III International Children’s Film Festival “Crystal Spring”
Location: Russia, Stavropol Krai, the resort city of Essentuki
Dates: July 5–12, 2025
Participants’ Age: 7 to 17 years
For over seven years, Crystal Spring has delighted audiences and guests of the Caucasian Mineral Waters resort cities with its film festivals for both adults and children. Over the years, the festival has welcomed and honored numerous renowned Russian and international film stars, including Catherine Deneuve, Pierre Richard, Irina Muravyova, Alla Demidova, Viktor Sukhorukov, and other prominent figures in the arts.
The children’s film festival is one of the largest and most significant festivals for young audiences aged 7 to 17. It offers them the opportunity for education and creative self-expression in the field of cinema. A key mission of the festival’s international aspect to unite children and foster friendships among young generations from different countries. Participants share their cultures, traditions, and personal stories through filmmaking.
Children create films that reflect their perspectives on life and the events around them—be it personal experiences, friendships, family moments, or broader societal happenings in their city, country, or the world.
Main Events of the Festival
The festival hosts two major film competitions:
Children’s Creativity Competition “CineCampus-Kids” (theme: “Do Not Betray Your Dream”)
Feature Film Competition for professional filmmakers, showcasing films for children and family audiences.
At the closing ceremony, winners will receive well-deserved awards, and the best films in each competition will be honored with the festival’s Grand Prix—a custom-made crystal statuette, The Crystal Eagle.
Children’s CineCampus Project
Participants of the CineCampus will create their films from scriptwriting to final editing. They will take on various roles, including directors, actors, cinematographers, makeup artists, lighting technicians, sound engineers, and editors. The key requirement for participation is that filming must take place during the festival period in the Caucasian Mineral Waters region.
Participation Requirements for CineCampus-Kids:
Complete an application form: Application form
Submit a script for the script competition by May 1, 2025, via email: kinocampus-kids@mail.ru
• The script should align with the festival’s theme: “Do Not Betray Your Dream.” More details on the theme: The theme
• The script should be written with a maximum film duration 10 minutes (including credits).
• It must be translated into Russian.
Team size: 20 children, aged 7 to 17 years.
Each team must have at least two adult chaperones.
The team name must in Russian.
Filming and editing must take place from July 6–11, 2025, during the festival.
Filming equipment can include any accessible device, such as film cameras, DSLR cameras, camcorders, GoPros, or smartphones.
Important: Pre-recorded films or films shot in other regions/countries will not be accepted for competition.
More details on participation: Here
More Information.
Past CineCampus films:
Participation Costs:
• Participation in CineCampus and other festival activities is free.
• Teams will receive transportation for film shoots outside Essentuki.
• Lunch (boxed meals) will be provided during the three days of filming.
• Travel, accommodation, and visa processing costs must be covered by participants themselves.
Feature Film Competition Requirements
Feature-length films (minimum 60 minutes) must have been produced within two years before the festival (up to five years for international films).
The films must be suitable for children and family viewing.
The content must comply with Russian Federation laws.
The applicant must have full rights and authority to submit the film.
For selection, a preview version with Russian subtitles or dubbing must be submitted.
The application must include:
• Film title
• Country of production
• Year of release
• Duration
• Genre
• Age category
• Director
• Production studio
• Contact details (phone & email)
• Link to the preview version
• Link to the trailer
Submission email: ano.istochnik@mail.ru
Films that meet the requirements and pass the selection committee’s evaluation will be accepted into the competition. The selection committee’s decision is final.
For selected films, one representative from each competing film will receive full coverage of travel, accommodation, and meals for the festival duration, funded by the festival. International participants will have their domestic travel within Russia covered, while other travel expenses (e.g., visas) must be covered by the participants themselves.
Educational and Cultural Program
The festival offers a diverse program including:
• 10 creative workshops (acting, directing, fencing, stage movement, makeup, clowning, screenwriting, cinematography, journalism, and more).
• Concerts and performances for children and adults.
• Art and photography exhibitions, such as “We Live in Russia.”
• Screenings of classic Soviet and Russian children’s films.
• Outdoor summer film screenings dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Victory in WWII.
• Collaborative programs with museums in Essentuki and Pyatigorsk.
• Events celebrating the 200th anniversary of Essentuki.
The festival expects participation from creative teams from various Russian regions (including Moscow, Stavropol Krai, Donetsk & Luhansk, and Dagestan) and international participants from Transnistria, China, Sweden, Armenia, Greece, India, and Lebanon. to 200 children are expected to attend.
Participants will walk the red carpet and take part in spectacular opening and closing ceremonies, featuring over 30 celebrity guests, including actors, directors, TV hosts, and public figures from Russia and abroad.
The festival will be widely covered by media, with 15 federal and 30 regional media outlets involved, including TV channels and international news networks. Live broadcasts will cover the opening and closing ceremonies and workshops.
Films created as part of the “Film Campus — Kids” project and submitted to the feature film competition must be suitable for children aged 17 years and comply with the legislation of the Russian Federation.
They must not contain: • Profanity or offensive language • Scenes of cruelty or violence • Erotic or pornographic content • Depictions of alcohol consumption or smoking • Advertisements for goods or services • Storylines or visuals that promote or advertise drugs, medications, weapons, alcohol, tobacco, or psychoactive substances • Content that encourages participation in gambling, prostitution, vagrancy, or begging • Scenes that spread knowingly false information about the actions of the Russian military, aimed at discrediting the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
The Film Festival organizers reserve the right to disqualify any film that does not comply with the requirements of Federal Law No. 436-FZ of October 29, 2010, “On the Protection of Children from Information Harmful to Their Health and Development.”