History

Over the course of half a century 'Molodist' developed from the local, purely professional review of student films of the newly opened Faculty of Cinematography at the Karpenko-Kary University to a major international event that discovers world-class directors.
Initially, Molodist interested a very narrow circle of professional viewers.

FESTIVAL

NOWADAYS, 'MOLODIST' IS THE ONLY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL IN UKRAINE WITH FIAPF (INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF FILM PRODUCERS ASSOCIATION) ACCREDITATION.

‍Vadym Chubasov and Viktor Ivchenko organized a first screening of works by students of Kyiv theatrical institute. It lasted for 2 days and presented 33 films.

In the mid-1970s, Molodist began traveling around the cities of Ukraine (Pavlograd, Kryvyi Rih) and engaged in its program works of students from other Soviet republics. The results of the expansion are evidenced by the names of the winners of the festival in the 1970s: Volodymyr Bortko, Alla Surykova, Vadym Abdrashytov, Mykhailo Illienko.

At the time of perestroika, Molodist was finally entering the international arena. The festival began to screen the films of debutants from countries outside the USSR (even if it was only Poland and the German Democratic Republic) and foreign students of the Karpenko-Kary University.

n the meantime, the Union of Young Cinematographers of Ukraine (UYCU) was formed at the Filmmakers Union of Ukraine. It would organize the festival in times of transition, which were difficult no doubt. In 1991, it was impossible to award cash prizes, and the following year, 1992, the festival did not take place. However, thanks to the efforts of the UYCU, a movie directory was published for each Molodist, which has already become a tradition (this practice began in 1989). In addition, in 1993, following a difficult beginning of the decade, the festival was officially registered as international in the International Federation of Film Producers Associations.The 1990s for Molodist was a period of a new team that discovered new world-class filmmakers. It was in the early 1990s that Andriy Yakovych Khalpakhchi, the current artistic director of the festival, joined the festival. As for the new directors, it is worth mentioning a few names of filmmakers who made their debut in Kyiv: Tom Tykwer, Francois Ozon, Bruno Dumont, Danny Boyle, Lucas Mudisson, Ildiko Enyedi, Jacques Audiard.

In 2010, the 40th jubilee festival opens in Kyiv. Viewers watched almost three hundred films a week, participated in master classes and met with famous directors and actors. For the first time in the program of the festival films that won during the history of the event were also presented. The opening ceremony took place at the The Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian National Opera House with world-class guests - Christopher Lambert, Sophie Marceau, Fanny Ardan and others.

NOWADAYS THE FESTIVAL IS 5YEARSOLD AND ITS GOAL REMAINS UNCHANGED– TO UNCOVER IMPORTANT TRENDS OFYOUNG CINEMA DEVELOPMENT AND TOHELP ASPIRING BEGINNER FILMMAKERSFIND THEIR WAY ON THE WORLD CINEMAMAP.

