A total of 19 documentary films have been selected for the Artdocfest Open competition. Festival President Vitaly Mansky says:
“When shaping the Artdocfest/Open 2026 competition programme, we carefully analysed audience expectations, the so-called ‘war fatigue’, and the widespread sense of confusion and fear that characterises society in a rapidly changing world. We understood that this often creates a desire to escape from reality, or at least to immerse oneself in a world of carefree cinematic illusions. However, our programme is not only an attempt to confront the audience with reality, but also a reflection of our time as interpreted by leading filmmakers who document the era in which we are destined to live. In other words, this is how we see the world today.”