Nepali Youth Shine at International Youth Festival in Russia, Suman Shrestha’s Team Wins First Prize in Film Competition

Dragon Media News Desk

Nepali youth participated in the International Youth Festival 2026, held in Yekaterinburg, Russia, from September 11 to 17. The major international gathering brought together approximately 10,000 young people from 191 countries, providing a platform for educational, cultural and creative exchanges. Nepali representatives showcased their talents, shared experiences and engaged with young participants from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.

Addressing the festival participants through a video message, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized the important role of the younger generation in shaping the future. Encouraging young people to pursue their aspirations, he declared, “This is your time. Follow your dreams together with Russia!”

Nepali participants took part in various educational, cultural and creative activities, exchanging ideas and experiences with their international counterparts. The festival also provided opportunities to explore contemporary Russian society, develop cross-cultural understanding and present their perspectives to a wider international youth community.

Among the Nepali participants, Suman Shrestha from Kathmandu represented Nepal in the film category of the ArtMasters Open competition. Working alongside participants from Russia, Algeria, Egypt, Indonesia and Argentina, Shrestha contributed to the production of a video titled “The Best Day of the Year.” Their international team secured first place in its competition category.

The achievement highlighted the creative potential of Nepali youth on an international platform. The collaborative production, involving participants from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, also demonstrated how artistic cooperation can bring young people together across national boundaries.

The festival provided an opportunity to strengthen people-to-people connections between Nepal and Russia, particularly among younger generations. Growing engagement in education, arts, cinema, technology and other creative fields is expected to contribute to broader cultural understanding and future cooperation between the two countries.

Shrestha’s success represents a notable achievement for Nepal’s emerging creative community and reflects the opportunities available to young Nepali professionals through international cultural and artistic collaboration.