A year on from the invasion, some European sales agents are refusing to do business with Russian buyers while others are beginning to do so.
A year on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine some European sales agents are refusing to do business with Russian buyers while others are beginning to do so.
“For us, no fucking way,” said the chief executive of one boutique sales outfit. “I can lose money, I don’t care. I don’t buy Russian films. I don’t sell to them.”
“Our company policy is we are not doing any business with Russian distributors,...
A year on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine some European sales agents are refusing to do business with Russian buyers while others are beginning to do so.
“For us, no fucking way,” said the chief executive of one boutique sales outfit. “I can lose money, I don’t care. I don’t buy Russian films. I don’t sell to them.”
“Our company policy is we are not doing any business with Russian distributors,...
- 2/17/2023
- by Geoffrey Macnab¬Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
U.S. distributor Well Go USA Entertainment has nabbed all North American rights to Russian World War II actioner “The Pilot: A Battle for Survival.”
Directed by Renat Davletyarov and inspired by a true story, the film centers on an Il-2 pilot, played by Pyotr Fyodorov, who crash-lands in a remote forest clearing after an air assault, and must find his way back to friendly territory while battling hunger and extreme cold and evading packs of wolves and Nazi soldiers.
“‘The Pilot: A Battle for Survival’ is a gripping story of survival, bravery and sacrifice in the face of chilling circumstances, made even more riveting due to its depiction of actual historical events,” said Doris Pfardrescher, president and CEO of Well Go USA.
Koch Media will release the film in the U.K., Italy and Switzerland.
“The Pilot” has also sold to New Select for Japan, BoXoo Entertainment for South Korea,...
Directed by Renat Davletyarov and inspired by a true story, the film centers on an Il-2 pilot, played by Pyotr Fyodorov, who crash-lands in a remote forest clearing after an air assault, and must find his way back to friendly territory while battling hunger and extreme cold and evading packs of wolves and Nazi soldiers.
“‘The Pilot: A Battle for Survival’ is a gripping story of survival, bravery and sacrifice in the face of chilling circumstances, made even more riveting due to its depiction of actual historical events,” said Doris Pfardrescher, president and CEO of Well Go USA.
Koch Media will release the film in the U.K., Italy and Switzerland.
“The Pilot” has also sold to New Select for Japan, BoXoo Entertainment for South Korea,...
- 6/22/2021
- by Ed Meza
- Variety Film + TV
The coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc on cinema chains across the globe, with protracted lockdowns, limited seating capacity, and delayed releases of Hollywood blockbusters sending the likes of Alamo Drafthouse into—and out of—bankruptcy and pushing giants like Cineworld and AMC to the brink.
Yet for Russia’s Karo Cinemas, the past year has hardly slowed pre-pandemic growth; at the rapidly expanding cinema chain, which is among the country’s largest, it’s currently full speed ahead. “We still have quite an aggressive expansion program,” says CEO Olga Zinkayova, who recently presided over the opening of Karo’s 33rd multiplex. “Our [plan] for the next few years is to almost double the amount of locations we have right now.”
The past year has underscored the strength and resilience of the box office in Russia, where despite a nearly 60% drop in total B.O., to $341 million, during a pandemic-impacted 2020, industry observers are...
Yet for Russia’s Karo Cinemas, the past year has hardly slowed pre-pandemic growth; at the rapidly expanding cinema chain, which is among the country’s largest, it’s currently full speed ahead. “We still have quite an aggressive expansion program,” says CEO Olga Zinkayova, who recently presided over the opening of Karo’s 33rd multiplex. “Our [plan] for the next few years is to almost double the amount of locations we have right now.”
The past year has underscored the strength and resilience of the box office in Russia, where despite a nearly 60% drop in total B.O., to $341 million, during a pandemic-impacted 2020, industry observers are...
- 6/8/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Russian production and distribution powerhouse Central Partnership and the Latin American film group Bf Films have announced their first co-production, Variety can reveal.
“Schizophrenic” is a psychological horror film set in the real world of severe mental disorder. Dark stories of real patients will serve as inspiration, and a variety of schizophrenia symptoms are part of the script, including conspiracy theories and altered reality perception.
The story was created by J.P. Jacobsen, and the script is being written by Hernany Perla whose scripts have twice been featured on Hollywood’s Black List. Perla is represented by Verve, Anonymous Content and attorney Marios Rush.
The film’s director and cast are currently being scouted and will be announced in the coming months. The project will be shot in English by an international team working in Russia in late 2021 or early 2022. Executive producing are Bf Films partner and CEO Carlos Hansen...
“Schizophrenic” is a psychological horror film set in the real world of severe mental disorder. Dark stories of real patients will serve as inspiration, and a variety of schizophrenia symptoms are part of the script, including conspiracy theories and altered reality perception.
