Russian production and distribution powerhouse Central Partnership will launch two new animated features at this year’s European Film Market, along with a live-action film that will have its world premiere in competition at SXSW next month.
“The Swiss Adventure” (pictured) is the first big-screen animated film from Smf Animation Studio, the venerable Russian animation house formerly known as Soyuzmultfilm. It tells the story of a 16-year-old servant who falls in love with the daughter of a wealthy merchant, who’s determined to marry her off to a rival of high social standing and low moral values. After being forcibly separated from her, the boy is sent to join General Alexander Suvorov’s army on its legendary Swiss expedition, where he earns the respect and loyalty of his fellow soldiers while thwarting a treacherous enemy plot.
Proving that anyone can be a hero if they are driven by love, “The...
“The Swiss Adventure” (pictured) is the first big-screen animated film from Smf Animation Studio, the venerable Russian animation house formerly known as Soyuzmultfilm. It tells the story of a 16-year-old servant who falls in love with the daughter of a wealthy merchant, who’s determined to marry her off to a rival of high social standing and low moral values. After being forcibly separated from her, the boy is sent to join General Alexander Suvorov’s army on its legendary Swiss expedition, where he earns the respect and loyalty of his fellow soldiers while thwarting a treacherous enemy plot.
Proving that anyone can be a hero if they are driven by love, “The...
- 2/8/2022
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Katerina Pshenitsyna is joining from Central Partnership in a big shake-up of the Russian scene.
Leading international producer Alexander Rodnyansky’s Russian production outfit Ar Content has appointed Central Partnership executive Katerina Pshenitsyna as director of international business development and co-productions, in what is a significant shake-up of the Russian film sales and production scene.
Pshenitsyna was formerly vice president, international distribution at Central Partnership.
Rodnyansky is Russia’s leading international-focused producer, with credits including Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Oscar-nominated Leviathan and Loveless.
“I have always been fascinated with the work of Alexander Rodnyansky and the global impact his projects make,...
Leading international producer Alexander Rodnyansky’s Russian production outfit Ar Content has appointed Central Partnership executive Katerina Pshenitsyna as director of international business development and co-productions, in what is a significant shake-up of the Russian film sales and production scene.
Pshenitsyna was formerly vice president, international distribution at Central Partnership.
Rodnyansky is Russia’s leading international-focused producer, with credits including Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Oscar-nominated Leviathan and Loveless.
“I have always been fascinated with the work of Alexander Rodnyansky and the global impact his projects make,...
- 12/23/2021
- by Geoffrey Macnab
- ScreenDaily
Russia has always prided itself on being first for a number of space exploration milestones, and today it can count itself as the first country to launch a film crew into space.
This morning at 1.55am Pt, actor Yulia Peresild, director Klim Shipenko and veteran Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov blasted off to the International Space Station in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft where Shipenko and Pereslid will be filming segments for The Challenge. Russia’s Channel One broadcasted the launch today and offered livestreams in multiple languages across its platforms.
The project will be the first feature film shot in outer space, beating Tom Cruise and Elon Musk’s upcoming $200M action adventure with NASA and Space X, which has director Doug Liman at the helm.
The Challenge is a collaboration between Russian space agency Roscosmos, public broadcaster Channel One and Yellow, Black and White. Russia’s Central Partnership will distribute the title,...
This morning at 1.55am Pt, actor Yulia Peresild, director Klim Shipenko and veteran Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov blasted off to the International Space Station in a Russian Soyuz spacecraft where Shipenko and Pereslid will be filming segments for The Challenge. Russia’s Channel One broadcasted the launch today and offered livestreams in multiple languages across its platforms.
The project will be the first feature film shot in outer space, beating Tom Cruise and Elon Musk’s upcoming $200M action adventure with NASA and Space X, which has director Doug Liman at the helm.
The Challenge is a collaboration between Russian space agency Roscosmos, public broadcaster Channel One and Yellow, Black and White. Russia’s Central Partnership will distribute the title,...
- 10/5/2021
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline Film + TV
When the Soyuz Ms-19 spaceship blasts off from Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome on Oct. 5, bound for the International Space Station, Vadim Vereschagin – CEO of production and distribution giant Central Partnership – believes his company’s prospects will likewise lift into the stratosphere.
