Koroche (Короче)

Koroche

Короче

Also known as: Международный фестиваль короткометражного и дебютного кино «Короче»
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Russian-language short films and first or second features form the two main competitions at Koroche in Kaliningrad, Russia. Its selection includes live-action and animation, with entries from Russian and international filmmakers. The festival connects short-film work with feature debuts, while its separate Koroche. Stars competition presents shorts featuring established actors and gives audiences a vote. Non-competitive programmes include comedy, animation and screenings for children, alongside filmmaker discussions, a film laboratory and industry events.

The festival dates back to 2013. Screenings extend from city cinemas to an open-air cinema in Central Park. The dates for the fourteenth edition are 18–23 August 2026.

Country

Russian Federation

Focus

Animation

Categories

Animation, Feature, Short

Awards and prizes

Festival statuettes and diplomas are awarded. The short-film competition recognises Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Director, Best Cinematography and Best Animation, alongside a Special Jury Prize. The Koroche. Stars special prize is decided by audience voting. The feature-debut competition awards a Grand Prix and two special prizes with citations determined by the jury.

Festival rules

For the 2026 edition, the short-film competition accepts live-action and animated films made in 2025–2026, running from 3 to 24 minutes and made in Russian by Russian or international directors or companies. The short-film competition and Koroche. Stars programme require premieres. Profanity must be muted. The feature-debut competition accepts a director’s first or second independent fiction feature, at least 60 minutes long, produced in 2025–2026, in Russian or another language of the peoples of the Russian Federation with Russian subtitles. Features require a Russian premiere: no previous Russian festival, theatrical, DVD, VoD, television, streaming, public, press or freely accessible online screening. Applications require completed films supplied as online screeners through the official website. Selected filmmakers provide registration documents, publicity materials and DCP screening copies; the feature competition also requires distribution and national-film certificates and a screening-rights agreement. Participation constitutes acceptance of the official regulations. The 2026 feature submission window closes on 7 June. Registration and publicity materials are due by 15 July; DCP screening copies by 1 August, and copies are collected by 15 September. Submitted copies must carry a copyright notice and production year. The festival covers storage and insurance during the event; owners delivering copies themselves remain responsible for delivery and must supply them at least two days before the screening. Late delivery permits use of the submitted online screener. Missing requested materials may lead to removal from the programme. Competitive screenings are limited to two without written producer permission; selected official-programme shorts may also be used in festival-branded promotional screenings. Guest invitations are decided individually; the organisers may cover Moscow–Kaliningrad return travel and up to three hotel nights, as specified in the invitation, and may withdraw accreditation.

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