The story was created by J.P. Jacobsen, and the script is being written by Hernany Perla whose scripts have twice been featured on Hollywood’s Black List. Perla is represented by Verve, Anonymous Content and attorney Marios Rush.
The film’s director and cast are currently being scouted and will be announced in the coming months. The project will be shot in English by an international team working in Russia in late 2021 or early 2022. Executive producing are Bf Films partner and CEO Carlos Hansen...
- 6/8/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Central Partnership announces Thursday that Mexican, Indian, South Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and Italian adaptation rights to Russian comedy “Son of a Rich” have been acquired by Sony Pictures International Productions, with French rights acquired by Snd Films and Polish rights acquired by Monolith Films.
Produced by Yellow, Black & White Production Studio, Mem Cinema, and United Companies of Gpm Kit (part of Gazprom-Media Holding), along with the support of the Cinema Foundation of Russia, “Son of a Rich” is currently the highest-grossing Russian film to date, it has taken in 3.071 billion rubles in Russia and has grossed a total of over $1.8 million Usd abroad.
Laine Kline, Head of Sony Pictures International Productions, the local-language production arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Motion Picture Group, said “From the moment we watched Son of a Rich, we knew it was special. We couldn’t be more excited to adapt this picture for new...
Produced by Yellow, Black & White Production Studio, Mem Cinema, and United Companies of Gpm Kit (part of Gazprom-Media Holding), along with the support of the Cinema Foundation of Russia, “Son of a Rich” is currently the highest-grossing Russian film to date, it has taken in 3.071 billion rubles in Russia and has grossed a total of over $1.8 million Usd abroad.
Laine Kline, Head of Sony Pictures International Productions, the local-language production arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Motion Picture Group, said “From the moment we watched Son of a Rich, we knew it was special. We couldn’t be more excited to adapt this picture for new...
- 6/4/2021
- by Grace Han
- AsianMoviePulse
Sony Pictures International Productions has acquired remake rights for the Russian blockbuster comedy “Son of a Rich,” the country’s highest-grossing film of all time, Variety has learned.
The studio has secured the Mexican, Indian, South Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and Italian adaptation rights. The French rights have also been acquired by Snd Films, and the Polish rights by Monolith Films.
Directed by Klim Shipenko, and starring leading Serbian actor Milos Bikovich, “Son of a Rich” is the story of an oligarch’s spoiled, bratty son who’s tricked by his father into believing he’s been reincarnated as a serf in a 19th-century village. Released in 2019, the film has grossed nearly $42 million in Russian cinemas, and more than $1.8 million internationally from its releases in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Israel, and other territories.
Pic is produced by Russian indie studio Yellow, Black and White, Mem Cinema, and United Companies of Gpm Kit,...
The studio has secured the Mexican, Indian, South Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and Italian adaptation rights. The French rights have also been acquired by Snd Films, and the Polish rights by Monolith Films.
Directed by Klim Shipenko, and starring leading Serbian actor Milos Bikovich, “Son of a Rich” is the story of an oligarch’s spoiled, bratty son who’s tricked by his father into believing he’s been reincarnated as a serf in a 19th-century village. Released in 2019, the film has grossed nearly $42 million in Russian cinemas, and more than $1.8 million internationally from its releases in the U.S., U.K., Germany, Israel, and other territories.
Pic is produced by Russian indie studio Yellow, Black and White, Mem Cinema, and United Companies of Gpm Kit,...
- 6/3/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Major Russian distributor Central Partnership wraps up European Film Market (EFM) with a bunch of global sales. “Chernobyl”, a high-budget actioner directed by Danila Kozlovsky, goes to China to air on iQIYI, and will also travel to Taiwan and European territories.
“Chernobyl” is the first major Russian film dedicated to the disaster and its aftermath. The story follows fireman Alexey, accompanied by an engineer and a military diver, on a perilous mission to drain water from a reservoir under the burning reactor. They descend into the depths of the reactor building, prepared to sacrifice their own lives to prevent an even greater catastrophe. “Chernobyl” stars actor-turned-director Danila Kozlovsky (“Vikings”), Oksana Akinshina, Philipp Avdeev and others.
“We tried to tell a powerful story of love between particular people, in a particular family, that happened in the times of a horrifying global-scale disaster. We are not trying to appoint who’s guilty or give a verdict,...
“Chernobyl” is the first major Russian film dedicated to the disaster and its aftermath. The story follows fireman Alexey, accompanied by an engineer and a military diver, on a perilous mission to drain water from a reservoir under the burning reactor. They descend into the depths of the reactor building, prepared to sacrifice their own lives to prevent an even greater catastrophe. “Chernobyl” stars actor-turned-director Danila Kozlovsky (“Vikings”), Oksana Akinshina, Philipp Avdeev and others.
