The fifth edition of the pilot festival, which marks the fifth set of fresh multi-series endeavors created for online platforms and television, has been officially announced by the event organizers. This milestone signals a notable expansion in the festival’s mission to showcase innovative storytelling that straddles traditional broadcast channels and the fast-evolving online space, inviting audiences from North America to Ukraine-style markets and beyond to engage with new formats and voices. The reveal came through a formal statement from the festival’s organizing team, underscoring how this series aims to bridge disparate distribution ecosystems and spark conversations among producers, broadcasters, and streaming curators about what audiences want next.
The competition program highlights a slate of 20 fresh Russian TV series that push genre boundaries while exploring human resilience and social nuance. Among the main competition entries is the provocative project Kill Rita, a tightly wound crime drama centering a chemistry teacher who becomes a linchpin in a network of criminal confrontations. The lineup also features I will look, a youth drama that dives into the turbulent inner world of a difficult teenager navigating family pressure, peer influence, and the road to self-definition. In the action-detective space, Hot tour follows a high-energy adventure of Russian travelers abroad in Mexico, with performances by Alexander Robak and Timofey Tribuntsev, delivering a globe-trotting narrative that blends humor with high-stakes suspense. Head Game introduces a brilliant mathematician who wrestles with savant-like traits while solving problems under pressure, offering a cerebral and emotionally resonant look at intellectual life under scrutiny. Together, these titles exemplify the festival’s commitment to a diverse array of stories that entertain while prompting audiences to reflect on personal and societal questions. For fans of suspense, drama, and character-driven arcs, the slate promises both edge and empathy as it unfolds on screen.
Also in the competition are forthcoming series from major broadcast houses—Russia’s Fire, a medical drama from the channel Russia that follows a dedicated team of doctors operating in challenging environments across Africa; Friday will present the first episode of Chef, a series centered on a principled culinary professional whose standards clash with the pressures of a high-stakes kitchen and media scrutiny; and NTV will showcase Black Sun, a detective saga featuring Yuri Chursin and Maxim Stoyanov in a crime-and-investigation arc that weaves intricate plots with personal stakes. These selections demonstrate the festival’s curated blend of channel-backed productions and web-originated narratives, reinforcing the broader industry trend toward cross-platform storytelling and shared universes that travel from streaming services to traditional TV. The spectrum echoes the aims of many producers today who seek to maximize reach while preserving artistic integrity and distinctive voice across formats.
According to program director Yegor Moskvitin, the festival’s fifth edition aspires to build enduring bridges between broadcast content and web series, highlighting how web-first ideas can mature into mainstream favorites and how broadcast programs can benefit from online storytelling dynamics. The programmatic focus this year centers on comedies that simultaneously generate drama and deepen character arcs, with protagonists who pursue a sense of justice and belonging within their families and communities. Moskvitin noted that this edition prioritizes dramaturgy that resonates across platforms, encouraging a shared language for creators and audiences whether they watch on a laptop, a phone, or a television screen. The festival aims to illuminate what is working now in both online channels and traditional networks, offering industry professionals concrete insights into audience engagement, pacing, format experimentation, and monetization strategies across different distribution paths. In short, the event is positioned as a practical, forward-looking hub for writers, directors, producers, and platform executives who are charting the future of multi-format storytelling.
“Pilot” will take place from June 22 to June 25 in the city of Ivanovo, inviting attendees to experience live screenings, panel discussions, and informal showcases that foster collaboration and knowledge exchange. The event also presents opportunities for emerging creators to connect with established producers and distribution partners, helping to accelerate the development of new projects from concept to pilot to potential series. Attendees can expect a dynamic program that balances screen time with conversations about production pipelines, budgets, and distribution strategies, all tailored to the realities of both online platforms and traditional television. The city setting offers a vibrant backdrop for industry networking, with screenings spread across venues designed to optimize audience interaction and feedback. In addition to the formal festival lineup, ancillary events and talent showcases are anticipated to enrich the experience for Canadian and American audiences curious about Russian television innovation and its cross-border appeal.