Back in April, Russian broadcaster VGTRK in collaboration with the The Igor Krutoy Academy of Popular Music announced the Junior Eurovision 2020 participation of Russia. Now they have revealed details for the National Final selection, which will take place on September 25 in Moscow.
Russia reveals more format and broadcast details
Tomorrow auditions will be held in Moscow to assess all the entries submitted for the upcoming National Final. From there a professional jury consisting of showbiz names and music experts will decide which acts will advance to the Final airing on VGTRK on September 25. The format will be as follows:
- Order of songs in the Final will be determined by the drawing of lots. One day before the dress rehearsal.
- All performances will be live with a recorded instrumental.
- No more than six people on stage for each performance.
- Internet voting for the finalists begins as soon as they’re announced and closes before the Final.
- Online voting will take place through the website here. To prevent fraudulent votes, social media verification will be required.
- Jury voting will take place the day before the Final. This will consist of showbiz names and music experts. Both adults and children are included.
- Each section of voting comprises 50% of the total score.
- The winner will be announced at the end of the show. With second place becoming the understudy, should the winner decline for any reason. From the date of the Final, the winner will have two days to come to agreement with VGTRK to represent Russia at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2020.
Junior Eurovision 2020 – the full lineup or is it?
Junior Eurovision 2020 will take place on November 29 in the Polish capital of Warsaw. The slogan for the show is ‘Move The World’. Following Viki Gabor’s victory on home soil in 2019, this will mark TVP’s second consecutive time hosting.
Note, unlike previous years, the show is due to be held in a TV studio, rather than an arena. Although sadly this week it was revealed that the participants will be performing remotely from their home countries. With considerations of fairness applied. Thus ensuring no broadcasters are disadvantaged in how they present their songs in the Final broadcast.
This week the EBU declared the official list of Junior Eurovision 2020 Participants as follows:
- Armenia
- Belarus
- France
- Georgia
- Germany (Debut)
- Kazakhstan
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland (Host)
- Russia
- Serbia
- Spain
- Ukraine
However the EBU has not closed the door to withdrawn countries that may want to submit an entry under the revised format. Thus there is still time to get closer to the maximum limit of 20 participants.
Russia in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest
Russia made their Junior Eurovision debut in 2005. The country have only internally selected their artist once – in 2014. The rest of Russia’s acts have been selected via a National Final. Vladislav Krutskikh represented Russia upon their debut, with the song ‘Doroga k solntsu‘. The song finished 9th with 66 points.
The country has won the contest – in 2006 and 2017. Russia’s 2006 winning act, Tolmachevy Twins, went on to take part in Eurovision 2014 with ‘Shine‘. Russia have had a very successful run in the junior contest, only missing out on the top 10 once (in 2019).
Last year they sent Tatyana Mezhentseva and Denberel Oorzhak with the duet ‘A Time For Us’. Which came a respectable 13th place with 72 points.
Who should Russia select for Junior Eurovision 2020? Let us know! Stay up to date by following @ESCXTRA on Twitter, @escxtra on Instagram and liking our Facebook page for the latest updates! As well as subscribing to our YouTube channel. Where you can watch our reactions to the news in the upcoming months. You can also follow our Spotify for more music from your favourite acts!