Regulations 2025

1. PURPOSE
1.1. Kyiv International Film Festival «Molodist» will be held for the 54th time in Kyiv from 25 of October to 2 of November 2025.
1.2. The Festival has been established by the «Molodist» foundation.
1.3. The Festival is a part of the list of specialized film festivals, accredited by FIAPF and has such objectives as:
to analyze the main trends in the work of emerging filmmakers around the world;
to establish and broaden creative contacts between emerging filmmakers and between film schools;
to recognize new personalities in modern film art;
to integrate Ukrainian films into the global process of film art and industry;
to develop Kyiv as a cultural capital of Europe.
2. SECTIONS OF THE FESTIVAL AND ELIGIBILITY OF FILMS
2.1. International Competition program
2.1.1. International Competition program consists of three categories:
student films (less than 45’)
first professional short (fiction, animation, documentary) films (less than 45')
first professional full-length fiction films (60' or more)
2.1.2. All films produced after January 1, 2024 at professional studios or film schools are eligible for submission to the program.
2.1.3. Submitted films to Student and Short categories will be considered in case of availability of 35mm film print, DCP, BluRay, or HD digital files as screening media.
2.1.4. Submitted films to the Full-length category will be considered in case of the presence of 35mm film print or DCP as screening media.
2.1.5. Films that have been screened in Ukraine are not eligible for submission to the program.
2.2. National Competition program of short films
2.2.1. Short films (fiction, animation, documentary) produced in Ukraine (or in co-production with Ukraine) after January 1, 2023 (any media) are eligible for submission to the program.
2.2.2. Films that have been screened in Ukraine are eligible for submission to the program.
2.3. Competition program «Teen Screen»
2.3.1. Full-length films (fiction) produced after January 1, 2024 (any media) are eligible for submission to the program.
2.4. First professional Documentary films competition program
2.4.1. All films produced after January 1, 2024 at professional studios or film schools are eligible for submission to the program.
2.4.2. Submitted films to Documentary category will be considered in case of the presence of 35mm film print or DCP as a screening media.
2.4.3. Films that have been screened in Ukraine are not eligible for submission to the program.
2.5. Non-competition section
The festival also has a non-competition section which represents selections of the latest films from a certain country or region, productions of film schools, thematic programs, retrospectives, and special events.
3. ENTRY AND SELECTION
3.1. Each film received by the Festival needs to have English-language subtitles as well as detailed documentation in English, including:
synopsis of the film
biography and filmography of the director
cast/crew and technical information
Footage from the film (in digital print quality) (high resolution JPEG)
Director's photo (in digital printing quality) (high resolution JPEG)
Dope sheets in Ukrainian or English
3.2. Registration of a film at the festival requires payment of a registration fee (except for Ukrainian films).
3.3. The Festival doesn’t return an entry form, preview-DVD of film or accompanied documentation (excluding special agreements).
3.4. The period of acceptance of films and documentation is untill August 1, 2025.
3.5. Films will be selected by a Selection Committee, appointed by the Board of Directors.
3.6. The Selection Committee will announce its decision during the period of Septemeber 1-15, 2025.
4. FESTIVAL OBLIGATIONS
4.1. Festival films will be insured the amount of their print value by the festival. Insurance coverage takes effect from the registration of the film's arrival in Kyiv until they are handed over to a forwarding agent for return dispatch.
4.2. Festival guarantees the right presentation of the film in all informational issues that will be distributed during the Festival such as catalog, program, website etc.
4.3. Festival guarantees to participants that no film selected for the festival program will be screened before its official presentation.
4.4. Festival has an obligation to prevent all film materials from screen capture and piracy during the selection process and screenings according to FIAPF standards (Chapter IV, article 8 of the Regulations for International Film Festivals).
5. FESTIVAL RIGHTS
5.1. The Festival will not pay screening fees for the films selected for the International and the National Competition program.
5.2. Festival does not inform applicants about the reason(s) for rejection of the application.
5.3. Festival has the right to 3 screenings of the films selected for the official competition. Number of screenings of films in other competition sections as well as non-competition sections is agreed with the rights holder.
5.4. Films selected for student or short international competition sections could be screened within the noncommercial presentational programs of the festival on the territory of Ukraine during the period of 2025-2026 in case of author’s (right holder’s) approval mentioned in the completed entry form.
5.5. Films selected for the National competition section could be screened within the non-commercial presentational programs of the festival overseas during the period of 2025-2026 in case of author’s (right holder’s) approval mentioned in the completed entry form.
6. JURY
6.1. The Board of Directors forms an International Jury which awards the films of the International Competition program and operates according to the Regulations for International Film Festivals by FIAPF as well as Regulations of Kyiv International Film Festival «Molodist».
6.2. The National Competition program has its own jury.
6.3. Competition program «Teen Screen» has its own children’s jury.
6.4. First professional Documentary film competition program has its own jury.
6.5. FIPRESCI, FICC, and Ecumenical juries as well as other juries can be also presented at the festival.
7. AWARDS
7.1. The sums of prizes are provided before taxes. The payment of money made after deductions and payment of taxes is provided in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine.
Grand Prix for the Best film of International Competition program (10 000 USD and the statuette «The Scythian Deer»)
Prize for the Best film in each category of International Competition program (2 000 USD and the statuette «The Scythian Deer»)
Prize for the Best film of National Competition program (50 000 UAH and the statuette «The Scythian Deer»)
Award of Jury of Competition program «Teen Screen» (2 000 USD and the statuette «The Scythian Deer»)
Award of Jury of Documentary Competition program (2 000 USD and the statuette «The Scythian Deer»)
Festival diplomas.
7.2. Other awards:
Honorary Scythian Deer for Сontribution to World Cinema
Audience prize (statuette «The Scythian Deer»)
FIPRESCI jury prize (in case of its presence at the festival)
«Don Quixote» prize (in case of presence at the festival)
Ecumenical jury prize (in case of its presence at the festival)
Other non-regulation awards sponsored by private persons, organizations, or institutions may be awarded by the approval of the Board of Directors of the festival.
8. INVITATION AND ATTENDANCE
8.1. Directors of films selected for the International full-length competition section are invited as participants (travel expenses and 4 nights accommodation are covered by the festival).
8.2. Directors of films selected for International student or short International competition sections are invited as participants (4 nights accommodation are covered by the festival).
8.3. Applications for accreditation as a guest or press must be received not later than Septemeber 30, 2025.
8.4. The participants invited to Kyiv are obliged to provide all the information requested by the guest service in a period of 7 days after the invitation.
8.5. The participants who are not able to attend due to various reasons except for unpredictable circumstances of non-personal character can inform the guest service of the festival within 7 days before the arrival date. In case the participants are late with informing the guest service and can not attend the festival, they are obliged to reimburse the costs that have been already incurred for their visit to Kyiv.
9. PROMOTION AND ADVERTISING
The Board of Directors provides free advertising and public information for festival films and organizations participating in the festival. Advertising campaigns of any other organizations or films are subject to special agreement.
10. NON-SPECIFIED CASES
Cases not covered by these regulations will be considered directly by the festival organizers in compliance with the Regulations for International Film Festivals by FIAPF.

