• Session: RUSSIA – ASEAN: THE FAR EAST AS A SPACE FOR CREATIVE COOPERATION

The Far East occupies a special place in the development of Russia's cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region, becoming a frontier in cultural and creative dialogue. Today, the region is forming its own creative industries ecosystem: animation studios and specialized education are developing, infrastructure is being built, and international festival and industry projects are being implemented.
The session will be a strategic conversation about the role of the Far East in developing Russia–ASEAN cooperation in the field of creative industries, the prospects for systematic interaction, and the potential of animation as one of the most universal instruments of cultural and economic partnership.

Moderator:

• Irina Mastusova, Executive Director of the Animation Cinema Association

Speakers:

• Maxim Stavitsky, Deputy Minister of Culture of the Khabarovsk Krai
• Ruslan Miftakhutdinov, Advisor, ASEAN Countries Division, Department of Multilateral Economic Cooperation and Special Projects, Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation
• Vyacheslav Zavalin, Director of the Territory Development Department, Far East and Arctic Development Corporation (FEADC)
• Mikhail Sergienko, Head of the Russian Export Center Representative Office in Khabarovsk
• Yulia Shuvalova, Head of the Project Office for the Promotion of the Far East and the Arctic, ANO National Priorities
• Ekaterina Kondakova, Export Services Support Project Manager, Russian Export Center
• Ekaterina Cherkes-Zade, Advisor to the Director General, ANO Agency for Strategic Initiatives
• Vadim Sotskov, Director General of KinoAtis (Moscow)
• Vitaly Ten, Co-founder of Mechtalyot Animation Studio (Khabarovsk)
• Tatyana Belova, General Producer of Chernovik (Saint Petersburg)
• Inthaphan Buakheo, Deputy Executive Director of the Creative Economy Agency of Thailand (Thailand)
• Michael Lim, Director of the Animation Nation Festival, Founder of Singapore VFX & Animation Group (Singapore)
• Detnakhone Luangmovihane, Director General of the Department of Cinema, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos)

Znanie Hall

• Round Table: ANIMATION MARKETS OF RUSSIA AND THE ASEAN COUNTRIES: EXPORT STRATEGIES AND COOPERATION OPPORTUNITIES

Russia and the ASEAN countries have significant potential for developing cooperation in animation — from mutual content promotion to joint project implementation. Session participants will discuss the specifics of entering new markets and the needs of local partners, opportunities for content distribution and licensing, as well as the prospects for co-production and production cooperation between Russian and Asian studios.

What formats of joint work are most promising, what can companies from Russia and the ASEAN countries offer each other, and what is needed to move from initial contacts to sustainable partnerships and joint projects? The practical part of the discussion will be complemented by tools from the Russian Export Center: from partner search and promotion to participation in international exhibitions, business missions, and export contract support.

Moderator:

• Ekaterina Kondakova, Export Services Support Project Manager, Russian Export Center

Speakers:

• Vadim Sotskov, Director General of KinoAtis
• Ilya Kuznetsov, Director of Mechtalyot Animation Studio
• Tatyana Romanova, Head of Sales, Voronezh Animation Studio
• Anton Agapov, Co-owner and Executive Director of Megapolis CG
• Dato Norman Abdul Halim, CEO and President of KRU Studios Group (Malaysia)
• Filmore Amodia, Owner of Emottoons Animation Studio (Philippines)
• Sorralak Wongseri, Founder and Managing Director of EEZ Studio, Member of the Thai Animation and Computer Graphics Association (TACGA) (Thailand)
• Pham Thi Thanh Ha, Member of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Cinema Promotion Association (Vietnam)
• Yudhatama Fajar Nugroho, Owner of Manimonki Studio (Indonesia)

Znanie Hall

• RUSSIA – ASEAN: ANIMATION PROJECT PITCHING

The pitching session will present promising animation projects from Russian and ASEAN studios interested in international cooperation. Participants will have the opportunity to present their projects to potential partners, producers, and industry representatives, outline their needs in co-production, financing, distribution, or licensing, and discuss possible formats for further collaboration.

