From November 6 to 7, 2025, the capital of Russia became the meeting place for over 8,000 participants at the second international forum "Culture. Media. Digital." Leading experts from the fields of media, technology, art, and creative industries gathered for this event. More than 160 speakers from 20 countries, including media managers, producers, bloggers, and representatives of IT companies, exchanged experiences and ideas.
This year's forum focused on the opportunities of the media market in the CIS and the integration of cultural and digital spaces, encompassing over 350 million Russian-speaking users. Participants from Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Russia discussed pressing issues such as the development of local AI tools, the creation of distribution platforms, and new models for content monetization.
Particular attention was paid to media trends in Kyrgyzstan. During the plenary session "Attention Distribution in the CIS: What Works Now," experts analyzed content consumption in the region, including specific requirements and media formats relevant to the Kyrgyz market. Successful cases of content adaptation for local audiences and strategies for expanding regional projects were discussed.
Business Program of the Forum: From Ideas to Concrete Solutions
The forum included six thematic tracks, such as "Media Network," "Influencers," "Tech Magic," "Art Resource," "PRology," and "Film Field." Over two days, more than 50 events took place, featuring over 160 speakers from various countries, including Azerbaijan, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and others. In total, more than 6,000 people attended the business program.
The first day began with a plenary discussion "Media Market in the CIS: Infrastructure, Content, Cooperation." Participants discussed the prospects for media and content development in CIS countries, relevant formats, and requirements for platforms preparing releases.
On the second day, the plenary discussion "Scaling Content: Tools and Standards in the CIS" addressed issues of release unification and content adaptation, facing differences in rights and localization. Among the participants were Ilkin Mahammadli from Azerbaijan and Firas Deni from Saudi Arabia.
Foreign Experts
Renowned figures from the film industry spoke during the business program of the forum. In the first session "Series Instead of Scenes: How Streaming Changed the Film Market," French cinematographer Michel Amathieu shared his experiences working with famous directors and discussed how series have changed the perception of cinema. The first day also featured a meeting with Italian cinematographer Vittorio Storaro, a three-time Oscar winner.
On the second day, as part of the "Tech Magic" track, an interview with Andrei Ropchey, the frontman of the Romanian duo Morandi, was conducted by Russian actress and TV presenter Aurora.
Innovative Formats of the Forum
The forum surprised guests with a retro gaming corner styled in the 80s and 90s, where they could play classic arcade games. A book zone was also organized, where participants could purchase literature on culture and technology and interact with authors.
Over the two days, four autograph sessions took place featuring well-known media personalities, such as TV presenter Roza Syabitova and showman Garik Martirosyan.
Results and Significance of the Forum
The second international forum "Culture. Media. Digital." confirmed its role as an important professional platform for experts and opinion leaders. Organizers noted the growing interest in the integration of industries and the development of the media market in the CIS, emphasizing that the forum is becoming a launchpad for new projects and initiatives.