“We tried to tell a powerful story of love between particular people, in a particular family, that happened in the times of a horrifying global-scale disaster. We are not trying to appoint who’s guilty or give a verdict,...
- 3/12/2021
- by Rouven Linnarz
- AsianMoviePulse
Central Partnership clinched several new deals on the project during the EFM.
Following last week’s EFM, leading Russian distributor Central Partnership has announced several new deals on its big budget action/disaster feature Chernobyl, directed by Danila Kozlovsky.
The film has gone to platform iQIYI for China in what Central Partnership CEO Vadim Vereshchagin described as “a big step towards promoting Russian cinema to international markets and [improving] our strategic partnership with China.”
Further deals clinched during the EFM include French-speaking Europe (Kinovista), Taiwan (Moviecloud), Czech Republic and Slovakia (Joj). These follow on from already announced sales to the US (MPI Media Group), South Korea,...
Following last week’s EFM, leading Russian distributor Central Partnership has announced several new deals on its big budget action/disaster feature Chernobyl, directed by Danila Kozlovsky.
The film has gone to platform iQIYI for China in what Central Partnership CEO Vadim Vereshchagin described as “a big step towards promoting Russian cinema to international markets and [improving] our strategic partnership with China.”
Further deals clinched during the EFM include French-speaking Europe (Kinovista), Taiwan (Moviecloud), Czech Republic and Slovakia (Joj). These follow on from already announced sales to the US (MPI Media Group), South Korea,...
- 3/11/2021
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
While the coronavirus pandemic briefly shut down local production last year and sent the exhibition industry into a tailspin, Artem Vasilyev, of Metrafilms, is among the many Russian producers who did not sit idly by in quarantine.
“We had a very, very fruitful autumn in the industry,” says Vasilyev, who shot four features between August and November, including “30 Days and 30 Nights,” the new film from Venice Silver Lion winner Alexey German, Jr. (“Paper Soldier”), and “Jetlag,” a feature film and episodic series from Michael Idov (“The Humorist”).
Despite the financial and logistical challenges, cameras continued to roll in Russia throughout most of 2020. Coupled with optimism over the rollout of a locally produced coronavirus vaccine, Vasilyev says industry players are hopeful that the growing Russian biz can come roaring back in 2021. “I really see things on the bright side at the moment,” he says.
Alexander Rodnyansky shares that optimism. The two-time...
“We had a very, very fruitful autumn in the industry,” says Vasilyev, who shot four features between August and November, including “30 Days and 30 Nights,” the new film from Venice Silver Lion winner Alexey German, Jr. (“Paper Soldier”), and “Jetlag,” a feature film and episodic series from Michael Idov (“The Humorist”).
Despite the financial and logistical challenges, cameras continued to roll in Russia throughout most of 2020. Coupled with optimism over the rollout of a locally produced coronavirus vaccine, Vasilyev says industry players are hopeful that the growing Russian biz can come roaring back in 2021. “I really see things on the bright side at the moment,” he says.
Alexander Rodnyansky shares that optimism. The two-time...
- 3/4/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Production in Russia has continued apace throughout much of the coronavirus pandemic, and a broad slate of titles launching at the virtual edition of this year’s European Film Market — from high-concept period dramas to psychological thrillers to horror pics — will look to tap into international interest in the fast-growing industry. “For us, it’s business as usual — boosting that potential,” says Vadim Vereshchagin, CEO of Central Partnership.
During EFM, Vereshchagin’s production and distribution outfit will launch sales on a raft of titles including “The World Champion,” a drama based on the legendary 1978 chess match between Soviet world champion Anatoly Karpov and the dissident Viktor Korchnoi. The co-production with Nikita Mikhalkov’s Studio TriTe and pubcaster Russia-1 is directed by Alexey Sidorov, who helmed the WWII blockbuster “T-34.”
Set in the noir atmosphere of 1920s Russia, “December” follows the last days of Sergey Yesenin, a famous Russian poet and...
During EFM, Vereshchagin’s production and distribution outfit will launch sales on a raft of titles including “The World Champion,” a drama based on the legendary 1978 chess match between Soviet world champion Anatoly Karpov and the dissident Viktor Korchnoi. The co-production with Nikita Mikhalkov’s Studio TriTe and pubcaster Russia-1 is directed by Alexey Sidorov, who helmed the WWII blockbuster “T-34.”
Set in the noir atmosphere of 1920s Russia, “December” follows the last days of Sergey Yesenin, a famous Russian poet and...
