CISCONTENT:CONTENTRREPORTEPORT C ReviewОбзор of новостей audiovisual рынка content производства production и дистрибуции and distribution аудиовизуального in the CIS countries контента

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MeMediadia ResourcesResources Management.Management, 22ул. ZakrevskyЗакревско St.,го, 22,Kiev К 02660,иев, 02660, Ukraine Укр аина 1 Тwww.mrm.uaел.: + 380 44 Tel.: 459 +380-4610 (44) Фак 459-4610;с: + 380 44 e-mail: 459-4611 [email protected] [email protected] www.mrm.ua production production C production №6 27 April, 2012

series Beekeeper

Russian prodco Ankor Studio started working on detective Director: Sergei Bystritsky. Ankor Studio drama series Beekeeper. Currently the project is in preproduc- Genre: detective. tion stage. Shooting starts this May in the Moscow region. The project is commissioned by Russian NTV channel. Premiere is planned for the autumn 2013.

Synopsis: after serious wounds and long-term recovery former investigator of the Moscow Criminal Intelligence moves to village with optimistic hopes to start a new quiet life. But it’s only in his dreams - the policeman is involved in investigation of mysterious chain of murders.

series Faith. Hope. Destiny

Russian production studio Artel is wrapping up shooting on the Director: Sergei Kozhevnikov. Artel war historical drama series with tentative title Faith. Hope. Des- Cast: Vladislav Reznik, Svetlana tiny. Shooting process, which started late December 2011, is Antonova, Sergei Ugryumov, Yegor currently taking place in Moscow. The series premiere is planned Barinov, Roman Bogdanov, Alex- for 2013. ander Andrienko, etc. Genre: war drama. Synopsis: drama follows the life of the legendary secret-service agent – Nikolay Kuznecov – one of the heroes of the WWII. At the same time he is one of the most mysterious personalities among the agents of the soviet secret service and counterintelligence. The story is based on the psychological speculations of the main character who thinks about his destination during WWII. Vladislav Reznik

series The Beach

On the 3rd of April Russian producer centre Bravo started Director: Dmitry Panteleyev. Bravo shooting new 32-episode detective The Beach. The shooting Script: Andrei Galanov. takes place in Ilyichevsk (Ukraine) and will wrap this November. Cast: Anna Topchiy, Pavel Delag. The project is commissioned by Russian channel NTV and is due Genre: detective. to premiere next spring.

Synopsis: detective storyline is set in Krasnodar Region, in the fictional town Azov. Paramonov, a beach manager, is an honest person who previously worked as a policeman. He left his position for he didn’t want to be a part of this corrupted legislative system. But even now he can’t completely keep away from his profession as Paramonov helps his friend-policeman to investigate criminal cases. And this small town is not so quiet and safe as one could Pavel Delag think. Thrilling and captivating detective line is tied with a love af- fair of Paramonov and tender girl who works as an animator.

series Wake up together

This April Russian production company Dixi Media started Producer: Efim Lubinsky. Dixi Media shooting drama series with a tentative title Wake up together. Directors: Yuri Laguta, Igor The project is commissioned by Russian NTV channel. Kholodkov. Cast: Julia Galkina, Tatiana

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Synopsis: Four 30 year-old women are the best friends. They are Lyannik, Maria Bortnik, Shukhrat very stylish, successful and educated. They have everything ex- Irgashev, Ivan RyzhikovGalina cept love. One of them is a swindler doing her best to get her fa- Konshina, etc. ther out of prison. Another woman is a doctor whose happy mar- Genre: drama. riage is on the verge of collapse now. The next character is a top- manager who struggles to cope with her work, child and married lover. What do all of them have in common? These women have passed through difficulties to pursue their goals. But now finan- cial comfort doesn’t satisfy “girls” who need feelings instead of depressing routine. So when it comes to love the world looks dif- ferent and usual way of life goes to pot.

series A Beauty

In the middle of March Russian production company Mostele- Producer: Valentin Opalev. Mostelefilm film started shooting 8-episode melodrama A Beauty. Filming Director: Alexei Kozlov. takes place in Moscow. The project is commissioned by Russian Script: Karine Foliyants. Channel First. Cast: Anastasia Mikulchina, Vladimir Zherebtsov, Alexandr Synopsis: Anna Koroleva is the most beautiful young woman in Korshunov, Valery Barinov, Mariya the town. She got used to the fact that everybody values nothing Zvonareva, etc. but her attractive appearance. Even local criminal leader Zhukov Genre: melodrama. falls under her charms, but Anna is inaccessible. In revenge Zhu- kov wants to teach her a lesson. But when a criminal group tries to scare her a young man Andrei comes to the rescue. Unexpect- edly for everybody Anna falls in love with her new acquaintance. But very soon it turns out that the woman is pregnant. Two men try to find out who is the father of an unborn baby. Andrei doesn’t believe Anna, so she makes an abortion but her thoughtless be- havior and prejudice will lead to rather unhappy consequences.

series Sindbad-4

Late March Russian production companies Progress-Studio Directors: Kim Druzhinin, Olga Progress-Studio, and Forward-Film started shooting new adventure thriller Sind- Kandidatova. Forward-Film bad-4. The project is commissioned by Russian channel NTV. Cast: Andrei Smelov, Jacov Kucherevsky, Igor Ivanov, etc. Synopsis: Spy series takes place in Middle East and follows two Genre: thriller. secrets agents: policeman Nevrov and FSB-officer Schepkin. After some period of time Sinbad starts working at Russia secret service again. No one could catch him. And due to extraordinary skills and experience Sinbad constantly ruins insidious plans of world-known criminals in the name of the national safety.

Kim Druzhinin Curious Varvara series Russian production centre PRO100 Film started working on 8-epi- Producers: Anastasia Shipulina, sode detective drama Curious Varvara. Currently the project is in Rodion Pavlyuchik. th preproduction. Shooting start is planned for the 10 of May. Script: Julia Lukshina. PRO100 Film Cast: Elena Yakovleva. Synopsis: the protagonist of the story is Varvara Slutskaya. She Genre: detective drama. is a former teacher but now she is a retired. She adores novels by Agatha Christie and pokes her nose into others people lives. Now she moves to her son Roman and his wife Alena in order to help them to bring up their children. Once Varvara comes back

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home and finds in the elevator cabin a corpse of their neighbor. Of course she starts investigating this crime. The old woman works in cooperation with another pensioner who was a teacher in the FSB Academy. Their experience and perfect knowledge of detective genre allow this couple to penetrate into criminal world and to look beyond standard methods used by police.

Elena Yakovleva

series Shark Hunt

Russian production centre PRO100 Film started working on Producers: Anastasia Shipulina, PRO100 Film 4-episode action thriller Shark Hunt. Currently the project, Rodion Pavlyuchik. which is based on the real facts, is in preproduction stage. Script: Andrei Zhitkov. Genre: action thriller. Synopsis: captivating action deals with Russian secret service agents fighting against cold-blooded Tajik gunman and his mili- tary group. It is a classic of the genre with illegal immigration, drug trafficking, chases, prison fights, etc. Desperate situations under extreme conditions replace one another. The only ques- tion arises: who will win the last fight? And what part will come to victory?

series Just live

Russian prodco Reproduction Films in coproduction with TV3 Cast: Andrei Urgant, Elena Pirogo- Reproduction Films, TV3 channel is working on mysterious drama series Just live. Cur- va-Filipova, Aleksei Barabash. rently the project is in postproduction stage. Genre: drama.