1. PURPOSE
1.1. Kyiv International Film Festival «Molodist» will be held for the 54th time in Kyiv from 25 of October to 2 of November 2025.
1.2. The Festival has been established by the «Molodist» foundation.
1.3. The Festival is a part of the list of specialized film festivals, accredited by FIAPF and has such objectives as:
- to analyze the main trends in the work of emerging filmmakers around the world;
- to establish and broaden creative contacts between emerging filmmakers and between film schools;
- to recognize new personalities in modern film art;
- to integrate Ukrainian films into the global process of film art and industry;
- to develop Kyiv as a cultural capital of Europe.
2. SECTIONS OF THE FESTIVAL AND ELIGIBILITY OF FILMS
2.1. International Competition program
2.1.1. International Competition program consists of three categories:
- student films (less than 45’)
- first professional short (fiction, animation, documentary) films (less than 45')
- first professional full-length fiction films (60' or more)
2.1.2. All films produced after January 1, 2024 at professional studios or film schools are eligible for submission to the program.
2.1.3. Submitted films to Student and Short categories will be considered in case of availability of 35mm film print, DCP, BluRay, or HD digital files as screening media.
2.1.4. Submitted films to the Full-length category will be considered in case of the presence of 35mm film print or DCP as screening media.
2.1.5. Films that have been screened in Ukraine are not eligible for submission to the program.
2.2. National Competition program of short films
2.2.1. Short films (fiction, animation, documentary) produced in Ukraine (or in co-production with Ukraine) after January 1, 2023 (any media) are eligible for submission to the program.
2.2.2. Films that have been screened in Ukraine are eligible for submission to the program.
2.3. Competition program «Teen Screen»
2.3.1. Full-length films (fiction) produced after January 1, 2024 (any media) are eligible for submission to the program.
2.4. First professional Documentary films competition program
2.4.1. All films produced after January 1, 2024 at professional studios or film schools are eligible for submission to the program.
2.4.2. Submitted films to Documentary category will be considered in case of the presence of 35mm film print or DCP as a screening media.
2.4.3. Films that have been screened in Ukraine are not eligible for submission to the program.
2.5. Non-competition section
The festival also has a non-competition section which represents selections of the latest films from a certain country or region, productions of film schools, thematic programs, retrospectives, and special events.
3. ENTRY AND SELECTION
3.1. Each film received by the Festival needs to have English-language subtitles as well as detailed documentation in English, including:
- synopsis of the film
- biography and filmography of the director
- cast/crew and technical information
- Footage from the film (in digital print quality) (high resolution JPEG)
- Director's photo (in digital printing quality) (high resolution JPEG)
- Dope sheets in Ukrainian or English
3.2. Registration of a film at the festival requires payment of a registration fee (except for Ukrainian films).
3.3. The Festival doesn’t return an entry form, preview-DVD of film or accompanied documentation (excluding special agreements).
3.4. The period of acceptance of films and documentation is untill August 1, 2025.
3.5. Films will be selected by a Selection Committee, appointed by the Board of Directors.
3.6. The Selection Committee will announce its decision during the period of Septemeber 1-15, 2025.
4. FESTIVAL OBLIGATIONS
4.1. Festival films will be insured the amount of their print value by the festival. Insurance coverage takes effect from the registration of the film's arrival in Kyiv until they are handed over to a forwarding agent for return dispatch.
4.2. Festival guarantees the right presentation of the film in all informational issues that will be distributed during the Festival such as catalog, program, website etc.
4.3. Festival guarantees to participants that no film selected for the festival program will be screened before its official presentation.
4.4. Festival has an obligation to prevent all film materials from screen capture and piracy during the selection process and screenings according to FIAPF standards (Chapter IV, article 8 of the Regulations for International Film Festivals).