Onboard the ship will be director Klim Shipenko and actor Yulia Peresild, who are setting out on a 12-day mission to film scenes from the upcoming drama “The Challenge” aboard the station. Produced by public broadcaster Channel One and leading studio Yellow, Black and White, in collaboration with the Russian space agency Roscosmos, the first-of-its-kind feature will be distributed by Central Partnership.
Vereschagin says the cosmic shoot is a “dream” for him personally, as well as a fitting milestone for a company that’s celebrating its quarter-century anniversary this year. “This project, for us, is the pinnacle of all the 25 years that we’ve done so far,” he says.
Onboard the ship will be director Klim Shipenko and actor Yulia Peresild, who are setting out on a 12-day mission to film scenes from the upcoming drama “The Challenge” aboard the station. Produced by public broadcaster Channel One and leading studio Yellow, Black and White, in collaboration with the Russian space agency Roscosmos, the first-of-its-kind feature will be distributed by Central Partnership.
Vereschagin says the cosmic shoot is a “dream” for him personally, as well as a fitting milestone for a company that’s celebrating its quarter-century anniversary this year. “This project, for us, is the pinnacle of all the 25 years that we’ve done so far,” he says.
- 10/4/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
Well Go USA has nabbed North American rights to “Row 19,” a thriller from director Alexander Babaev, which is being sold by Central Partnership.
The film centers on a young female doctor and her 6-year-old daughter, who board an overnight flight in a violent storm. When passengers on the half-empty plane inexplicably begin to die, the woman’s grip on reality weakens and she is forced to relive her worst childhood nightmare. The film, which is slated for release in Russian cinemas on Nov. 11, has also sold to Latin America (Bf Distribution), South Korea (Cinema Black), Italy (Minerva Pictures), and the Middle East (Phars Filmco Motion Pictures).
“‘Row 19’ is a spine-tingling new entry to the genre that will prove quite capable of keeping audiences around the world at the edge of their seats, and we’re thrilled to team up with Central Partnership to bring the film to horror fans throughout North America,...
The film centers on a young female doctor and her 6-year-old daughter, who board an overnight flight in a violent storm. When passengers on the half-empty plane inexplicably begin to die, the woman’s grip on reality weakens and she is forced to relive her worst childhood nightmare. The film, which is slated for release in Russian cinemas on Nov. 11, has also sold to Latin America (Bf Distribution), South Korea (Cinema Black), Italy (Minerva Pictures), and the Middle East (Phars Filmco Motion Pictures).
“‘Row 19’ is a spine-tingling new entry to the genre that will prove quite capable of keeping audiences around the world at the edge of their seats, and we’re thrilled to team up with Central Partnership to bring the film to horror fans throughout North America,...
- 10/4/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
More than 60 years after the Soviet Union beat the U.S. into orbit with the launch of its Sputnik satellite, a new space race is heating up between the two rivals. And once again, the Russians are claiming bragging rights with plans to produce the first feature film shot in outer space, ahead of Tom Cruise’s upcoming $200-million space epic.
“The Challenge” is the story of a Russian doctor who’s sent to the International Space Station to save the life of a cosmonaut. If all goes according to plan, the production team will lift off next month on a 12-day mission to pull off the historic first.
A collaboration between Russian space agency Roscosmos, public broadcaster Channel One, and leading studio Yellow, Black and White, “The Challenge” will be directed by Klim Shipenko, whose blockbuster comedy “Son of a Rich” is Russia’s highest-grossing film of all time.
“The Challenge” is the story of a Russian doctor who’s sent to the International Space Station to save the life of a cosmonaut. If all goes according to plan, the production team will lift off next month on a 12-day mission to pull off the historic first.
A collaboration between Russian space agency Roscosmos, public broadcaster Channel One, and leading studio Yellow, Black and White, “The Challenge” will be directed by Klim Shipenko, whose blockbuster comedy “Son of a Rich” is Russia’s highest-grossing film of all time.
- 9/17/2021
- by Christopher Vourlias
- Variety Film + TV
The past few years have seen a host of Russian streaming services enter the market, and as in other countries around the globe, the pandemic was a boon to the industry, which grew by 66% in 2020 to reach a value of 27.8 billion rubles ($384 million), according to Tmt Consulting.
No company has benefited as much as fast-growing VOD platform Start, which experienced the highest growth in the industry, with a 172% increase in streaming revenue last year.
Founded in 2017 by the producers and owners of Yellow Black and White, the indie studio behind such hits as the Netflix sci-fi series “Better Than Us” and the comedy box office sensation “Son of a Rich,” Start was among the first streaming players to produce original content in Russia.