Synopsis: the main character works in a morgue. Suddenly she discovers an extraordinary gift – she can hear the voices of de- ceased. They ask her to help them, so she travels back to the past in the hope of saving lives of the others. The protagonist has to understand and investigate the reason for victims’ death. Preventing deceases woman starts a new life with new calling.

series Vasylisa Kozhyna

This March Russian World Studious prodco started shooting Producers: Yuri Sapronov, Andrei Russian World Studious 4-episode epic drama Vasylisa Kozhyna (the feature drama Smirnov. Vasylisa Kozhyna is filming simultaneously). Shooting takes Director: Anton Sivers. place in the vicinity of St.-Petersburg. The project is co-financed Cast: Svetlana Khodchenkova, by RWS and Russian Film Fund. Production budget of both se- Dmitry Solomykin, Alexei Bara- ries and feature equals $7M. bash, Aleksandr Golubev, Andrei Ilyin, Irina Rozanova, etc. Synopsis: Ivan Rokotov and Vasylisa love each other but they are Genre: drama. not fated to be together. The couple cannot get married as she is just a serf and he is a nobleman. But war changes everything. Napoleon invades Russian Empire and it marks the beginning of a new epoch for the people and the country. There exist only blood, death, betrayals and brave deeds. But for Vasylisa it can be a way out, so she heads partisan brigade. At the same time Ivan Rostkov fights against enemies among the leaders of regu- lar army. Every step they make is a step to their love reunion. The war becomes a writer of their love-story and relationships. Vic- tory in war stands for victory of love.

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series Danni Lowinski

In the middle of April Russian-Ukrainian production company Producers: Daria Lavrova, Vlad STAR MEDIA Star Media started shooting local adaptation of the German Riashyn. romantic comedy series Danni Lowinski (local title is Ma- Director: Vitaly Pavlov. sha’s Law). This 16-episode project is commissioned by Rus- Script: Vitaly Pavlov, Anna Anoso- sian TV channel Domashniy. In Ukraine the series will be aired va, Leonenko. by STB channel. Cast: Irina Pegova, Dmitriy Frid, Victoria Bogatyriova, Vasily Boch- Synopsis: Thirty-something Masha has been working as a hair- kariov, Anna Antonova, Mikhail dresser for over ten years. Although her appearance is noth- Schults, Yuriy Sazonov, etc ing special, and her personal life, at best, is mediocre, she is Genre: romantic comedy. driven by a powerful ambition to succeed. She puts herself through law school, and years of hard work pay off when she is finally awarded her diploma. After applying unsuccessfully for jobs in a number of law firms, Masha decides to set up her own agency. She rents some floor space in a shopping mall and establishes her mobile office. Everything is possible, she believes, if you are hard-working, enthusiastic and believe in justice. With one table and two chairs and a sign over the door saying “Maria Pirogova, Legal Advice”, cases and clients soon come knocking…

series Death to Spies. Foxhole

On the 4th of April Russian-Ukrainian production company Star Producers: Artem Dollezhal, Vlad STAR MEDIA Media started shooting 4-episode war drama Death to Spies. Riashyn. Foxhole. Currently shooting takes place in Belorussia. Director: Alexander Daruga. Script: Vladimir Chebotayev, Igor Synopsis: 1944. Soviet Army continues its full-scale attack. Shvetsov. German subversives that serve in the enemy’s rear organize an Cast: Pavel Trubiner, Anatoly armed assault against the representative of Red Army General Rudenko, Yevgeny Nikitin, Igor Headquarter and steal important documents. Trying to escape Sigov, Valentina Gartsueva, Oleg from Soviet soldiers a German colonel hides papers in a forest Tkachev, etc. just before being caught. Only colonel knows the hidden place Genre: war drama with confidential papers in and that’s why Germans form a new group that could release their leader and find documents of Vlad Riashyn Soviet General Headquarters.

series MosGas

This March Studio Russian Project prodco started shooting Producer: Denis Evstigneev. Studio Russian Project 9-episode detective MosGas. Filming takes place in Yaroslavl Director: Andrei Malyukov. and Moscow. The project is commissioned by Russian Chan- Script: Zoya Kudria. nel First. Cast: Anatoly Kuznetsov, Marina Aleksandrova, Andrei Smolyakov, Synopsis: the plot reveals first serial murders in the Soviet Svetlana Khodchenkova, Yuri Union. Maniac who terrorizes the whole Moscow in 1962 is Chursin, Maxim Matveev, etc. the main character of the storyline. He introduces himself as Genre: detective. a worker of MosGas but as soon as the victim opens him the door he turns into a beast that brutally takes away lives of oth- ers. The life is the most precious gift but once someone can come and destroy your world in no time. The story is based on Denis Evstigneev real facts.

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series Ash

American director of Russian origin Vadim Perelman late Director: Vadim Perelman. Vadim Perelman’s project March started shooting in Kronstadt new 9-episode historical Script: Eduard Bagirov. drama entitled Ash. Filming will also take place in Moscow, Vy- Cast: Vladimir Mashkov, Yevgeny borg and Karelia. The project is commissioned by Russia 1 TV Mironov, Sergei Garmash, Chul- channel and is set to premiere next year. pan Khamatova, Petr Mamonov. Genre: historical drama. Synopsis: Film will cover historical episodes of the USSR life in 1938-1948, focusing on the war tragedy and valorous victory of the Soviet people. Vadim Perelman

series The Price of freedom

Kazakh film director Zhanna Issabayeva started shooting Director: Zhanna Issabayeva. Zhanna Issabayeva Project 8-episode detective The Price of freedom. Filming will be Cast: Adil Akhmetov, Zhanat Ni- wraped up late summer. The series premiere is planned for yazbekov, Chingiz Kapin, etc. September 2012. Genre: detective.

Synopsis: nothing will break the real man. Life is full of sur- prises and usually not the pleasant ones. One always has to make choice. But if you have a strong will and firmness, cir- cumstances won’t become obstacles for you. The main char- acter is a young man named Askhat who is put behind the bars Zhanna Issabayeva for the murder he didn’t commit. While being in prison Askhat become a recruit of secret service with a mission to penetrate into a gang. Surviving in the criminal world becomes the aim of his life and the price of freedom.

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TV Movies Love Oasis

Russian production company Green Film started preproduc- Producer: Rodion Pavlyuchik. Green Film tion of a new TV melodrama Love Oasis. The project is com- Director: Artem Nasybulin. missioned by Russian PRIOR Production prodco. Script: Alexei Timm. Genre: melodrama. Synopsis: Svetlana is a single mother who lives with her 16 year- old daughter Marina. Marina’s father Armin left woman before the girl’s birth. Now Svetlana is almost happy because after long years of loneliness a successful architect has proposed to her. The only obstacle to this marriage is Marina who is not so delighted with the choice of her mother. The girl needs a fa- ther though she wants not this one but her own parent. Marina finds out that her biological father is a businessman and lives in Kazakhstan. She steals money which had been put away for a wedding dress and comes to Astana. Here she finds a flat where Armin lives. But he doesn’t understand what’s going on and who this girl is. So what has happened many years ago?

TV Movies Terrible Beauty

At the end of March Ukrainian prodco Kievtelefilm finished Producers: Valentin Opalev, Ta- Kievtelefilm shooting 2-episode romantic TV drama Terrible Beauty. The tiana Gnedash, Elena Kosenko. project is commissioned by TV channel Ukraine. Director: Galina Shigaeva. Script: Tatiana Gnedash. Synopsis: Beautiful Liza is 22 years old. She is clever and en- Genre: melodrama. ergetic girl but she cannot find a job. To be more exact Liza’s beauty influences on her career in a harmful way. For the last 2 months she has changed 8 workplaces and was discharged for she had to fight in order to get rid of importunity of her col- leges or bosses. Now young woman decides to rid herself from her attractive “cover” and to transform into another person with Valentin Opalev strikingly different appearance.