- 3/4/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Russian heartthrob Danila Kozlovsky (“Vikings”) admits he “never wanted or thought to make a movie about Chernobyl.” But that changed the moment the actor-turned-director laid eyes on a script, written by Aleksey Kazakov and Elena Ivanova, for a big-budget action film about the aftermath of the nuclear power plant meltdown.
“When the synopsis came to me, I read one very strong scene and immediately saw how I could tell this story,” Kozlovsky says. “Just one scene influenced my decision. And it didn’t let me go anymore. With every book I read and every movie I watched, I wanted more and more to make this movie. This has already become…my artistic dream.”
Following on the heels of HBO’s Emmy-winning series, “Chernobyl” is being dubbed as the first major Russian feature film to depict the fallout of the explosion that rocked the nation and sent shockwaves across the globe.
“When the synopsis came to me, I read one very strong scene and immediately saw how I could tell this story,” Kozlovsky says. “Just one scene influenced my decision. And it didn’t let me go anymore. With every book I read and every movie I watched, I wanted more and more to make this movie. This has already become…my artistic dream.”
Following on the heels of HBO’s Emmy-winning series, “Chernobyl” is being dubbed as the first major Russian feature film to depict the fallout of the explosion that rocked the nation and sent shockwaves across the globe.
- 2/24/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Soaring local box office has pushed the Russian film industry to new heights in recent years, even despite a downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but Vadim Vereshchagin, CEO of leading production and distribution company Central Partnership, says introducing fresh Russian talent to the world remains his outfit’s top priority.
“For us, it’s business as usual—boosting that potential,” Vereshchagin tells Variety. “We’re getting more experience on which titles we should be making. Right now, every big-budget title we make, we’re thinking about the international market as well.” The challenge, he says, “is to get the right stories being made which would be appealing to general international audiences.”
With a library that includes films from top U.S. and European studios, as well as an extensive catalog of arthouse and commercial Russian movies, Central Partnership has been a leading distributor for nearly two decades. After ramping up production in recent years,...
“For us, it’s business as usual—boosting that potential,” Vereshchagin tells Variety. “We’re getting more experience on which titles we should be making. Right now, every big-budget title we make, we’re thinking about the international market as well.” The challenge, he says, “is to get the right stories being made which would be appealing to general international audiences.”
With a library that includes films from top U.S. and European studios, as well as an extensive catalog of arthouse and commercial Russian movies, Central Partnership has been a leading distributor for nearly two decades. After ramping up production in recent years,...
- 2/18/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
The Widow: "This spring, prepare yourself for one of the most vicious, chilling backwoods terrors when the new supernatural thriller The Widow, directed by Svyatoslav Podgaevsky, debuts on major VOD and digital platforms and on DVD & Blu-ray on March 30, 2021 from Shout! Studios and Scream Factory™. The DVD & Blu-ray will contain both the original Russian language audio track and an English-dubbed option. Pre-order for the physical releases are available now at ShoutFactory.com and other fine home entertainment retailers.
Movie Synopsis:
In a densely forested area north of St. Petersburg, people have been going missing for three decades. Very few corpses were ever found, and the few that were recovered were naked. On October 14, 2017, a team of volunteers went out into the woods in search of a missing teenager. Soon, all communication with them was lost. Locals believe they were taken by the same dark spirit that took the others...
Movie Synopsis:
In a densely forested area north of St. Petersburg, people have been going missing for three decades. Very few corpses were ever found, and the few that were recovered were naked. On October 14, 2017, a team of volunteers went out into the woods in search of a missing teenager. Soon, all communication with them was lost. Locals believe they were taken by the same dark spirit that took the others...
- 2/9/2021
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Shout! Studios has taken North American rights to the action thriller “Fire,” and Russian production and distribution powerhouse Central Partnership has closed a host of other territories, the company announced during the Sundance Film Festival.
Directed by Alexey Nuzhniy, “Fire” is a splashy, big-budget actioner about heroic smokejumpers racing against disaster. Since its Christmas Eve release, the film has grossed more than $10 million at the Russian box office. Pic is produced by Nikita Mikhalkov’s Studio TriTe, pubcaster Russia-1 and Central Partnership, with the support of the Fond Kino cinema fund.
Central Partnership, which is handling international sales, has also closed distribution deals for Australia and New Zealand (Umbrella Entertainment), Germany and German-speaking Europe (Capelight Pictures), Spain (Mediaset), Latin America (Bf Distribution), Japan (Culture Entertainment), South Korea (BoXoo Entertainment) and Taiwan (MovieCloud). The film will be released in North America in the summer.
“‘Fire’ is a high-octane action thriller with...