Over the past three years, the company has produced more than 30 original projects, including the dramedy series “257 Reasons to Live,” which played in competition at Canneseries, and...
No company has benefited as much as fast-growing VOD platform Start, which experienced the highest growth in the industry, with a 172% increase in streaming revenue last year.
Founded in 2017 by the producers and owners of Yellow Black and White, the indie studio behind such hits as the Netflix sci-fi series “Better Than Us” and the comedy box office sensation “Son of a Rich,” Start was among the first streaming players to produce original content in Russia.
Over the past three years, the company has produced more than 30 original projects, including the dramedy series “257 Reasons to Live,” which played in competition at Canneseries, and...
- 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
If there’s one thing a worldwide pandemic has taught us, it’s that even in an increasingly globalized world, different countries have different approaches on how to handle a crisis, which ultimately lead to different outcomes. Pre-Covid, Russia was one territory that was seeing a boom in its distribution and production landscape and, although it took a controversial and somewhat softer approach to lockdown compared to other territories, the country’s screen sectors haven’t been knocked off of their stride.
The territory is not only reaping the benefits of a thriving entertainment sector on a local scale, but thanks to online streamers levelling the global field of content, Russian stories are also resonating with international audiences more than ever.
Russian Reset
It’s a welcome move in the right direction, but something the film and television sector in the country has been working towards for a long time,...
The territory is not only reaping the benefits of a thriving entertainment sector on a local scale, but thanks to online streamers levelling the global field of content, Russian stories are also resonating with international audiences more than ever.
Russian Reset
It’s a welcome move in the right direction, but something the film and television sector in the country has been working towards for a long time,...
- 5/17/2021
- by Diana Lodderhose
- Deadline 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
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
Alexander Rodnyansky, who produced Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Oscar-nominated pics “Leviathan” and “Loveless,” says that the Russian films best able to travel tend to be “serious dramas,” such as the works of Zvyagintsev and Alexander Sokurov, whose stories “at their core examine the complexity of human existence.”
Rodnyansky is working with three up-and-coming filmmakers whom, he says, demonstrate “absolute freedom” of expression: Kantemir Balagov, whose “Beanpole” won two prizes at Cannes last year; Kira Kovalenko, whose “Unclenching the Fists” is in post; and Vladimir Bitokov, whose “Mother, I Am Home” has been put on pause due to the pandemic.
“Their perception of the world is much more nuanced and complex than that of an older generation,” he says. “They do not compromise their vision, and in their brutal and complex films they speak the truth as they see it to people of their generation,” he says.
Producer Ilya Stewart, whose “Sputnik...
Rodnyansky is working with three up-and-coming filmmakers whom, he says, demonstrate “absolute freedom” of expression: Kantemir Balagov, whose “Beanpole” won two prizes at Cannes last year; Kira Kovalenko, whose “Unclenching the Fists” is in post; and Vladimir Bitokov, whose “Mother, I Am Home” has been put on pause due to the pandemic.
“Their perception of the world is much more nuanced and complex than that of an older generation,” he says. “They do not compromise their vision, and in their brutal and complex films they speak the truth as they see it to people of their generation,” he says.
Producer Ilya Stewart, whose “Sputnik...
- 5/7/2020
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
The film has become the highest-grossing Russian film of all time with box office of $48 million since its release in December.
Leading Russian sales agent and distributor Central Partnership has sold its new comedy Son Of A Rich to Chinese streaming giant iQiyi.
Son Of A Rich, a market premiere in Berlin, is already proving a phenomenon in Russia.
The film (Russian original title Kholop) directed by Klim Shipenko, has become the highest-grossing Russian film of all time with box office of $48 million since its release on December 26 2019. It has also grossed $1.7 million from its releases in Germany, Serbia, Israel and the Baltics.
Leading Russian sales agent and distributor Central Partnership has sold its new comedy Son Of A Rich to Chinese streaming giant iQiyi.
Son Of A Rich, a market premiere in Berlin, is already proving a phenomenon in Russia.
The film (Russian original title Kholop) directed by Klim Shipenko, has become the highest-grossing Russian film of all time with box office of $48 million since its release on December 26 2019. It has also grossed $1.7 million from its releases in Germany, Serbia, Israel and the Baltics.
- 2/23/2020
- by 57¦Geoffrey Macnab¦41¦
- ScreenDaily
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