Moderator:

• Irina Mastusova, Executive Director of the Animation Cinema Association

Participants:

• Nikolai Ivanov, Childgood Animation Studio (Rostov)
• Tatyana Belova, Chernovik Studio (Moscow)
• Lyudmila Zalutskaya, Videal Media (Omsk)
• Tatyana Romanova, Voronezh Studio (Voronezh)
• Olga Kalinina, RG Brothers Studio (Perm)
• Veronika Zhikhareva, Khor Media (Moscow)
• Vitaly Ten, Mechtalyot Studio (Khabarovsk)
• Ekaterina Tomina, Rokoteska Studio (Khabarovsk)
• Marina Nebozhатко, Zelenyye Kamnezhki Studio (Komsomolsk-on-Amur)
• Vadim Sotskov, KinoAtis (Moscow)
• Sergey Suvorov, Bratya po Stilyu Studio (Novosibirsk)

Znanie Hall

• NETWORKING

Session: HUMAN RESOURCES POTENTIAL OF THE ANIMATION INDUSTRY IN THE FAR EAST
In recent years, an animation industry has begun to take shape in the Far East: studios such as Mechtalyot, Zelenyye Kamnezhki, and Rokoteska are active, series and feature film projects are being developed, and the international Animur festival is celebrating its first five-year anniversary. The growing role of the region is further recognized by the hosting of the 2026 ArtMasters National Open Championship of Creative Competencies final and the Far Eastern Film Award. The next step is to ensure the sustainability of the emerging Far Eastern industry — and the availability of qualified professionals is one of the key conditions for this.

Session participants will discuss how to build a comprehensive specialist training system in the region, ensure systematic interaction between educational institutions and production, and establish a career pathway from education to working in the industry. Special emphasis will be placed on cooperation with the ASEAN countries, which face similar workforce challenges.

Moderator:

• Irina Mastusova, Executive Director of the Animation Cinema Association

Speakers:

• Ekaterina Cherkes-Zade, Advisor to the Director General of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives
• Alexandra Dubovskaya, Director of the Animur Festival
• Albina Mukhamedzyanova, Director General and General Producer of YARKO Animation Company
• Lyudmila Arlanova, Executive Director of the 2x2 TV Channel
• Olga Vinogradova, Head of the School of Creative Industries in Khabarovsk
• Nika Radionova, Graduate of PNU, Student of VGIK, Creator of the series "ISORI"
• Michael Lim, Director of the Animation Nation Festival, Founder of Singapore VFX & Animation Group (Singapore)
• Halim Sayafi, Co-founder of New Wave Films (Brunei)
• Sorralak Wongseri, Founder and Managing Director of EEZ Studio, Member of the Board of the Thai Animation and Computer Graphics Association (TACGA) (Thailand)

Znanie Hall

• ASEAN COUNTRIES PRESENTATION

15 minutes for presentation + 5 minutes for Q&A
Objective: to give participants an overview of the country's animation/media industry, market specifics, and international cooperation opportunities.
Speakers:

• Halim Sayafi, Co-founder and Director General of New Wave Films (Brunei)
• Pham Thi Thanh Ha, Member of the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA), Head of the Secretariat of the Da Nang Asian Film Festival (Vietnam)
• Rui Nunes Muakandala, Producer and Screenwriter, Audiovisual Production Fund (CPA) (Timor-Leste)
• Yudhatama Fajar Nugroho, Founder of Manimonki Studio (Indonesia)
• Kann Seraktephy, Multidisciplinary Artist and Animator, Phare Creative Studio (Cambodia)
• Detnakhone Luangmovihane, Director General of the Department of Cinema, Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos)
• Dato Norman Abdul Halim, Executive Chairman and Director General of KRU Studio (Malaysia)
• Soe Thu Ra, Founder and Director General of Alpha Hub Media Company (Myanmar)
• Sorralak Wongseri, Founder and Managing Director of EEZ Studio, Member of the Board of the Thai Animation and Computer Graphics Association (TACGA) (Thailand)
• Inthaphan Buakheo, Deputy Executive Director of the Creative Economy Agency of Thailand (Thailand)
• Michael Lim, Director of the Animation Nation Festival, Founder of Singapore VFX & Animation Group (Singapore)
• Filmore Amodia, Founder and Creative Director of Emottoons Studio (Philippines)

Znanie Hall

• GRAND CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE ANIMATION MARKET FORUM