Published on: 2026-09-24
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
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Film College No. 40 “Moscow International Film School” celebrated its 35th anniversary since its founding. During this time, the educational institution has trained thousands of specialists for the theater and film industry. Among its graduates are well-known actors Evgeny Tsyganov, Ivan and Elizaveta Yankovsky, Yuri Kolokolnikov, and Anna Savranskaya. Today, over 700 students are studying at the college. This was reported by the press service of the capital city. Department of Education and Science.
“Film College No. 40 is a unique institution within the capital’s system of secondary vocational education, directly connected with training personnel for the domestic film industry. Here, the entire complex production process of cinema is studied — from working with filming equipment to screenwriting skills. In total, eight creative workshops are open for student training in three specialties: acting, animation, and film and television production,” noted the department’s press service.
From the film studio at the Palace of Pioneers to a modern educational institution
The history of the film school began at the Moscow Palace of Pioneers on the Vorobyovy Hills, where a film studio was opened. In 1991, it became an independent institution — a secondary general education school with an advanced study of art subjects. In 2012, the school became Film College No. 40, and in 2015 it received its current name — Film College No. 40 “Moscow International Film School”.
Today, more than 130 instructors teach students. Among them are candidates and doctors of sciences, members of the Association of Decorative Arts Artists, practicing directors, cinematographers, and film actors, including those performing on the stages of leading capital theaters. Among the teachers are actor Vildan Faskhutdinov, screenwriter and director Nailya Malakhova, and cinematographer Semyon Yakovlev. Over the years, the college has also been taught and lectured by outstanding film masters: cinematographer Levan Paatashvili, animator director Fyodor Khitruk, and film scholar Kirill Razlogov.
From the film set to festival awards
Training takes place in modern workshops equipped with high-tech equipment. Students work in an educational film studio, use filming equipment, halls for theatrical performances and choreography classes, screening rooms, and art workshops. Next year, a film studio will open at the college. It will allow students to shoot films and series in conditions as close to real as possible. In addition, major industry events will be held on the site. Its capacity will be one thousand people.
“Our students are creative, thoughtful people who understand the filmmaking process and know how to work in a team. Those who master the craft can claim the role of authors in the arts. It is such young professionals that companies in the city’s creative industries are looking forward to,” said Daniil Saksonov, director of Film College No. 40 “Moscow International Film School.”
Teachers, graduates, and students of the college regularly participate in domestic and international film festivals and win prize-winning places. For example, the film “Temperature of the Universe” won the “Russian Premieres” competition at the Moscow International Film Festival 2026. The cinematographer of the film was Semen Yakovlev, a graduate and teacher of the college.
The film “Jessie” directed by Andrey Cherkasov received the special prize from the Mosfilm film concern at this year’s Saint Anna International Festival of Student and Debut Films. The film crew included students, teachers, and graduates of the college.
The film “Summer Will Be Ours” directed by Daniil Merkulov received the “Jury Special Mention” award at the Gorky Fest New Russian Cinema Festival and was included in the main competition program of the 2026 Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF).
The film “Zhuja” received two awards at the “New Movement” festival: the “For Sensuality” prize and the special prize “Film Critics and Journalists’ Choice.” Among those who worked on the creation of the picture was fourth-year college student Viktoria Verenich. She was an assistant director and was able to see the filming process from the inside.
The college also participates in organizing the annual Moscow ball of ambassadors of “Professionalitet” and the Film Festival of film colleges. The student theater stages performances, conducts open screenings on its own venue, and performs in social, children’s, and cultural centers in Moscow.
Among the college’s partners are the GPM KIT group of companies, film companies 1-2-3 Production, M5 Production, STV, S&D Production and Mango Production, the animation studio Melnitsa, the Slovo film studio, the KinoProfi platform, the Movistart, Black Box Production, and Plus Studio production centers of the company Yandex.
Detailed information about in-demand professions and specialties taught in the capital’s colleges is available on the website “Moscow Colleges”, in the eponymous channel on the messenger “Max” and in the social network community “VKontakte”.
More about Moscow education — on the official channel at in the messenger “Max”.
Practical classes for students of Moscow colleges take place in modern workshops and laboratories. This contributes to the formation and development of professional skills in students and corresponds to the objectives of the “Professionalism” project of the national project. “Youth and children”. More about the national projects of Russia and the capital’s contribution — at special page.
To learn how the capital has changed over the past years, what initiatives aimed at making life even more comfortable for city residents are currently being implemented, and what awaits Moscow and its inhabitants in the near future, you can find out in the large-scale special project on the portal mos.ru, dedicated to the development of key sectors of Moscow. These include transport, industry, healthcare, education, sports, and construction.
On the project page “Education” it tells about how educational institutions are transformed during reconstruction under the program “My school” and how the update affects the quality of education. The re-equipping of colleges allows students to acquire practical skills during their studies and obtain professions in demand in the labor market.
Quickly find out the main news on the official channels of the city of Moscow in messengers “Max” and “Telegram”.
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