In 1988, the USSR Union of Filmmakers decided to transform the documentary section of the Moscow International Film Festival into a separate non-feature film festival in order to facilitate the development of documentary filmmaking in the Soviet Union. The new festival was supported by the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Culture, the State Committee for Cinematography, and other organizations and institutions.
The first International Film Festival of Non-Feature Films was held from January 25–31, 1989 in Saint Petersburg (then Leningrad). The motto of the inaugural festival that would later become its name was “Message to man”. It is a reference to universal human values because the festival focuses on films that promote faith, hope, love, grace, compassion, and other human values. Originally a biennial event, it has been held every year since 1993.
In 1994, short and animated films were included in the festival program for the first time. The Message to Man International Film Festival is accredited by the FIAPF (International Federation of Film Producers Associations) as a documentary and short film festival, along with film festivals in Tampere, Oberhausen, Krakow, and Bilbao.
The main goal of the festival is to raise awareness of the important role of non-fiction films and to help integrate Russian documentary filmmakers into the world of international cinema. Every year, Message to Man screens about 50 Russian premieres and over 300 international films in competition and special programs.
The Message to Man Film Festival hosts several competitions. They are the International Competition, the National Competition, and the Experimental Short Film Competition In Silico. The winners in various categories are given the Centaur Award. Besides, there are special jury prizes, the FIPRESCI Award, and other special awards.
Photo: message2man.com
