV-Novosti”.
The organizer of the World Youth Festival Assembly is the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh), the co-organizer of the event is the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region and the event operator is the World Youth Festival Directorate. The Festival pursues the goals of the Youth and Children national project.
Overview:
In accordance with the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin on preserving and developing the legacy of the World Youth Festival, which took place on the Sirius Federal Territory in 2024 and united 20,000 young people from 190 countries of the world, festival events on the territory of the Russian Federation will be held annually. The next World Youth Festival for 20,000 participants will be held in 2030. In 2026, there will be a smaller event, an International Youth Festival with 10,000 participants. In between, the World Youth Festival’s themed Assemblies will be held annually for 2,000 participants. The World Youth Festival Directorate continues its work aimed at strengthening international youth cooperation.
