The International Film and Television Forum "New Reality" is an annual competition of documentary films and television programs, organized by the Union of Journalists of Russia with the support of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives. Starting in 2025, Nizhny Novgorod became the forum's permanent venue; events are held at the Rekord cinema (Piskunova St., 11/7). The forum has been held since the mid-2020s: the fourth edition took place in 2025, and the fifth in 2026.[2][4]
History and the Nizhny Novgorod period
Prior to 2025, the forum was held in other cities. The initiative to relocate it to Nizhny Novgorod was put forward by Nizhny Novgorod Region Governor Gleb Nikitin; the proposal was accepted, and in June 2025 the film and television forum was held for the first time in the capital of the Volga Region.[2] In 2026, the event was held in Nizhny Novgorod again — from 24 to 29 May.[4] The Chairman of the Union of Journalists of Russia, Vladimir Solovyov, announced his intention to establish Nizhny Novgorod as the forum's permanent venue.[2]
The forum is implemented with the support of the Presidential Foundation for Cultural Initiatives and the government of Nizhny Novgorod Region.[2][5] Deputy Chairman of the Union of Journalists of Russia Aleksey Vishnevetsky served as one of the organizers and a permanent member of the jury.[1]
Program and competition
The competition accepts Russian and international documentary and television projects that have been screened in cinemas, broadcast on television, or published online. Entries are submitted in ten main categories, including "Best Documentary Film," "Best Short Film," "Best News Programme," "Best Current Affairs Programme," "Best Report," "Best Cinematography," and "In the SMO Zone." In 2025, to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory, a special category — "80 Years of the Great Victory!" — was introduced.[1][2]
In 2025, the jury selected 72 finalists from 36 regions of Russia, as well as from Abkhazia and Belarus; among them were representatives of Nizhny Novgorod Region.[2] In 2026, 57 television companies from 46 regions of the country took part in the competition, along with international participants; more than 80 professionals traveled to Nizhny Novgorod for the final.[4] Among the 2026 finalists was the Nizhny Novgorod television channel Volga, with the films "KGB Legend. Yuri Danilov" (dir. Mikhail Buzikhin) and the news programme "Novosti" (dir. Natalya Kulikova).[3]
The forum programme includes open film screenings (free admission, registration required), professional discussions, round tables, masterclasses from leading industry specialists, and creative meetings. In 2025, the speakers included Aleksey Shugarev, editor-in-chief of the Moskva-24 television channel, and war correspondent Maryana Naumova.[2] The award ceremony for the winners is held on the final day of the forum.[2]
Forum opening events
The Fourth Forum (2025) was opened with the documentary "Aurora: The Story of a Cinema," created by journalists from Peterburgsky Dnevnik and dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the Aurora cinema.[2] The Fifth Forum (2026) opened with a screening of the documentary "The Shukhov Legacy," about the Russian scientist and engineer Vladimir Shukhov.[4]
Sources
- NNTV — Applications open for the International TeleFilm Forum "New Reality — 2025" — Nizhny Novgorod State Regional Television and Radio Company NNTV
- NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — International TeleFilm Forum "New Reality" opens in Nizhny Novgorod, Nizhny Novgorod News (archive)
- newreality.tv — Finalists of the V International TeleFilm Forum "New Reality" announced (archive)
- ruj.ru — Union of Journalists of Russia — International TeleFilm Forum "New Reality — 2026" opens in Nizhny Novgorod (archive)
- dom-edinstva.rf — International TeleFilm Forum "New Reality" — ANO "House of National Unity" (archive)