The VGIK International Student Film Festival is a significant international student film showcase founded by the S.A. Gerasimov All-Russian State University of Cinematography in Moscow, Russia. Established in 1961, it gained international status in 1970, with its primary objective being the recognition and encouragement of young talents in filmmaking. The festival provides a platform for students from VGIK and other Russian and foreign film, television, and theatre schools to present their creative achievements and engage in professional exchange. Notable filmmakers such as Andrei Konchalovsky, Andrei Tarkovsky, and Nikita Mikhalkov are among those who received their first awards at the VGIK Festival. It features competitions for various film categories, including feature, documentary, and animation, and typically takes place in two stages annually.