History in the Frame: How Young Archivists from Molodechno Conquered the Boomerang Film Festival

September 2025 was a landmark month for the All-Russian Open Festival and Forum of Children’s and Youth Screen Creativity «Boomerang», which celebrated its 20th anniversary at the All-Russian Children’s Center «Orlyonok». The anniversary media shift featured 200 young journalists and filmmakers from 98 media studios across Russia and Belarus. Among them was the team from the «Archive Bulletin» school for young archivists at the ZGA in Molodechno, which took home the Grand Prix for Best Backstage.

Molodechno on the Podium

Polina Prostakova and German Rozhok, participants in the media shift from Molodechno, not only became part of a large-scale creative process but also demonstrated their talents as true researchers and artists of historical memory. Their project, dedicated to the Nuremberg Trials, was based on archival footage and written in verse, with artificial intelligence assisting the team in creating rhymes and contemporary visual imagery. Each participant had to prepare a behind-the-scenes story about the filming process. This behind-the-scenes story, created by the Molodechno team, was recognized as the best and awarded the Grand Prix.

«Ashes of Childhood» – A Red Carpet Walk

An equally memorable moment was the team’s participation in the awards ceremony of the online media competition «Without Statute of Limitations: Unconquered». Their work, «Ashes of Childhood», received the Grand Prix, and the authors themselves walked the red carpet as the festival’s media leaders. Their film was honored to be preserved in the Belarusian State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents and the Russian State Archive of Film, Photo, and Sound Documents. For her personal involvement in the session, Inna Pudakevich, head of the archival media studio and director of the ZGA in Molodechno, received a commendation from the forum presidents—Vladimir Grammatikov, Alexander Shkolnik, and Alexander Dzheus.

Education through Archives and Creativity

The Boomerang Festival served not only as a platform for showcasing young talent but also as an educational platform. Participants attended lectures by renowned speakers, learned how to work with archival footage and professional equipment, and mastered the fundamentals of media production and film language. The mentors included directors, screenwriters, actors, honorary archivists, AI specialists, and professors from leading Russian universities. Among them were Guzella Nikolaishvili, Associate Professor at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, General Director of the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization «Social Advertising Laboratory», and member of the Coordinating Council for the Social Effectiveness of the Media Industry and its Interaction with Civil Society Institutions of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation; screenwriter and director Tatyana Miroshnik; theater and film director Oleg Golub; actor and director Yegor Salnikov; director Ivan Kharatyan; member of the Union of Cinematographers and the Guild of Documentary Films, film director, motion designer, and composer Andrei Afanasov; artificial intelligence specialist Andrei Zhivaikin; and other professionals.

Focus on Feat

Particular attention was paid to the theme of the Great Patriotic War. In the year of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, the festival’s central theme was films dedicated to the people’s heroism. Young creators produced 68 media works, including television spots, public service announcements, cartoons, and short films. Twenty-three of these were recognized as national treasures and donated to state archives in Russia and Belarus.

Historical Truth in the Hands of Youth

«Teenagers making films that preserve historical memory helps them better understand the events of the past and present», noted Alexander Dzheus, director of the Orlyonok All-Russian Children’s Center. Vladimir Grammatikov emphasized the importance of passing on practical skills from VGIK and MGIK students, former participants of «Boomerang», to today’s newcomers. The festival has become a symbol of dialogue between generations, the unity of young creators, and the desire to preserve historical truth. Through creativity, teenagers not only study history—they become its guardians. Their engagement, interest, and sincerity are the key to ensuring that the memory of the past lives on in new forms and for new generations.

Reference: The festival-forum events were implemented by the YUNOST Film Studio LLC and the Boomerang Youth Public Organization at the Orlyonok All-Russian Children’s Center with the support of the Russian Ministry of Culture, the Russian Ministry of Education, and the Presidential Grants Fund. Partners included the Russian State Film, Photo, and Sound Documentation Archive, the Belarusian State Film, Photo, and Sound Documentation Archive, the Zonal State Archive in Molodechno, the Russian State Film Fund, the Victory Museum, the Union of Cinematographers of Russia, and others.

More details on the forum can be found in the next issue of the Archive Bulletin.

1. Inna Pudakevich and Dmitry Borisov

2-3. Meeting of the competition winners

4. Awarding of Herman Rozhok and Polina Prostakova

5. Participants of the media shift

6-7. Grand Prix diplomas in the Best Backstage category for the film «We Remember, We Are Proud, We Act» by German Evgenievich Rozhok and Polina Vitalievna Prostakova.

8. Special prize for the film «Ashes of Grandfatherhood».

9. Gratitude to Polina Vitalievna Prostakova.