TV Movies Rita’s last autumn

In the middle of April Russian-Ukrainian prodco Star Media Producers: Galina Balan-Timkina, Star Media finished shooting in Kiev the romantic TV movie Rita’s last au- Vlad Riashyn. tumn. The project is commissioned by Russian Domashniy TV Director: Anatoly Grigoryev. channel. Script: Eduard Reznik, Natalia Shimboretskaya. Synopsis: Rita is a famous Russian actress but her fame is fad- Genre: melodrama. ing away. She lives with a young businessman Anton who wants to open a new film studio especially for Rita to promote her tal- ent. The woman decides to adopt small boy Vanya. She takes him from orphanage and this decision marks a new period for Rita giving her second wind. She becomes popular again af- ter her impressive and successful photo session with her son Vanya. But in fact she cannot find an approach to the boy as the woman is an egoistic, famous and very busy person. Un- expectedly Vanya’s biological mother wants to take him back. And there appears conflict between selfish interest of the ac- tress and the mother who evokes suspicions about her longing to reunite with Vanya.

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TV Shows Survivor 2 Ukrainian ICTV channel announced casting for the second Format: Survivor. ICTV season of the reality show Survivor based on the British for- mat. Casting will be wrapped up at the beginning of May. View- ers are suggested to choose themselves the location of the Survivor second season out of West Africa, Malaysia, Pana- ma, Honduras, Palau and the Dominican Republic. The format has been already adapted in Russia (Channel First), Georgia (Rustavi 2) and Azerbaijan (Space TV).

According to the format, contestants are isolated in the wilder- ness and compete for cash and other prizes. The show strands from sixteen to twenty strangers (in Ukrainian version there will be 16 participants) in a remote tropical location divided into two teams called tribes. These competing tribes are given a mini- mal number of tools with which to survive. Tribes are encour- aged to build shelters to protect themselves from the elements and to forage on the local flora and fauna for nourishment. The show uses a system of progressive elimination, allowing the contestants to vote off other tribe members until only one final contestant remains and wins the title of “Sole Survivor”.

TV Shows The Circle Late March Ukrainian ICTV channel announced casting for a Format: The Circle. ICTV new game-reality show The Circle based on the Turkish com- pany Global Agency format. The show will premiere later this year.

The Circle is a game of physical and mental endurance. It is studio based, with five people competing to see who can stay in The Circle for the longest to win a cash prize. The competi- tion begins with a 3.5 meter circle outlined on the studio floor. Each of the five contestants starts with a suitcase of cash con- taining $100,000 or its equivalent. The suitcases are placed outside The Circle with the contestant’s names on each one. The prize for the winner is the money that remains in their suit- case at the end of the show. Anyone who leaves the game for- feits their money and must leave their suitcase of cash behind. Once they enter the circle, the contestants must stay there for 72 hours. They are not allowed to bring anything in with them. They can leave only if they quit or break the rules. If a con- testant gets hungry or thirsty, they may buy a meal or drinks. However, these are luxuries that come at a price. One meal is $7000! A bottle of water is $5000! If a contestant must take an extra bathroom break, it will cost them an additional $3000! This money is taken out of each contestant’s suitcase. If a con- testant puts a foot outside of The Circle, he is eliminated.

TV Shows Jail Birds Russian Peretz TV channel announced casting for a new re- Format: Jail Birds. Peretz ality show based on the Ukrainian FILM.UA group format Jail Birds. Casting will be wrapped up on the 31st of May.

According to the format 10 criminals, who served time in jail more than once, are given a chance to get back to normal life. Host invites them to live at a summer cottage with all civilization blessings at their disposal: cable television, Internet, all kinds of home appliances and whatever they may need. Apart from

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all that a team of competent teachers, psychologists and lawyers are there just to help former criminals to establish a reputation. The prisoners are put to a number of tests. As a result of the challenges faced one contestant shall weekly leave the show so that the three of them would remain to compete for the final victory.

TV Shows Ide. Reload Russia 2 TV channel launched into production a new humoris- Host: Viktor Goncharenko. Russia 2 tic cooking show Ide. Reload. There have already being shot 18 episodes of this show. Premiere is planned for this spring.

In this show a plane Russian pensioner Viktor Goncharenko compete with professional chefs in cooking fish. The guests of the programme will be both participants and members of the jury. After the competition everyone will try dishes cooked in the studio and the winner will be chosen.

TV Shows Incident Area Belarus STV channel launches a new TV programme Incident Host: Isa Sabirov. STV channel Area. This weekly-aired documentary TV project will pres- ent chronological succession and authentic conditions of the emergency situations that have already took place.

This 30 minutes programme is divided into several parts. Chroni- cle of events is to be aired in the first section of the show followed by 2-3 stories with a reproduction of emergency situations. New episodes are expected to add more sections, namely “School Survival” where experts will give practical advice how to behave in unexpected non-standard situations. Apart from this TV show will include consultation section covering the issues of how to survive before the first aid gets to a person. Incident Area will cast light not just upon global events but everyday dangerous situations. One more section to be added is called “Portrait” which will tell stories about both ordinary people or special ser- vice workers who are known for their brave deeds.

TV Shows The Voice Kids

Ukrainian 1+1 channel announced casting for the third season Host: Katia Osadcha, Andrei 1+1 Channel of the singing talent show The Voice of based on the Dutch Domanskiy. Talpa company format. This time kids and teenagers from 6 to Format: The Voice Kids 14 years old will be contestants. The show will premiere as The Voice Kids later this year.

Apart from vocalist participants, the main characters of the show will be four coaches – well-known professionals in the world of music, each of whom will represent a given musical genre that is popular in Ukraine. The coaches will not change participants during the course of the show and will not limit the format of their work. The main goal is to emphasize and de- velop the participants’ talent with the help of their professional coaches. Casting, which began in January, will take place in several rounds. The first (pre-airing) round will be nation-wide. Those who pass through it will go to the next round, “blind au- ditions,” where the coaches will choose the participants of the show solely because of the participant’s voice. Each coach will pick his team of vocalists, who he will work with during all the proceeding rounds.

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feature films Kurmandzhan Datka Kyrgyz prodco Aitysh Film started preproduction of the epic Producers: Jyldyz Joldosheva, Aitysh Film feature drama Kurmandzhan Datka. Shooting is planned for Jogork Kenesh. July-November 2012. Filming will take place in Kyrgyzstan Director: Sadyk Sher-Niyaz. and Russia. The project received $850,000 grant from the Genre: epic drama. State Film Agency of Kyrgyzstan. Turkish and Russian co- producers participation is currently under negotiation.

Synopsis: feature tells the story of a famous Kurmandzhan Datka (also known as the Queen of Alai or the Queen of the South) who was a stateswoman in Kyrgyzstan. In 1876 the Alai region was annexed by the Russian Empire. Recognizing the futility of resistance, Kurmanjan Datka persuaded her people to accept Russian overlordship. She became one of those few women who had power and wisdom to run a Muslim country.

feature films 16 months Russian production company DomMedia has in preproduc- Producer: Oleg Lubski. DomMedia, tion stage the feature drama 16 months. Shooting will take Director: Artem Proskurin. Global Universal Pictures place in Moscow, Los-Angeles and Vancouver in coproduction Duration: 108 minutes. with Canadian prodco Global Universal Pictures. Production Genre: drama. budget is $300,000. Release is planned for the February 2013.

