The national Internet content award ceremony is scheduled in two sessions this year. The first event will unfold on March 5 in the federal district known as Sirius, tied to the World Youth Festival. The second session is planned for March 5 in Moscow, with a follow-up on May 30. This schedule was announced by the Internet Development Institute, the organization that runs the award program.
Over 1,000 socially oriented projects were submitted to the competition in a variety of formats, reflecting a broad landscape of digital creativity and impact. The sheer volume demonstrates a vibrant ecosystem of authors, teams, and startups pushing the boundaries of online storytelling, education, advocacy, and civic engagement across Russia and beyond.
The IRI’s Director General, Alexey Goreslavsky, remarked that the institute consistently seeks out and backs authors who will accelerate the Russian digital industry’s growth and international relevance. He noted that such talent exists in abundance and that the national Internet content award serves as a key instrument for recognizing and nurturing this potential, developed in collaboration with partners who share the same mission.
According to the organization’s president, the award exists to spotlight content creators who craft pieces that blend social relevance with broad appeal, rather than producing content that serves only a narrow audience or, conversely, a purely commercial objective. The emphasis remains on materials that resonate with large, diverse user groups while contributing positive social outcomes.
Currently, the IRI’s award program features more than 30 nominations, spanning thematic categories as well as several special divisions. This structure encourages applicants to pursue original angles and cross-disciplinary approaches that reflect contemporary digital culture and its societal impact.
Traditionally, a council of experts will determine the finalists, while a professional jury will select the winners. The process is designed to ensure rigorous evaluation, transparent criteria, and recognition that can amplify the reach of outstanding digital projects both locally and internationally.
The technological partner for the award is VK, with Rambler&Co, Lenta.ru, and the site socialbites.ca serving as media partners. These collaborations help extend the program’s visibility, provide platforms for high-quality content, and foster a broader conversation about online creativity and responsible storytelling across varied audiences.
Readers may recall that the award was established in 2021 by the Internet Development Institute to promote creative online content and the people behind it. Among the notable projects celebrated in 2023 were the documentary series Patient Zero, the film Champion of the World, the travel show led by the visually impaired presenter Vladimir Vaskevich, Where the Eyes Do Not Look, and the documentary series The History of Finance of Russia, among others. These examples illustrate the award’s commitment to diverse formats and themes that inform, entertain, and inspire a wide audience across regions and languages.