"Work is underway in Moscow’s Park Pobedy on Poklonnaya Hill, where sculptors from across Russia are creating ice installations for the 11th New Year festival, 'Ice Moscow. In the family circle'. Footage captured on Wednesday shows artists carving large ice blocks into intricate sculptures using specialised tools and techniques. This year’s festival theme centres on the story of Buratino, the Russian adaptation of Pinocchio, drawing inspiration from both a classic Soviet musical film and a new cinematic release. "I thought it would be very interesting to create a combined model, where we would show characters from the old film and from the new version, so that everyone could revisit their childhood and feel that childish spirit," said Alexander Kovtunets, artistic director of the Karabas-Barabas Puppet Theatre project. "The main thing in the Ice Moscow festival is that we are trying to make up for something people often lack during the year," he added. Alongside the ice sculptures, the festival will also feature sand installations. "Working with sand is particularly challenging. Firstly, it is not a typical material for sculpture," explained sculptor Bagrat Stepanyan. "The material dictates its own conditions." "Sculpture is a difficult type of art, because you have to convey a lot in volume, in three dimensions," he added. The festival will run from December 30 to January 11. In addition to the sculptures, the programme includes themed photo zones, interactive playgrounds for children, stage performances and animated shows. The annual event draws millions of visitors to the Russian capital each winter."