Synopsis: ordinary guy Vlad is a thief who doesn’t think of any- thing but money. He has no aim in his life, and wants just to have fun. But once he meets Flai – a person who changes his lifestyle and attitude towards his destiny. Flai shows Vlad the way to a new world which is called “Parkour” – the way that leads to freedom. But it’s not so simple as it seems at first glance. This way has its own philosophy and it’s impossible for Vlad to understand it without looking beyond the edge of tra- ditional principles. It’s a story about young man who decides to put an end to his previous criminal life in order to devote himself to Parkour. But as it turns out this decision will cost him his life.

feature films Baku, I love you In the middle of March Azerbaijani Heydar Aliyev Founda- Producers: Yegor Konchalovsky, Heydar Aliyev Foundation tion started shooting film almanac Baku, I love you. Film re- Nadir Machanov, Alexei Golubev. lease is planned for early 2013. Script: Nadir Machanov, Nargis Bagirzade, Ilgar Safat, Samir Synopsis: 10 short novellas gathered in one almanac are Kerimoglu, Yaver Rzayev, Alexandr about Baku and Azerbaijan. Each one of these short love-sto- Novototsky. ries has its own story-line, director, actors and screenwriters. Genre: film almanac. The project idea is a kind of famous movie Paris, I love you lo- cal adaptation, but is rather unique as it shows the national, cultural and traditional peculiarities of Azerbajdzhan and its Yegor Konchalovsky inhabitants.

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feature films From Fallen to Saints Russian production studio Joker Interteiment is wrapping Director: Dmitriy Godiaev. Joker Interteiment up shooting on the feature drama From Fallen to Saints. The Genre: drama. production process of this project lasted almost five years. Film release is planned for this summer.

Synopsis: a young man immigrates to the USA dreaming of money and fame. He has nobody there except his close friend, who in contrast to the lead character is honest and sincere. While climbing the career ladder one of them forgets his past and those who helped him to achieve success. That leads to loss of morals and values.

feature films Reach for the star On the 15th of May KyrgyzFilm prodco starts shooting the fea- Directors: Aidarbek Abdykulov, KyrgyzFilm ture youth drama Reach for the star. Filming is set to take Jumanazar Koychubekov. place in Bishkek. The project will be produced in Russian lan- Genre: youth drama. guage.

Synopsis: a naive and trustful guy comes from Kyrgyz village to the capital in order to enter one of the Bishkek universities. His dream is to become independent and he gets this chance. But the life makes its own corrections. The guy meets an ideal girl though he will have to find out that love is not just a strong feeling, but rather a difficult thing to understand and to gain it.

feature films LJ (Live Journal) Russian director Aleksandr Stroyev started shooting feature Director: Aleksandr Stroyev. Leda film art house drama with a tentative title LJ (Live Journal). The Cast: Irina Koroleva, Ekaterina project is commissioned by Russian prodco LV Film and is pro- Sakharova, Dmitri Ratomsky, An- duced by Leda film. Shooting takes place in Moscow and will drey Filippak. be wrapped up late summer 2012. Genre: arthouse drama.

Synopsis: the film is a kind of an attempt to make a screen ad- aptation of a popular web-site “Live Journal”. The action is set in the library, where its keeper reads articles and short-stories and a viewer sees on the screen what the main character thinks Aleksandr Stroyev about…

feature films In the fog In April Russian director Sergei Loznitsa finished shooting his Director: Sergei Loznitsa. second feature In the fog. This war drama is coproduced by Cast: Vladimir Svirsky, Vlad Iva- such production companies, as GP (Russia), MA.JA.DE Fic- nov, Julia Peresild, Nadezhda MA.JA.DE Fiction, GP, Rija tion (Germany), Rija Films (Latvis), Lemming Film (Nether- Markina, Mikhail Evlanov. Films, Lemming Film, lands) and Belarusfilm (Belarus). The project is based on the Genre: war drama. novel of Russian writer Vasiliy Bykov. International distribution Belarusfilm rights for the feature belong to the German distributor Match Factory. The film premiere is planned for late spring 2012.

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Synopsis: Year 1942. Belarus is occupied by Nazis. Trackman Suschenya is falsely accused of betrayal and cooperation with enemies. Two partisans come to the village in order to punish a traitor. But the main character hopes to prove his innocence and tries to make right and moral decision being straitened by immoral circumstances.

Sergei Loznitsa feature films Escape into the sky. Devyataev At the end of April russian production company Major Film in Producers: Dennis Filiukov, Lud- Major Film coproduction with the US and German producers starts shoot- mila Weber. ing the feature war drama with the tentative title Escape into Script: Alexandr Rodionov. the sky. Devyataev. Filming will take place in Mordovia (Rus- Cast: Oleg Taktarov, Vasiliy Lano- sia) and Germany. voy, Vladimir Timofeev, etc. Genre: war drama. Synopsis: September 1944. West Germany. Königsberg con- centration camp. Group of prisoners headed by former pilot Mikhail Devyataev prepares to escape. His plane was shot down and now he has been imprisoned for already 2 months. Just before he last flight Mikhail received a letter from his wife Faya, who tells that she is pregnant and was taken to the hos- Dennis Filiukov pital. But what happened to Faya and his child later remains unknown as Mikhail hadn’t finished reading because of the urgent mission. All these months the pilot can’t bear the sus- pense thinking about his wife and child.

feature films Corrector Armenian film director Hovhannes Galstyan started prepro- Director: Hovhannes Galstyan. duction of the psychological feature drama with a tentative Script: Hovhannes Galstyan, Ma- title Corrector. Film shooting will commence this August. The rine Zakarian. Hovhannes Galstyan Film project will be made in coproduction with Russian, Czech and Genre: psychological drama. Norwegian filmmakers.

Synopsis: psychological drama focuses on the relationships of a married couple. On the one hand when a successful 50-year old writer Gabriel meets Janet, he decides that it is she who will become his next muse for the creation of his new literary work. On the other hand Mary, Gabriel’s wife, carefully and at- tentively follows Janet recovery from cancer disease. Mary is the head of the cancer department and observing Janet she tries to write an essay devoting to the problems of euthanasia. Disease backoff is interlaced with the Janet and Gabriel love- Hovhannes Galstyan affair development.

Guide feature films Ukrainian production company Pronto Film started shooting Producers: Igor Savichenko, Pronto Film of the feature drama Guide. Principal photography is planned Maxim Asadchiy. for May-June 2012. The project received grant from the state Director: Les’ Sanin. Ukrainian Film Commission. Cast: Alexandr Kobzar. Genre: drama. Synopsis: the main character is a foreigner, namely a boy who comes to Ukraine. He speaks with a heavy accent but tries to learn Ukrainian…

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feature films Brothers Ukrainian production company Pronto Film started working Producers: Igor Savichenko, Pronto Film on the psychological feature drama Brothers based on the Maxim Asadchiy. Swedish writer Torgny Lindgren Hummelhonung novel. Shoot- Director: Victoria Trofimenko. ing starts this May in the Carpathian Mountains. The project Duration: 100 minutes. received state grant from the Ukrainian Film Commission.

Synopsis: the action takes place in the Carpathian Mountains. Two houses are located on a hill. Two brothers live on opposite sides. Each of them waits for the death of another one as they hate each other. Everything changes when a woman comes into their lives. She is a writer and will present the story from her own point of view.

feature films The Invisibles Russian production companies PROFIT and Inter Fest started Producers: Renat Davletyarov, PROFIT, Inter Fest preproduction of the New Year feature comedy The Invisibles. Igor Tolstunov. Filming will start later this year. The project production budget Script: Yuri Korotkov. is $3M. Cast: Ilya Lyubimov, Ekaterina Guseva, Andrey Merzlikin, Gosha Synopsis: the story of an inconspicuous white-collar worker, Kutsenko. who doesn’t seem to be very successful. He doesn’t like his life Genre: Comedy. so he wants a drastic change. But it’s not so easy as he imag- ines. In the gray crowd of cubicle rats he is just another worker, cog in the machine. This mass swallowed him. Probably once he could approve himself and become so to say “visible” for others.

feature films Salam, New York Kyrgyz director Ruslan Akun has in preproduction stage new Producers: Nurbek Aybashov, Ruslan Akun Film feature comedy Salam, New York. Currently the actors’ cast- Ruslan Akun. ing takes place in Bishkek. Shooting is set for this summer in Director, script: Ruslan Akun. the NYC. Release is planned for December 2012. Genre: comedy.

