The inaugural Vidfest was held in June 2015 at VDNH (the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy), a permanent general purpose trade show and amusement park in Moscow. The organizers gathered dozens of well-known Russian vloggers and their numerous fans who came from different cities across the country to meet their idols.
The first Vidfest lasted two days and was attended by more than 10,000 people. Compare with VidCon, which is currently the largest convention of its kind in the world: the inaugural VidCon held in 2010 drew over 1,400 attendees, its attendance first exceeded 10,000 in 2013.
Currently Vidfest is held twice a year in two cities, Moscow and Saint-Petersburg. It is modeled just like other popular multi-genre entertainment conventions held all over the world. The exhibition area where Vidfest takes place is divided into thematic zones such as Fashion & Beauty, Video Games, Gadgets, etc. Each zone hosts activities for attendees. Of course, there also are merchandise booths and branded photo backdrops.
While thematic zones draw many attendees, the main attractions of Vidfest are events that feature YouTube vloggers and other special guests. They include panel discussions, meets and greets, photo ops, autograph sessions and workshops. During these events, fans can interact with their favorite vloggers, while rookie vloggers can learn a lot useful tips on vlogging from more experienced online video content creators. Special guests that attend Vidfest talk about the creation and promotion of YouTube channels, creation of high-quality videos, industry prospects, etc.
Vidfest programming also includes performances on the main stage (comedy sketches, music concerts). Since the inaugural festival, Vidfest has been hosting Like Awards, Russian national videoblogging awards. Since the award is annual, the ceremony is held at every other festival.
Photo: vk.com/vidfest