Directed by Alexey Nuzhniy, “Fire” is a splashy, big-budget actioner about heroic smokejumpers racing against disaster. Since its Christmas Eve release, the film has grossed more than $10 million at the Russian box office. Pic is produced by Nikita Mikhalkov’s Studio TriTe, pubcaster Russia-1 and Central Partnership, with the support of the Fond Kino cinema fund.
Central Partnership, which is handling international sales, has also closed distribution deals for Australia and New Zealand (Umbrella Entertainment), Germany and German-speaking Europe (Capelight Pictures), Spain (Mediaset), Latin America (Bf Distribution), Japan (Culture Entertainment), South Korea (BoXoo Entertainment) and Taiwan (MovieCloud). The film will be released in North America in the summer.
“‘Fire’ is a high-octane action thriller with...
- 1/28/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
“The Chinese team has used Russian footage to tell a new story.”
Jin Cai, founder and CEO of Beijing-based Turbo Film Corporation, did not panic when she discovered how heavily pirated her sci-fi title, a Russian film called Coma, had been.
Instead, she read the comments and altered the film accordingly. Over 20,000 users had posted reviews on Douban, the Chinese equivalent to IMDb, and clips had been viewed more than 100 million times on TikTok.
Turbo’s planned theatrical release in the summer of 2020 had been postponed due to the pandemic but, given the levels of piracy, showing the film in...
Jin Cai, founder and CEO of Beijing-based Turbo Film Corporation, did not panic when she discovered how heavily pirated her sci-fi title, a Russian film called Coma, had been.
Instead, she read the comments and altered the film accordingly. Over 20,000 users had posted reviews on Douban, the Chinese equivalent to IMDb, and clips had been viewed more than 100 million times on TikTok.
Turbo’s planned theatrical release in the summer of 2020 had been postponed due to the pandemic but, given the levels of piracy, showing the film in...
- 1/21/2021
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
Russian production and distribution company Central Partnership is hoping for a scorching run at the box office with the upcoming release of “Fire,” a big-budget, high-octane actioner about heroic smokejumpers racing against disaster. Variety has been given exclusive access to the first trailer for a film slated to hit Russian theaters on Christmas Eve.
Central Partnership CEO Vadim Vereshchagin says the production of “Fire,” which was filmed in the spring and summer of 2019, is all but unprecedented in terms of its scope and technical complexity. “Nothing has ever been done in Russia of that scale,” he says, adding that Central Partnership expects to close deals on all international territories during AFM.
In order to recreate a raging forest fire without damaging any living trees, the production team constructed a sprawling woodland set in the Siberian wilds, using cut trees and crafty stage design. Adding to the film’s authenticity, the...
Central Partnership CEO Vadim Vereshchagin says the production of “Fire,” which was filmed in the spring and summer of 2019, is all but unprecedented in terms of its scope and technical complexity. “Nothing has ever been done in Russia of that scale,” he says, adding that Central Partnership expects to close deals on all international territories during AFM.
In order to recreate a raging forest fire without damaging any living trees, the production team constructed a sprawling woodland set in the Siberian wilds, using cut trees and crafty stage design. Adding to the film’s authenticity, the...
- 10/28/2020
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Chernobyl the big-budget Russian action drama about the titular nuclear disaster, has been acquired by Capelight Pictures for North America and German-speaking territories, with the company partnering with Mpi Media Group on the U.S. release.
Moscow-based sales agent Central Partnership continued sales efforts on the title during the Cannes online market last week, as well as the Russian Virtual Content Market earlier last month. The pic has now also sold to South Korea (PoongKyung), Latin America (Bf Distribution), Japan (Twin), Israel (Shoval Film), Spain (Mediaset) and Baltics (Latvian Theatrical Distribution).
“Chernobyl does a terrific job of educating audiences on such an important time in history. We are thrilled to be able to bring this film to North American screens,” said Hamza Ali, Executive Vice President, Mpi Media Group.
Billed as the first major Russian feature about the aftermath of the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power station, when...
Moscow-based sales agent Central Partnership continued sales efforts on the title during the Cannes online market last week, as well as the Russian Virtual Content Market earlier last month. The pic has now also sold to South Korea (PoongKyung), Latin America (Bf Distribution), Japan (Twin), Israel (Shoval Film), Spain (Mediaset) and Baltics (Latvian Theatrical Distribution).
“Chernobyl does a terrific job of educating audiences on such an important time in history. We are thrilled to be able to bring this film to North American screens,” said Hamza Ali, Executive Vice President, Mpi Media Group.
Billed as the first major Russian feature about the aftermath of the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power station, when...
- 7/2/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
While international audiences have gotten used to Russian auteurs on red carpets from the Croisette to the Dolby Theatre, where directors such as Andrey Zvyagintsev and Kantemir Balagov (“Beanpole”) have scooped up prestigious awards and Oscar nods, more and more Russian filmmakers are focused on making a splash in the global market.