Synopsis: Kyrgyz comes to New York to visit his relative with great expectations to start here a new life. But nobody meets him at the station and a guy is left alone in big city without mon- ey, food and even without a place to sleep. Morning. Skyscrap- ers. Manhattan. Central Park. A lad is sleeping on the bench embracing his suitcase. He has arrived here from afar off with a firm decision to make his dreams come true. It’s his first night in the USA. He doesn’t know yet what is waiting him in the stone jungles. His future is filled with problems, despair, hopes and failures. Nevertheless all this hardship will lead him to new ho- rizons and joyful victory.

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feature films The last summer Russian prodco Valday Films starts working on the feature ac- Director: Eugeniy Zvezdakov. Valday Films tion The last summer. The project is currently in preproduc- Script: Oleg Molovichko. tion. Shooting is planned for the second half of 2012. Genre: action.

Synopsis: Kostya is bored of his life despite his parents are wealthy and he gets everything he wants. Being offended by his father, Kostya is left alone and wants adventures. He gets an opportunity to try something new and becomes a person who finds and marks a likely place for robbery. But very soon he will understand that it’s not a childish game and finding the way out will be a serious problem for a young man.

feature films Arctic trip, or everything will be newly Wise Vision Mid April Ukrainian production company Wise Vision finished Producer: Oresta Kompanets. shooting the feature comedy Arctic trip, or everything will Director: Sergei Chekalov. be newly. Filming took place in Kiev and Chernigov. Release is Cast: Yegor Beroev, Julia Snigir, planned for November-December 2012. Dmitry Nagiyev, Tatyana Orlova, Anna Semenovich? Tamara Yat- Synopsis: sometimes distances, career and work separate peo- senko, Evgeny Smorygin. ple for ever. But for the dearest people this time lasts only for a Genre: comedy. moment no matter how long it is. One amulet can bring people together and will force them to show their true feelings. But what is hidden inside? One will reveal sincerity, nobleness and help- fulness, but another will uncover stupidity and hypocrisy. feature films Same way Ukrainian production company 435 Films started shooting Director: Daria Onyshchenko 435 Films, Neuesuper Film the feature drama Same way. The project is coproduced with Script: Daria Onyshchenko, Miro- Production, Art§Popcorn Neuesuper Film Production (Germany) and Art§Popcorn Mo- slav Mandic tion Film Company (Serbia). Cast: Karl Markovics, Georg Motion Film Company Friedrich, Lea Mornar, Marija Skaricic, Vuk Kostic, Ivan Dobron- Synopsis: Ruslana, a middle-aged Ukrainian, lives a lonely life ravov, Viktoria Varlej. in Munich, desperately trying to learn German and hoping her Genre: drama. only son Bogdan will finally come to visit her, but he lives in Kiev and still has no intention of following his mother to Germany. Her luck changes when her neighbor Vladen, a former profes- sional boxer from Serbia, falls in love with her. Zoran, Vladen’s son, has never forgiven his parents for emigrating. He has never left Belgrade, where he still sees his future and, together Daria Onyshchenko with his attractive girlfriend Aida, lives a plain but satisfying liv- ing. Three cities and six destinies are magically connected…

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CARMEN FILM Russian distributor Carmen Film acquired from British distribu- tor Content TV rights for the feature-length TV drama United. Deals were also closed with Mexican MVS Television, Brazilian Globosat, Yes DBS in Israel, AMC’s Sundance Channel Global (Europe, Middle East, Eastern Europe and Asia), M-Net in South Africa, RTÉ (Ireland), NRK (Norway), SVT (Sweden), TV2 (Denmark), Tele-München Group (German-speaking Europe) ITI Neovision (Poland), etc. The drama was produced by World Productions for UK pubcaster BBC2.

United is based on the true story of Manchester United’s legendary “Busby Babes”, the youngest side ever to win the Football League, and the 1958 Munich Air Crash that claimed eight of their number. The film draws on first-hand interviews with the survivors and their families Duration: 25 x 45 min. to tell the inspirational story of a team and community overcoming ter- Format: Upgrade rible tragedy.

CENTRAL ASIA MEDIA DISTRIBUTION

Malaysia-based animation producer Animasia Studio signed a mul- Director: James Strong. tiple licensing deal with Kazakh company Central Asia Media Distri- Cast: Dean Andrews, Kate bution for the licenses of Balla Bowl (movie 1 & movie 2), ABC Ashfield, Natalie Burt. Monsters, Bola Kampung, and pre-sales for Chuck Chicken ani- mation for the territory of Kazakhstan.

Balla Bowl - Sachin is a young boy who eats, sleeps and dreams Duration: 2 x 70 minutes. cricket. The only problem is his school, B.K. Municipal High does not support their cricket dream. Coached by a sports teacher with his own personal conflicts, Sachin decides to pick out his own team of 11 students and together they work hard towards making enough time and opportunities to convince the school to send them to the biggest cricket championship in the city.

ABC Monsters - Twenty-six cuddly ABC Monsters live within the Duration: 26 x 22 minutes. walls of Capital Castle. They are wonderfully curious and happy crea- tures and often wander off from Alphabet Gardens to try new and fun things, invariably getting themselves lost in the process. In each adventure Alice and her good friends Brian and Cherry Berry, must search high and low for one of the missing monsters. Armed with their Magical Dictionary, the three friends follow letter related clues given to them by a host of characters that they meet along the way.

Bola Kampung - Everything began one day when Iwan and his Duration: 78 x 22 minutes. friends stumble upon a group of kids dressed in costumes playing football in strange places. Iwan’s team were invited to play along this new football style and instantly, they get hooked onto the style and pace of the game, known as Street Soccer, a football game which is becoming increasingly popular.

Chuck Chicken – The action takes place on an island called Rocky Duration: 52 x 11 minutes. Perch, a land filled with chaos, mayhem and birds...... lots and lots of birds. Chuck runs the security service company with his two friends - Flick and Wing. They provide Kung Fu style security to the citizens of Rocky Perch and their valuables, as they travel across the island.

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Chuck also inherited a very special talisman in the shape of a golden egg, an object that bestows amazing powers on whoever possesses it, and turns Chuck into Kung Fu Chicken. Unfortunately for Chuck, the talisman doesn’t come with any instructions, so he doesn’t know how to properly control his new abilities.

FILM.UA Distribution Ukrainian distribution company FILM.UA Distribution (part of FILM.UA Group) licensed TV-rights for 60-episodes melodrama Hello, Moth- er! to the Italian Babel TV channel. The series was coproduced by Ukrainian FILM.UA Production and ISTIL Studios.

