REALIST Launches Russia’s First Independent Festival Dedicated to Global Vertical Drama

Opens call for submissions from international producers

Moscow, Russia — REALIST: Vertical Drama International Festival, a new international event focused on microdramas and vertical series, will debut in Moscow this summer from July 10 to 20, 2026. Positioned as the first independent festival in Russia and one of the first dedicated global events dedicated to vertical drama, REALIST will bring together audiences, platforms, rights holders, producers, and creators working in one of the fastest-growing audiovisual formats in the world.

REALIST will run in a hybrid format, combining a program of vertical drama from international producers hosted on an online platform with an in person industry-focused B2B program and masterclasses in Moscow. Participants from 25 countries have been invited to join the event, which aims to become both a showcase for vertical storytelling and a gateway into the Russian-speaking market for international partners.

The team behind REALIST festival is a group of seasoned professionals with extensive expertise in the field:

Anton Kalinkin, REALIST festival founder, has deep experience in the industry event space, operating three successful independent festivals in Russia that play an important role in shaping the local media and festival landscape.

Katerina Pshenitsyna is REALIST festival program director and an international media executive with a track record of more than 12 years in distribution and international projects and a deep understanding of the global market. Katerina is also General Manager of TwelveP Animation, based out of the UAE, focusing on international co-productions and digital-first content.

Zhan Prosyanov has extensive expertise in online media and currently oversees business development of Chill online platform and the launch of the Chill mobile app, which will host the offline part of the festival.

The festival program will include Competition and Out-of-Competition sections. Award categories currently include Best Classic Microdrama, Best Genre Vertical Series/Microdrama, Most Outstanding Character, Best Animated Vertical Series, Best Vertical Unscripted Series/Show, and the Grand Prix. Winners will be selected by audience vote directly on the platform. Eligible submissions include microdramas, vertical series, and animated vertical series across genres, including unscripted projects. Applicants shall submit a minimum of 6 episodes, each episode not exceeding 5 minutes runtime. Call for submissions is open from May 12th, 2026 and will run until June 20th, 2026.

Submit your vertical project: https://webfestival.ru/en/submit

REALIST will also feature an offline industry program in Moscow, including panels on the future of vertical content in Russia and the CIS, country-focused programming, and creator-led master classes, including a planned “Deconstructing Microdrama” deep-dive format. Organizers are developing the festival as an independent international meeting point for the next phase of the vertical storytelling market.

REALIST is launching at a time when Russia is emerging as a new prospective market for this format, where audience demand is visible, and the ecosystem for vertical-first production is still being formed. In that environment, REALIST is designed not only to present content, but also to help international producers, studios and platforms test market response, build relationships, and explore distribution opportunities in Russia and the CIS region.

The festival will be hosted on Chill, a platform that accounts for 2.5 million monthly visitors and which is launching the vertical mobile app especially designed to run the online festival. The event is also being developed with an industry-facing component aimed at connecting international partners with the local market through panels, discussions, and direct meetings in Moscow.

Anton Kalinkin, Festival founder, said: “REALIST is designed as a practical entry point for international creators and platforms looking at the Russian-speaking market. At a time when the vertical format is scaling globally, we’re creating a space where partners can test content, build relationships, and explore real distribution opportunities in a territory that’s only beginning to take shape.”

Katerina Pshenitsyna, Program Director, said: “Vertical storytelling is moving faster than the traditional festival circuit. REALIST reflects both its creative edge and commercial potential, while offering international players a direct entry point into the still-untapped Russian-speaking market.”

Zhan Prosyanov, Director of Business Development, Chill online platform, added: “REALIST is a strategic step for Chill, opening the door to international partnerships and content acquisition in the vertical space. We see it as the foundation for a broader platform connecting Russian-speaking audiences with global creators.”

Key facts
● Festival: REALIST: Vertical Drama International Festival https://webfestival.ru/en
● Dates: July 10–20, 2026
● Submissions run: May 12th - June 20th, 2026
● Location: Moscow
● Format: Online on Chill + offline B2B program and master classes
● Positioning: First independent vertical drama festival in Russia; one of the first globally
● International reach: 25 countries invited
● Platform: Chill