The International Festival of Cinematic Debuts "Spirit of Fire" was conceived in 2002 by the outstanding Russian director Sergei Solovyov. He remained the permanent president of the festival for almost twenty years. Today, in memory of Sergei Alexandrovich, the main prize in the Russian competition program is named after him.
Annually, at "Spirit of Fire," in various halls of Khanty-Mansiysk and throughout the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug - Yugra, numerous thematic screenings, non-competition programs, and retrospectives take place. They allow festival viewers and participants to systematically familiarize themselves with masterpieces of world cinema - for example, there have already been "festivals within the festival" dedicated to Mikhail Kalatozov, Andrei Tarkovsky... The annual children's and youth film club has grown over the years into a separate competition program - "Your Cinema," and the professional club gave rise to the "Spirit of Fire" Academy. Film screenings are always accompanied by a unique cultural program, including performances by musicians, photography, and fine art exhibitions.
Without exception, all festival screenings take place to full houses. Khanty-Mansiysk is a student city, and young people are the festival's main audience and judges.