Main character, Anna Nazarova, is a former school teacher of Rus- Directors: Jaroslav Lastovetskij, sian language and literature. Six years ago she and her friend Dinka Galina Kuvivchak-Sahno, Olga went to work to Italy, and Anna regularly sent money to her children Orehova, Oleg Filipenko for their studies. Elder daughter Natalja is a sportswoman, who works Duration: 60 x 11 minutes. as a coach in a sports school. Younger twins, Nikolaj and Vika, are students. Therewith, Nikolaj is starting his carrier as a businessman, and Vika wants to get married. She decides to call her mother to a wedding in order to make a surprise for the rest of her family. And Vika succeeded – Anna really was surprised when she saw her preg- nant daughter at the airport. Deeply touched, Anna promises to pro- vide the newlyweds with an apartment. However, at the wedding Anna understands that nobody was waiting for her there…

GALA MEDIA The catalogue of Russian distribution company Gala Media – mainly focused on acquisition of all the types of television rights for foreign movies and their further sale on the territory of the CIS countries – now includes feature drama Night Train to Lisbon (2013). The project is being co-produced by Studio Hamburg Production and Zurich- based C-Films. Shooting started this March and will be wrapped up in May 2012. Eurimages has put in around $2.9 million into this proj- ect so far, and there is also federal and regional funding in Germany which includes $427,000 from Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg. Film is based on the bestselling novel by Pascal Mercier.

Night Train to Lisbon tells the story of a Swiss professor of classi- cal languages Raimund Gregorius who encountered in Bern a mys- Director: Bille August. terious Portuguese woman. She leads him to an extraordinary book written by a doctor Amadeu de Prado. Gregorius believes that this book will give him the possibility to change life. So he quits his job and heads off to Lisbon hoping to discover the fate of an author, who fought against Portuguese dictator Antonio de Oliveira Salazar. In search of the author, Gregorius acts as detective, pulling together pieces of the personal and political puzzle.

KIT Ukrainian distribution company KIT acquired theatrical rights for the territory of Ukraine for the South Korean animation Jeombaki: Hanbandoeui Gongryong 3D. Local film release is planned for the 17th of May 2012.

70 million years ago dinosaurs ruled the world. The vast forests were home to countless species of these amazing animals. The youngest Director: Han Sang-ho. of the Tarbozavr family, playful and curious boy Brindle, is looking for- Duration: 90 minutes. ward to go hunting with his elder brothers. But when this long-awaited

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day comes, the herd of tarbozavrs is attacked by creepy one-eyed Tyrannosaurus. Brindle gets lost and meets other dinosaur kids, who have to fight together for life. How will they cope with their new adult life?

MAURIS FILM Russian Mauris Film distribution company acquired local TV-rights for detective drama Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries from All3Media Inter- Director: Daina Reid. national. The series is based on Australian author Kerry Greenwood’s Duration: 13 x 60 minutes. Phryne Fisher detective novels. The series originally produced by Aus- sie Every Cloud Productions premiered this February on Australia’s ABC networks. The project was also sold to Denmark (DR) and Swe- den (Kanal 9).

After many years abroad, Phryne Fisher returns to Melbourne, in part to start a new life in her home town, but also to ensure that Murdoch Foyle, the man thought to be responsible for her younger sister’s mys- terious disappearance, never gets out of jail. The drama follows lady sleuth Phryne as she solves mysteries against a backdrop of back streets, jazz clubs and mansions of late 1920’s Melbourne.

NEW CHANNEL Ukrainian New Channel acquired rights for a local adaptation of the talent-show format Your Face Sounds Familiar from the Dutch for- mat developer and distributor Endemol. The show was originally pro- duced by Spanish production company Gestmusic for Antena 3 televi- sion network in autumn 2011. Endemol also sold the format to broad- casters Antena 1 in Romania and Megavision in Chile.

Eight celebrities from diverse artistic fields take on the challenge of transforming themselves into a different iconic singer every week. Format: Your Face Sounds Fa- They will have to sing and dance live in order to impress both the audi- miliar. ence and a panel of celebrity judges. Every week, their challenge will be assigned randomly by pressing a buzzer. A team of coaches and the best stylists will help them prepare their performance. The best im- pressionist will be proclaimed champion of Your Face Sounds Familiar and will be rewarded with a large cash prize to donate to the charity of his choice.

RUSTAVI 2 British FremantleMedia and Syco Entertainment companies licensed to Georgian Rustavi 2 TV channel rights for a local adaptation of the talent TV-format The Х Factor. Local adaptations of The X Factor for- mat aired already in 40 countries, including Ukraine, Russia, Armenia and Kazakhstan. Originally The X Factor, created by Simon Cowell, pre- miered in September 2004 in Britain.

The show is primarily concerned with identifying singing talent, though appearance, personality, stage presence and dance routines are also Format: The X Factor. an important element of many performances. The competition is split into different categories (boys, girls, groups and soloists aged 25 and over). The winner of original The X Factor is awarded a £1 million re- cording contract with Syco Music, in association with Sony Music.

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STAR MEDIA Russian-Ukrainian production and distribution group Star Media ac- quired three new TV formats. Spanish Boomerang TV licensed to Star Media rights for the local adaptation of police procedural Los Miste- rios de Laura (Mum Detective), Dutch distributor Eyeworks licensed an option to adapt Belgian Dubbelleven (Double Life) series format, and Australian Renegade Films licensed local adaptation rights for Wilfred.

Los misterios de Laura - Laura Lebrel is a police inspector; brilliant Duration: 13x 70 minutes. at her work, but short-sighted in her relationships. Capable of unrav- elling the most complex crime, but incapable of detecting love, even when it is right under her nose. Mother of two boys, two naughty little demons, she recently separated from Jacobo, her superior at the po- lice station. Her partner at work is Martin, the person with whom she spends the most time. They have known each other since they were at police academy and are always bickering … but this apparent hostil- ity covers up deeper feelings. The responsibility of being both mother and policewoman sometimes seems too much for Laura, but in the end she always manages to combine her two roles.

Dubbelleven - Only a while after the death of Mark Nuyens, his doting Duration: 13 х 45 minutes. son adolescent son Maarten, his legally unwed ma, housewife Karen, and others learn that Mark lead a double bigamy-like life. Only Mark’s brother Ruben knew he secretly married, in another province, adver- tising-career-bachelorette Nina. The inheritance is only one of many complications for the bereaved and those in their own lives.

Wilfred - The story of Ryan, a depressed man who believes he is get- Duration: 13 x 25 minutes. ting nowhere in his life and plans to kill himself. In the middle of his attempted suicide, he is asked to watch his neighbor’s dog, Wilfred, but Ryan can only see Wilfred as a real person instead of an animal that everyone else sees. As they begin to bond more and become friends, Wilfred teaches Ryan a life lesson about people, love, and living.

STUDIO U7 Russian distribution company Studio U7 acquired Russian and CIS countries TV rights for the factual series Corey’s Wild World (pro- duction: Australia, 2011) and Adrian’s Reptile World (production: Australia, 2009).

Travelling throughout Australia and South East Asia in search of exotic Duration: 13 x 25 minutes. (на and dangerous wildlife species Corey’s Wild World is presented as a офиц сайте Кори написано про 13 part mini-series. Each episode runs for 25 minutes filmed on loca- 13 частей) tion showcasing selected species in an exciting and educational style, in 5 to 7 minute timeslots. Corey’s Wild World helps to promote con- servation through a better understanding of our natural environment.

Adrian's Reptile World is a 13 part television series that road tests Duration: 13 x 30 minutes. Australian reptiles as pets. Many of the episodes include segments shot in the field to show natural habitats as well as some behaviours filmed for the first time. Interviews with many home grown experts across Australia, showing their collections and also with a licensed reptile collector in WA.

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TET Ukrainian TET TV channel acquired from American CBS Television Distribution rights for local adaptation of dating-format Excused. Ukrainian version of the show will premiere this autumn. Also TET ac- quired from German distributor SevenOne International TV-rights for the comedy sketch show What If? The show has already aired in Bel- gium (2BE) and The Netherlands (RTL4).

