XV "Advance" - an award that sees the future of cinema today.

      The anniversary, XV ceremony of the "Avans" award will take place on April 17, 2026, as part of the 48th Moscow International Film Festival. Established by the magazine "KinoReporter" in 2012 to support young actors, over 15 years it has become a cinematic compass: the works of the laureates define the face of modern Russian cinema, and the award itself helps viewers and professionals to discern those who will set the vector for its development tomorrow.

      The editor-in-chief and editorial director of the magazine "KinoReporter," renowned journalist and film critic, member of the expert council of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the National Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences of Russia, as well as a jury member of the international competitions "Diamond Butterfly" and "VGIK-Debut," Maria Lemesheva formulates the mission of the award as follows:

      "Avans" is not just an award; it is a symbol of trust in those who experiment, seek new forms and meanings. Over 15 years, the award has proven: our choice turns out to be infallible. Those who received the "Avans" at the start of their careers are now leaders of Russian cinema, whose names are known throughout the country, and some have gained worldwide fame. We are proud that we were able to recognize their talent in time and support them at the beginning of their great journey."

      Over 15 years, the laureates of the award, who received their first high recognition at the "Avans" ceremony, demonstrate stable professional growth — many of them have become the faces of modern Russian cinema. Confirmation of this is the success of Anna Peresild: the 2024 award for the series "Word of the Guy. Blood on the Asphalt" became the starting point for her professional recognition. A similar path was taken by Mark Eidelshtein: recognized by "KinoReporter" for "The Righteous" and "A Hundred Years Ahead," he soon appeared in Sean Baker's "Anore," which won the Oscar for Best Picture of the Year, and then presented our audience with many bright projects that confirmed the choice of the editorial experts. In 2025, the award proved the regularity of its assessment by highlighting Vladislav Miller ("Not in the Lists") and Alena Dolgolenko ("Prophet. The Story of Alexander Pushkin") — actors whose roles became iconic for their time. The special value of "Avans" is that the award recognizes young actors at the start of their success — those who are already shaping the cinematic language of the future and becoming the center of attraction for the main films of the year. The task of "KinoReporter" is to timely see those who achieve their first significant victories, open the way to the peaks for them, and inspire them for new achievements.

      The ceremony, hosted by Maria Lemesheva, will once again gather leaders of the film industry, heads of departments, and foreign guests of the Moscow International Film Festival from BRICS countries. Over the years, guests have included Nikita Mikhalkov, Andrei Konchalovsky, Sergey Garmash, Sergey Shakurov, Vladimir Medinsky, Svetlana Druzhinina, Alexey Uchitel, Alexander Yatsenko, Valeria Gai Germanika, Alexey German Jr., Ruben Dishdishyan, Yuri Antonov, and many others. Joining the masters of the profession will be the brightest young artists, who are not only already actively creating but have also gained a large army of fans.

      Traditionally, the "Avans" award will take place in the format of a "White Reception": guests will appear on the red carpet in outfits of pure white color, creating an exquisite visual composition. This dress code symbolizes the purity of creative intentions and the new opportunities that the award opens up for young talents.

      As Maria Lemesheva emphasizes: "The 'White Reception' symbolizes a beginning: a blank slate for new names in Russian cinema. On the red carpet, in pure white outfits, young actors receive their first significant recognition from the industry — and take a step towards a big career."

      The musical arrangement of the evening will be a special artistic accent of the ceremony. While the names of most artists will remain a secret until the event begins, the organizers have already highlighted one special guest — the trio AY YOLA. The group, which combines Bashkir folklore with modern music and has been recognized in global charts (Shazam Global #4, top-1 in Russia and Central Asia), embodies the philosophy of "Avans": respect for traditions and the courage of innovation. Their performance, where powerful electronic rhythms intertwine with the sounds of the kurai, kubyz, and domra, will be a musical analogy of the path of young actors — from first recognition to the big stage. It is also valuable that the musicians actively collaborate with cinema, and their compositions have already entered the soundtrack of the winner of the "Golden Eagle" 2026 — the film "August."

      The "Avans" award is not only forecasts but also living stories of young actors who received an important boost at the beginning of their journey. Their voices speak for themselves about how the first high recognition changes the trajectory of a career:

      "For me, it was very important to receive the 'Avans' award, as it became the first high award for my first well-known project that people liked. It is very important to support young artists with such awards. It fuels motivation in creativity. I want to do even more, create, invent, to reach new heights in the profession," shares Anna Peresild.

      "The very name of the award 'Avans' sounds very responsible. I want to justify the hopes and continue. The role in the film 'Prophet' is a very important milestone for me. The crystal star will always remind me not only of my success but also of the colleagues I worked with and from whom I learned a lot," says Alena Dolgolenko.

      Among the laureates of "Avans" since 2012 are Milos Bikovich, Irina Starshenbaum, Roman Kurtsyn, Angelina Strechina, Tikhon Zhiznevsky, Daria Melnikova, Kuzma Kotrelyov, Yulia Aleksandrova, Danil Steklov, Elizaveta Ishchenko — actors whose works have already entered the history of modern Russian cinema.

      The event will take place on April 17, 2026, as part of the 48th Moscow International Film Festival.

      Among the partners of the event are the legendary niche perfume brand MONTALE Paris and the Italian footwear brand GEOX.

      Information Reference

      The magazine "KinoReporter" is the first glossy domestic magazine about cinema, focused on popularizing Russian culture. "KinoReporter" pays significant attention to television content, as well as the theatrical and musical industries.

      The publication introduces readers to the work of professionals from the Eurasian space, collaborates with the foreign film community, and the largest foreign publications from friendly countries.

      "KinoReporter" tells the audiences of friendly states about Russian cinema, building cultural ties between countries: since 2015, Russian Film Days have been held in India, and since 2018 — Russian Film Days in Serbia.

      "KinoReporter" is also the founder of one of the iconic industry annual awards for achievements in cinema and television — "Event of the Year."

      The mission of "KinoReporter" is based on comprehensive support for emerging talents and inspiring artists for future victories at the start of their careers: since 2012, the best young Russian actors have been awarded the "Avans" award as part of the Moscow International Film Festival, of which "KinoReporter" has been an official partner for many years.

      Since 2024, the magazine has been publishing a collectible book almanac, bringing together the best materials from all years of existence — a tribute to domestic cinema and its heroes.

      https://kinoreporter.ru | https://t.me/KinoReporter | https://vk.com/kino_reporter

      https://t.me/maria_lemesheva