5. FESTIVAL RIGHTS
5.1. The Festival will not pay screening fees for the films selected for the International and the National Competition program.
5.2. Festival does not inform applicants about the reason(s) for rejection of the application.
5.3. Festival has the right to 3 screenings of the films selected for the official competition. Number of screenings of films in other competition sections as well as non-competition sections is agreed with the rights holder.
5.4. Films selected for student or short international competition sections could be screened within the noncommercial presentational programs of the festival on the territory of Ukraine during the period of 2025-2026 in case of author’s (right holder’s) approval mentioned in the completed entry form.
5.5. Films selected for the National competition section could be screened within the non-commercial presentational programs of the festival overseas during the period of 2025-2026 in case of author’s (right holder’s) approval mentioned in the completed entry form.
6. JURY
6.1. The Board of Directors forms an International Jury which awards the films of the International Competition program and operates according to the Regulations for International Film Festivals by FIAPF as well as Regulations of Kyiv International Film Festival «Molodist».
6.2. The National Competition program has its own jury.
6.3. Competition program «Teen Screen» has its own children’s jury.
6.4. First professional Documentary film competition program has its own jury.
6.5. FIPRESCI, FICC, and Ecumenical juries as well as other juries can be also presented at the festival.
7. AWARDS
7.1. The sums of prizes are provided before taxes. The payment of money made after deductions and payment of taxes is provided in accordance with the legislation of Ukraine.
- Grand Prix for the Best film of International Competition program (10 000 USD and the statuette «The Scythian Deer»)
- Prize for the Best film in each category of International Competition program (2 000 USD and the statuette «The Scythian Deer»)
- Prize for the Best film of National Competition program (50 000 UAH and the statuette «The Scythian Deer»)
- Award of Jury of Competition program «Teen Screen» (2 000 USD and the statuette «The Scythian Deer»)
- Award of Jury of Documentary Competition program (2 000 USD and the statuette «The Scythian Deer»)
- Festival diplomas.
7.2. Other awards:
- Honorary Scythian Deer for Сontribution to World Cinema
- Audience prize (statuette «The Scythian Deer»)
- FIPRESCI jury prize (in case of its presence at the festival)
- «Don Quixote» prize (in case of presence at the festival)
- Ecumenical jury prize (in case of its presence at the festival)
Other non-regulation awards sponsored by private persons, organizations, or institutions may be awarded by the approval of the Board of Directors of the festival.
8. INVITATION AND ATTENDANCE
8.1. Directors of films selected for the International full-length competition section are invited as participants (travel expenses and 4 nights accommodation are covered by the festival).
8.2. Directors of films selected for International student or short International competition sections are invited as participants (4 nights accommodation are covered by the festival).
8.3. Applications for accreditation as a guest or press must be received not later than Septemeber 30, 2025.
8.4. The participants invited to Kyiv are obliged to provide all the information requested by the guest service in a period of 7 days after the invitation.
8.5. The participants who are not able to attend due to various reasons except for unpredictable circumstances of non-personal character can inform the guest service of the festival within 7 days before the arrival date. In case the participants are late with informing the guest service and can not attend the festival, they are obliged to reimburse the costs that have been already incurred for their visit to Kyiv.
9. PROMOTION AND ADVERTISING
The Board of Directors provides free advertising and public information for festival films and organizations participating in the festival. Advertising campaigns of any other organizations or films are subject to special agreement.
10. NON-SPECIFIED CASES
Cases not covered by these regulations will be considered directly by the festival organizers in compliance with the Regulations for International Film Festivals by FIAPF.
Submit
Foundation of сitizens "Molodist”
USREOU code 26079938
press@molodist.com
+38 091 600 52 08