In the first round of Excused, two contestants (either two males or Duration: 20 minutes. two females) are introduced and are asked by host about what they look for in a mate. They then have to choose which potential suitors decide who they want to let in the house or not by watching a feed from a security camera located outside the front door of the house to give their first impression by explaining why they should be given the chance to come in. Once four potential suitors are chosen, the two contestants then view video dating profiles. The group of four is cut down to two remaining potential suitors, who then will go out on dates with the two contestants. The show culminates with each contestant choosing whether to meet their suitor in the courtyard of the house.

What If? is an imaginative roller coaster of sketches that immerses Duration: 22 minutes. viewers in life as it could be – almost! What if Barbie was a real wom- an? What if the Titanic never sank? What if butchers were like rock stars? Each sketch begins with a question that starts with “What if”. What if auto mechanics were honest? What if people were hyper-sen- sitive about their spirituality? What if everyone loved art? The 16 to 18 short and witty sketches per episode are divided into 3 different categories: punch line sketches, build-up sketches and street inter- views. A cast of up to 10 actors performs all sketches. And that is ex- actly the goal of the show – transporting the viewers into a completely new and different world! Showing a reality that never happened, but easily could have.

THE MATCH FACTORY German distributor The Match Factory acquired international the- atrical rights for the feature drama Svet-Ake (The Light Thief, 2010). The project is coproduced by Oy Art Film Producing Company (Kyr- gyzstan), Asap Films (France), Volya Films (Netherlands), Pallas Film and ZDF (both Germany).

The main character of the film is an electrician with a far greater effect Director: Aktan Arym Kubat on the people around him than his job defines. He is the last link in a Script: Aktan Arym Kubat, Talip huge energetic system and he becomes the binding bridge between Ibrahimov the geopolitical problems of post-soviet space and the common Cast: Aktan Arym Kubat, Taa- people. The economic devastation of the country had an enormous laikan Abazova, Askat Sulaim- impact on the industrial workers and yet despite the upheaval, these anov. people did not seize to love and suffer, to have and be friends and to enjoy their lives. In particular our resilient electrician, who possesses a wonderful and open heart. He not only brings electric light (which is often out) to the lives of the inhabitants of this small city, but he also spreads the light of love, loyalty, life and mainly laughter

WEIT MEDIA

Russian WeiT Media group of companies acquired from Israeli Kesh- Duration: 12 x 45 minutes. et Broadcasting rights for local adaptation of Prisoner Of War (Hatu- fim) series. Currently Israeli United Studios prodco is shooting the second season of this drama for Keshet. The format was successfully adapted in the USA (entitled Homeland) in 2011.

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The fictional series Prisoners of War revolves around the lives of three IDF reservists who are captured during service in Lebanon. Their fate initially is unknown, and they become symbols to the society from which they came. In their families, they are perceived as something between a misty memory, and an ever-lasting glimmer of hope – until the day 17 years later, when they return. Only two come back alive. The third returns in a coffin. The series follows the families, and the two remaining soldiers as they try to pick up the pieces of their lives. The questions asked as part of the program are troubling, as are the answers.

2x2 Russian 2x2 TV channel acquired TV-rights for What It’s Like Be- ing Alone comedy from Canadian distributor Breakthrough Entertain- ment. The series was also picked up by TRT channel (Turkey). Origi- nally the programme aired on Canadian pubcaster CBC Television in 2006

The storylines of What It’s Like Being Alone revolve around the resi- Directors: Marc Lougee, Brad dents of the fictional Gurney Orphanage, a dark, run-down building. Peyton. Princess Lucy, a grey, fat, and warty orphan, is the main character, Duration: 13 x 30 minutes. and the plot begins with her arrival at the orphanage. The story shows many attempts of fictional mutant children living in the orphanage to get adopted.

Media Resources Management. 22 Zakrevsky St., Kiev 02660, Ukraine 20 www.mrm.ua Tel.: +380 (44) 459-4610; e-mail: [email protected] Cinema releases overview C Cinema releases overview №6 27 April, 2012

2012 Ukrainian Theatrical Distribution Market Overview 104 movies were released in Ukrainian cinemas from December 1, 2011 till mid April 2012. Their box-office totaled $39.9 million. More than 8 million tickets were sold. TOP-15 the most successful releases gathered almost $27 million. 6 of these are produced in Russia. Total 19 Russian films were released, two of them are co-productions with Ukraine. Besides, two Ukrainian films were released this winter.

UKRAINIAN THEATRICAL DISTRIBUTION MARKET OVERVIEW

(DECEMBER 1, 2011 – APRIL 15, 2012)

Total Premier Release Box-office № Title Distributor Weekend Tickets sold date 01.12.2011 – Box-office, $ 15.04.2012 , $

1 John Carter B&H 08.03.2012 1 516 394 2 832 139 459 845

2 Vysotsky: Thank God I'm Alive (Rus) GK 01.12.2011 1 043 068 2 766 176 636 524

3 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows KNM 29.12.2011 446 490 2 622 380 566 102

4 Rzhevskiy vs. Napoleon (Rus) UFD 26.01.2012 1 154 732 2 522 216 457 712

5 Yelki 2 (Rus) UFD 15.12.2011 796 715 2 396 742 526 064

6 8 First Dates (Rus) UFD 08.03.2012 1 161 641 2 114 228 457 271

7 What Men Still Talk About (Rus) IF 29.12.2011 504 363 2 087 767 425 944

8 Ivan Tsarevich i Seryy Volk (Rus; animation) CNG 29.12.2011 301 820 1 814 600 355 334

9 Wrath of the Titans KNM 29.03.2012 808 061 1 551 085 249 997

10 Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol B&H 15.12.2011 525 176 1 119 503 234 247

11 This Means War UFD 16.02.2012 481 796 1 113 858 245 341

12 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo B&H 05.01.2012 374 309 1 037 197 215 697

13 Journey 2: The Mysterious Island KNM 09.02.2012 374 035 1 019 826 164 472

14 Dr. Seuss' The Lorax B&H 15.03.2012 426 422 1 019 356 208 091

15 Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance IF 23.02.2012 535 118 979 893 161 282

TOTAL 26 993 966 5 143 937

Source: Bulletin kinoprokatchka IF - Inter Film B&H - B&H Distribution KNM - Kinomania CNG - Cinergy UFD Ukrainian Film Distribution

Media Resources Management. 22 Zakrevsky St., Kiev 02660, Ukraine 21 www.mrm.ua Tel.: +380 (44) 459-4610; e-mail: [email protected] focus C focus №6 27 April, 2012

In this article we would like to pay attention to the available sound stages in Moscow. Up to date there in Russia are about 100 stages totaling 70,000 m2. Part of them are held by the former state film studios of focus USSR, but they were reconstructed and modernized and therefore are highly competitive – by technical details and production capabilities – with those built by private production companies at the end of the 20th – beginning of the 21st century. Moscow Two centers of cinema industry in Russia are obviously standing out – Moscow and St. Petersburg. It is in film these cities where the large part of stages – and also production companies – are located. But Moscow is 2 studios an unquestionable leader with a total area of stages reaching 60,000 m . Mosfilm Cinema Concern Considered as the largest and oldest in Russia Mosfilm Cinema Concern is a state enterprise, but still has nothing to do with the state budget subsidies as it receives enough funds from: renting out its stages and equipment; production and distribution of film, videos and TV series; A to Z cycle of film production – from script to the ready film copy. Its production capacity is more than 100 films a year.