Buoyed by high-octane actioners and genre titles with slick special effects, international sales for Russian films have been rising roughly 20% per year, according to film promotion body Roskino. During the Cannes virtual market, many foreign buyers may be tempted to give the country’s commercial fare a second look. “It’s the perception that needs to change,” says Central Partnership CEO Vadim Vereshchagin. “Our productions are at the same level as the European productions right now.”
Central Partnership has a strong Cannes slate that includes “Chernobyl,” a big-budget actioner about the aftermath of the nuclear power plant meltdown,...
Buoyed by high-octane actioners and genre titles with slick special effects, international sales for Russian films have been rising roughly 20% per year, according to film promotion body Roskino. During the Cannes virtual market, many foreign buyers may be tempted to give the country’s commercial fare a second look. “It’s the perception that needs to change,” says Central Partnership CEO Vadim Vereshchagin. “Our productions are at the same level as the European productions right now.”
Central Partnership has a strong Cannes slate that includes “Chernobyl,” a big-budget actioner about the aftermath of the nuclear power plant meltdown,...
- 6/25/2020
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Shout! Studios has take North American rights to World War II epic “The Last Frontier,” while U.K. rights have gone to Signature Entertainment. The deals will be announced Wednesday by the film’s sales agent Central Partnership at Roskino’s digital market, Key Buyers Event.
Distribution rights to the film were also sold to Japan (New Select), South Korea (PoongKyung SoRi) and Scandinavia (Mis.Label). Central Partnership will continue to close sales during Key Buyers Event and at Cannes’ Virtual Film Market.
“The Last Frontier,” inspired by real events, tells the story of how cadets from the Podolsk military academy staged a heroic stand outside Moscow in 1941. Cadets were sent to the front line, fighting alongside units from the 43rd division to hold back the German advance until reinforcements arrived. Hopelessly outnumbered, thousands of young men died in a battle lasting almost two weeks.
“The Last Frontier” is produced...
Distribution rights to the film were also sold to Japan (New Select), South Korea (PoongKyung SoRi) and Scandinavia (Mis.Label). Central Partnership will continue to close sales during Key Buyers Event and at Cannes’ Virtual Film Market.
“The Last Frontier,” inspired by real events, tells the story of how cadets from the Podolsk military academy staged a heroic stand outside Moscow in 1941. Cadets were sent to the front line, fighting alongside units from the 43rd division to hold back the German advance until reinforcements arrived. Hopelessly outnumbered, thousands of young men died in a battle lasting almost two weeks.
“The Last Frontier” is produced...
- 6/10/2020
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The Key Buyers Event: Digital Edition, a market showcase for the Russian film and TV industry, launched Monday with a welcome video from actress Anya Chipovskaya, the event’s ambassador, sent to its 400 international participants, including buyers, commissioners and producers from 55 countries.
In the video Chipovskaya appears as an A.I. guide, explaining how to use the platform, arrange meetings, find information, and avoid any difficulties that may arise while attending the online event. The video was created by film, music and commercials director Dilia Alshina, and producer Alexey Kiselev of Kisa Communications.
The Key Buyers Event, organized by Roskino with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Moscow government, runs until June 15.
During the event, participants will have access to material about 300 Russian projects, including premieres of films, drama series, animation and non-scripted formats.
The event will also host 14 panel discussions with global executives,...
In the video Chipovskaya appears as an A.I. guide, explaining how to use the platform, arrange meetings, find information, and avoid any difficulties that may arise while attending the online event. The video was created by film, music and commercials director Dilia Alshina, and producer Alexey Kiselev of Kisa Communications.
The Key Buyers Event, organized by Roskino with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Moscow government, runs until June 15.
During the event, participants will have access to material about 300 Russian projects, including premieres of films, drama series, animation and non-scripted formats.
The event will also host 14 panel discussions with global executives,...
- 6/8/2020
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Vadim Vereshchagin, CEO of leading Russian production and distribution company Central Partnership, says it’s time for the world to give a second look to Russian cinema—particularly the slick commercial titles that are racking up boffo box office back home.
“The key thing for us right now is to explain to the foreign buyers primarily, ‘Look, we’ve got great films. We’re not asking the same amount of money as Hollywood independent studios would. But you get the same [quality],’” he says.
Central Partnership began in the 1990s as a television production outfit, before branching out into distribution of mostly arthouse fare. In the early 2000s, it began moving toward mainstream titles, and since 2009 has been the exclusive distributor for Paramount Pictures in Russia. Its library includes films from top U.S. and European studios, as well as an extensive catalog of arthouse and commercial Russian movies.
The company’s current slate,...
