National Media Group announces the launch of the Experimental Creative Association (ECA). It is a laboratory for the development of debut projects for entertainment and information segments of the holding company's broadcasting, online platforms, as well as feature films for cinema distribution.
The lab will develop experimental projects created by debutants and students. Participants are given the opportunity to work with their ideas with the support of the holding company. In case of a successful defense of the project, a decision will be made on launching a full season or a feature-length film into production.
The creation of ECA is the result of the holding's accumulated expertise in working with talented debutants. Some of the projects already in development within the laboratory were created by participants of the program “NMG Debut” and “Creators”, the case championship of creative ideas for students from non-media specialties, launched with the support of NMG in 2023.
The Experimental Creative Association was headed by Kim Belov, Director of Strategic Communications at STS Media. The participants' projects will be evaluated by a special content committee, including Alexander Akopov, NMG's Deputy General Director for Entertainment Broadcasting, Dmitry Tabarchuk, General Director of NMG Studios, and other producers and top managers of NMG.
Svetlana Balanova, CEO of National Media Group:
“NMG is committed to becoming a leading destination for the most talented creative and media professionals in the country. At present, we collaborate with both established industry figures and aspiring authors, thereby investing in the future of both NMG and the media industry as a whole. In 2023, as part of our creative platform “Creators”, we launched “NMG Debut”, a program designed to collaborate with talented creative students, and the Creators Case Championship, where students from non-media specialties presented their ideas about the future of media and entertainment. The launch of ECA represents a further avenue for the identification and nurturing of emerging professionals, working under the guidance of established industry leaders. We are looking forward to seeing new names in the media industry!”
Kim Belov, Head of the Experimental Creative Association of NMG:
“In light of the industry's most challenging situation, we have been tasked with an intriguing objective: to identify new creative talent and assess their capabilities in a production-like environment. We are open to working with students and debutants, we are interested in both ideas and people, and we are ready to use all the Holding Company's capabilities to realise projects.”