![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() In fact, the Russian industry has found no shortage of willing partners eager to do business with what was the world’s sixth-largest theatrical market in 2021. One French sales agent who asked not to be named defended the industry’s position to Variety, noting that a complete blackout of foreign films will only serve to further isolate Russia - including the many Russian citizens who object to the Ukraine war - from the international community. Pathé’s “The Three Musketeers” will be released in Russian cinemas. Pathé’s swashbuckling epic “The Three Musketeers” is among the high-profile French titles slated for theatrical release in Russia in the coming months. Russia was the third-biggest international market for French films in 2022, with 2.6 million admissions, according to Unifrance, after ranking in the top two each of the previous three years. Despite public grandstanding, it seems “more and more companies who were not working with Russian distributors decided to start again,” said Daniel Goroshko, of arthouse distributor A-One, which released Ruben Östlund’s Cannes Palme d’Or-winning “Triangle of Sadness” in Russian cinemas last December.Īmong European sales agents reached by Variety, several said they categorically refuse to work with Russian buyers, though others are still willing to deal with long-standing clients that have no ties to the Putin regime.įrench sellers, meanwhile, haven’t been shy about their Russia dealings: Last month, a group of French sales agents banded together to cover hotel costs for Russian distribution companies attending Unifrance’s Rendez-Vous in Paris. Top Russian distributors have punched their tickets to Berlin, with at least half a dozen companies taking meetings outside official EFM venues. The Berlin Film Festival and the European Film Market followed in the footsteps of Cannes, Venice and other festivals in allowing independent Russian filmmakers and industry reps to participate at this year’s event while banning those affiliated with or supporting the Putin regime. Many leading Russian distribution companies have set up shop or already had bases elsewhere in Europe, allowing them to sidestep a freeze on international payments from Russian banks when signing foreign contracts. and Europe against Russian oligarchs and businesses with Kremlin ties, there are no laws prohibiting American companies from doing business with Russian entities not on the sanctions list. FilmNation, meanwhile, whose “Three Thousand Years of Longing” grossed more than $4.3 million last year at the Russian box office, according to Box Office Mojo, says it defers to its content producers to decide if they want to release their films in the country.ĭespite a raft of sanctions imposed by the U.S. sales agency maintained it was not doing business with any “Russia-based entities,” but acknowledged that films sold to third-party distributors could wind up in Russian cinemas. Other companies, however, have been inking new deals since the war began. ![]() Courtesy of Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures Inc. “Three Thousand Years of Longing” grossed more than $4.3 million in Russian cinemas last year. When asked about the Russia releases of Lionsgate titles including Jennifer Lopez starrer “Shotgun Wedding,” a company spokesperson declined to comment, though a person familiar with the matter told Variety that the company has paused new business with Russia but continues to honor contracts signed before the war with entities not facing international sanctions. More than 130 international titles are so far slated for release this year.Ī rep for STXinternational declined to comment for this story. Guy Ritchie’s spy action comedy “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre,” released globally by STXinternational, and action-thriller “Plane” (pictured, top) currently rank among the 10 top-grossing films of 2023 in Russia, according to Box Office Mojo data. films were released in Russia last year after the war began, according to data from Russia’s Cinema Fund, which tracks ticket sales at the country’s exhibitors.Īfter teetering on the brink of collapse after last winter’s Hollywood pull-out, the Russian box office is nevertheless off to its best start ever, with January going down as the exhibition industry’s highest-grossing month of all time. Though Hollywood tentpoles were pulled from Russian cinemas in the aftermath of the Ukraine invasion, more than 140 U.S. ![]()
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