“The key thing for us right now is to explain to the foreign buyers primarily, ‘Look, we’ve got great films. We’re not asking the same amount of money as Hollywood independent studios would. But you get the same [quality],’” he says.
Central Partnership began in the 1990s as a television production outfit, before branching out into distribution of mostly arthouse fare. In the early 2000s, it began moving toward mainstream titles, and since 2009 has been the exclusive distributor for Paramount Pictures in Russia. Its library includes films from top U.S. and European studios, as well as an extensive catalog of arthouse and commercial Russian movies.
The company’s current slate,...
- 6/7/2020
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Russia’s Key Buyers Event: Digital Edition, a virtual follow-up to last year’s inaugural initiative hosted by national promotional body Roskino, has unveiled a program featuring new Russian works and a host of local and international speakers.
Running June 8-15, the event will showcase more than 300 Russian projects to international buyers, including films, drama series, animation and non-scripted formats, encompassing many of the countries top companies and talent. Involved are new works from Russian major Art Pictures, which as Deadline revealed will be shopping a doc about celebrated filmmaker Sergei Bondarchuk, Central Partnership’s drama Chernobyl: Abyss, which will show footage, and Timur Bekmambetov’s V2. Escape from Hell, which Deadline broke the news on earlier this year.
The market says it will feature buyers and producers from more than 40 countries and has signed up Rtl, AMC Networks, Mars Cgv, Wild Bunch, Beta Film, Koch Media, and Iqiyi to date.
Running June 8-15, the event will showcase more than 300 Russian projects to international buyers, including films, drama series, animation and non-scripted formats, encompassing many of the countries top companies and talent. Involved are new works from Russian major Art Pictures, which as Deadline revealed will be shopping a doc about celebrated filmmaker Sergei Bondarchuk, Central Partnership’s drama Chernobyl: Abyss, which will show footage, and Timur Bekmambetov’s V2. Escape from Hell, which Deadline broke the news on earlier this year.
The market says it will feature buyers and producers from more than 40 countries and has signed up Rtl, AMC Networks, Mars Cgv, Wild Bunch, Beta Film, Koch Media, and Iqiyi to date.
- 5/26/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Russian film promotion body Roskino has unveiled the program for its digital Key Buyers Event, a virtual content market that will present over 300 projects from more than 120 leading Russian companies to international buyers.
Presented with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Moscow city government, the digital market will run from June 8-15. The program features a host of live presentations, panel discussions, and cultural events, along with pitching sessions for dozens of film, TV and animation projects looking for international co-production partners.
Buyers and producers from more than 40 countries are slated to take part, including Rtl Group, AMC Networks, Cgv Mars, Wild Bunch, Beta Film, and Chinese streaming service iQIYI.
“Such a national virtual market is unprecedented, and it is exciting to be the pioneers,” says Roskino CEO Evgenia Markova. “During these challenging times, we are adapting to champion our filmmakers to give them every opportunity to...
Presented with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Moscow city government, the digital market will run from June 8-15. The program features a host of live presentations, panel discussions, and cultural events, along with pitching sessions for dozens of film, TV and animation projects looking for international co-production partners.
Buyers and producers from more than 40 countries are slated to take part, including Rtl Group, AMC Networks, Cgv Mars, Wild Bunch, Beta Film, and Chinese streaming service iQIYI.
“Such a national virtual market is unprecedented, and it is exciting to be the pioneers,” says Roskino CEO Evgenia Markova. “During these challenging times, we are adapting to champion our filmmakers to give them every opportunity to...
- 5/26/2020
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
When the bottom fell out of the Russian economy during the crisis of 2014, sending the ruble into a tailspin, the shockwaves reverberating across the country had a seismic impact on the film industry. For many accustomed to the old ways of doing business, a dramatic rethink was at hand.
“Until 2014…Russian producers were never really thinking about international distribution, because it wasn’t worthwhile,” says Vadim Vereshchagin, CEO of production, distribution and sales company Central Partnership. The domestic market in the nation of 145 million had until then been robust. With the collapse of the ruble, however, that market was virtually halved overnight. “All of a sudden, a lot of people started thinking, ‘What do we do to sell these films outside of Russia?’”
Change was already underway, with the Ministry of Culture and the Russian Cinema Fund beginning to offer support for the promotion of Russian films abroad. The years...
“Until 2014…Russian producers were never really thinking about international distribution, because it wasn’t worthwhile,” says Vadim Vereshchagin, CEO of production, distribution and sales company Central Partnership. The domestic market in the nation of 145 million had until then been robust. With the collapse of the ruble, however, that market was virtually halved overnight. “All of a sudden, a lot of people started thinking, ‘What do we do to sell these films outside of Russia?’”
Change was already underway, with the Ministry of Culture and the Russian Cinema Fund beginning to offer support for the promotion of Russian films abroad. The years...
- 5/26/2020
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
A Russian virtual content market will be held in June to showcase the country’s latest productions to international buyers.
Roskino, the national film body dedicated to promoting Russian film globally, is organizing the event, which will include live presentations and pitches, a screening room with 150+ hours of films, series and animations both finished and in production, real-time meetings, international panel discussions, a dedicated co-production and co-development section and concerts and performances celebrating Russian culture.
The event will start on June 8 and run for 3-4 days, with plans still being ironed. It is being modelled on the inaugural ‘Key Buyers Event’, which was held in Moscow in October and hosted buyers and commissioners from more than 60 territories.
The move follows the postponement and cancellation of key physical markets such as Miptv and Cannes due to the pandemic, leaving gaping holes in the international biz calendar. A virtual Cannes market is...
Roskino, the national film body dedicated to promoting Russian film globally, is organizing the event, which will include live presentations and pitches, a screening room with 150+ hours of films, series and animations both finished and in production, real-time meetings, international panel discussions, a dedicated co-production and co-development section and concerts and performances celebrating Russian culture.
The event will start on June 8 and run for 3-4 days, with plans still being ironed. It is being modelled on the inaugural ‘Key Buyers Event’, which was held in Moscow in October and hosted buyers and commissioners from more than 60 territories.
The move follows the postponement and cancellation of key physical markets such as Miptv and Cannes due to the pandemic, leaving gaping holes in the international biz calendar. A virtual Cannes market is...
- 4/30/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Russia’s TNT-Premier Studios Company, TV-3 Channel and Central Partnership Film Company – all part of Gazprom Media – have come together to produce a movie based on Dmitry Glukhovsky’s sci-fi novel “Metro 2033,” which has also been adapted as a video game.
Filming is due to start next year. The Russian premiere of the movie is scheduled to take place on Jan. 1, 2022. Director and cast have yet to be announced. Exclusive rights to the film will be held by Gazprom Media.
Valery Fedorovich, one of the film’s producers, said: “The book by this Russian author has become known throughout the world, and it is embedded in the cultural code of sci-fi fans and gamers all over the planet. For us and Gazprom Media Holding, this is a dream project, the most ambitious and large-scale film that we have ever launched. We intend to invest an unprecedented sum … in the production...
Filming is due to start next year. The Russian premiere of the movie is scheduled to take place on Jan. 1, 2022. Director and cast have yet to be announced. Exclusive rights to the film will be held by Gazprom Media.
Valery Fedorovich, one of the film’s producers, said: “The book by this Russian author has become known throughout the world, and it is embedded in the cultural code of sci-fi fans and gamers all over the planet. For us and Gazprom Media Holding, this is a dream project, the most ambitious and large-scale film that we have ever launched. We intend to invest an unprecedented sum … in the production...
- 8/23/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
Sports drama “Three Seconds” has become the highest grossing Russian film of all time in China, with an 85 million yuan ($12.3 million) gross.
Previous Russian hits in China include “The Snow Queen 3: Fire and Ice” (74.2 million yuan), “Stalingrad” (71.9 million yuan) and “Dragon” (60 million yuan).
Anton Megerdichev’s film tells the story of the Soviet national basketball team’s win at the 1972 Munich Olympics, when the U.S. team was defeated for the first time in 36 years. It is Russia’s top grossing film of all time in its home market.
“Three Seconds” has also become the second highest-grossing foreign sporting feature film in China, outstripping Sylvester Stallone’s “Creed II,” Brad Pitt’s “Moneyball,” and Emma Stone’s “Battle of the Sexes.”
The film opened in Chinese movie theaters on June 13 and has been on screens continuously since, so becoming the longest-screening Russian live-action feature in China.
The movie is produced by Three T Productions,...
Previous Russian hits in China include “The Snow Queen 3: Fire and Ice” (74.2 million yuan), “Stalingrad” (71.9 million yuan) and “Dragon” (60 million yuan).
Anton Megerdichev’s film tells the story of the Soviet national basketball team’s win at the 1972 Munich Olympics, when the U.S. team was defeated for the first time in 36 years. It is Russia’s top grossing film of all time in its home market.
“Three Seconds” has also become the second highest-grossing foreign sporting feature film in China, outstripping Sylvester Stallone’s “Creed II,” Brad Pitt’s “Moneyball,” and Emma Stone’s “Battle of the Sexes.”
The film opened in Chinese movie theaters on June 13 and has been on screens continuously since, so becoming the longest-screening Russian live-action feature in China.
The movie is produced by Three T Productions,...
- 7/3/2019
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
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