Following film studios are tenants and use Mosfilm production and technical basis: Ark-Film Studio, VER- TIKAL Film Studio, Zhanr Film Studio, Cinema Line, Kurier Film Studio, RITM Producer Television Com- pany, SLOVO Film Studio, Soyuz Navona Company, Telefilm Studio.

Mosfilm Cinema Concern has 14 stages with a total area of 13,000 m2. Eight of them are large-sized with the smallest area of 742 m2 and the largest – 1,858 m2. The size of the rest varies from 196 m2 to 312 m2. There are also three location sets on the territory (largest – 6,000 m2), parks and water gardens, forest and interior location “Prison” with many cells and rooms.

Tonestudio production complex of the Mosfilm film concern offers the whole range of services for sound- and video-production while Telecine (Telekino) and Computer Graphics Production Complex allows image transfer from all types of motion-picture films (except 8 mm) to video and digital storage media. Staging Facilities Complex is a unique collection of costumes and units of property – furniture, paintings, sculp- tures, electric properties, animal-driven transport – carriages, carts, horse cabs, sleighs, and etc.

Mosfilm Military and Technical Cinema Depot – is the entire production complex that consists of tank, artil- lery, automobile and rifle sections: upward of 100 units of tanks and self-propelled artillery vehicles; tanks and armoured personnel carriers camouflaged to represent various kinds of foreign military machinery; various models of armoured personnel carriers, automobile machinery, radio and telephone equipment; airplanes and dummies of those; several thousands of units of artillery and small arms including those of foreign production. All above mentioned machinery and weapons are enough for shooting several films at the same time.

Gorky Film Studio Established in 1915 studio has a total area of 35,000 m2 and 33,740 m2 of it – production facilities. The total area of stages (there are 5 of them) – 3,224 m2 with the largest – 1,080 m2, and two smallest – 432 m2. The other two are 590 m2 and 690 m2. Back office location includes make-up and artists rooms, wardrobe departments and property facilities.

Production capacity provides a full-cycle production of TV series, ad videos, music clips and 20 full-length feature films a year. Services include film and TV content dubbing, music recording, creation of cinema training programs and tutorials and film distribution both on domestic and international market.

Media Resources Management. 22 Zakrevsky St., Kiev 02660, Ukraine 22 www.mrm.ua Tel.: +380 (44) 459-4610; e-mail: [email protected] focus C focus №6 27 April, 2012

Russian World Studios Established in 1998 Russian World Studios is now one of the leading Russian companies in film and tele- vision production and distribution on the territory of CIS. It owns two film studios – in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Both studios have an equal total facility area of 11,000 m2 and 7 stages. Still, those situated in Moscow are larger – 7,000 m2 (including 4 transforming stages and one chromakey stage for special effects filming). Production, make-up, wardrobe and other supplementary facilities including cafeteria and large under- ground parking lot may be rented and used by other production companies.

Post-production facilities have a high production capacity due to Dolby Digital Premier studio, dubbing studios, ProTools HD audio editing room, FinalCut editing room and computer graphics studio which pro- vide with the whole range of services. The total volume of film and TV series produced by RWS is about 1,500 hours.

Centre of National Film studio Centre of National Film (CNF) studio bears this name since April 2004 and is a legal successor of world- famous nonfiction film studio Tsentrnauchfilm founded in 1933. This entire time studio has been function- ing as a state enterprise and receiving money from the budget.

Under the state order it produces 2-3 documentary and animation films a year. Beside them CNF produces ad videos, video clips and other audiovisual content on a regular basis.

The total area of CNF is 25,000 m2. It includes small nature back lot – 1000 m2 and seven stages totalling 2,035.40 m2 with three of them – 407,7 m2, two – 197,7 m2, one – 124,1 m2 and another one – 294,9 m2. There is also a chromakey stage (84 m2), make-up and wardrobe facilities, green-rooms and other supple- mentary facilities.

Media City film company Media City film company is a part of AMEDIA group, functioning as its production basis. Still Media City allows renting of its stages, technical equipment, office and production facilities, furniture and staging properties. Besides, it offers wide range of services in costume design and fabrication.

Stages are divided into two zones – low and high. The first covers nine stages with a height of 5.8 m and of total area – 6,500 m2 (800 m2, 780 m2, 690 m2, 600 m2, 590 m2, two – 790 m2 and two – 710 m2). The second zone – four stages 11 m height with an area of two equal to 1,030 m2, and other two – 1,060 m2. There are also two nature back lots totaling 1,500 m2 and chromakey stage with an area of 144 m2. Make- up, wardrobe, staging and other supplementary facilities are nearby.

Digital editing complex allows to produce more than 1000 minutes of audiovisual material in a week.

“TV Film” film studio “TV Film” film studio is a part and technical basis for film and TV series production of Novella group of companies established in 2000 by Yuriy Belenkyi and Elena Imamova.

“TV Film” film studio has five up-to-date stages with a total area of more than 5,600 m2 (1,285 m2, 907 m2, 1,257 m2, 755 m2 and 1,490 m2) and an equipped photo studio – 103 m2. Audio and video editing rooms are equipped with all necessary equipment and situated nearby. Still, office, make-up, wardrobe, staging properties (with big collection of costumes and units of property), green-rooms and other types of supple- mentary facilities are built on the premises of stages.

Production capacity allows to simultaneously produce several film, TV series or other TV projects, includ- ing ad videos filming. Since 2005 “TV Film” film studio has its own post production complex with more than 30 offices and offers non-linear film and video editing, digital sound editing, postscoring, sound synchro- nising and other services, visual effects and computer graphics, digital colour compensation.

Media Resources Management. 22 Zakrevsky St., Kiev 02660, Ukraine 23 www.mrm.ua Tel.: +380 (44) 459-4610; e-mail: [email protected] focus C focus №6 27 April, 2012

Magic film Studio Magic film Studio was established in 2006. It owns three stages – 1,026 m2 (11 m height), 576 m2 (8 m height) and 504 m2 (8 m height) – situated in the center of Moscow. The smallest stage has an inbuilt chromakey (88 m2). The total area of the office and supplementary facilities is 513 m2.

Profit comes from renting out production facilities, chromakey screens, equipment, and stage set cre- ation. That is why Magic film Studio is not involved in film and TV production.

WAY FILM company Established in 2000 production center WAY FILM is engaged in feature and documentary film production. Production capacity allows to work on several projects simultaneously.

WAY FILM has only one stage with an area of 1,100 m2 and height of 12 m. Offices, staging properties, wardrobe and 3 make-up facilities are in the same building.

WAY FILM rents out its stage and equipment and offers full range of production and post-production ser- vices. In addition, it provides script development and project support on different stages of production.

Telemost group of companies Formed in 2004 Telemost offers TV films/series and documentary production, CGI and animation, 3D computer graphics, solid and cartoon animation for film and video projects. Post-production services: linear and non-linear editing, postscoring. Stages and equipment may be rented.

The total area of five stages is 5,700 m2 with two of them usually used to produce TV shows and concert filming. Make-up and dressing facilities are situated on the premises of the complex.

Kinofabrika №2 Kinofabrika №2 rents out stages and builds stage sets, properties and prefabricated constructions for TV programs. There are four stages totaling 2,500 m2. The largest one is 1,115 m2, and smallest – 364 m2.

Donskaya 32 Donskaya 32 offers stages for photographing and production of films, ad videos, music clips. May be involved for stage sets construction. It has three stages – 1,800 m2, 1,300 m2 and 850 m2 with the smallest one having two inbuilt chromakey stages totaling 540 m2.

My Studio company My Studio company offers two stage complexes. There are eight stages in the first one – one 900 m2, two – 700 m2, two – 1,000 m2, one – 1,200 m2 and one – 1,300 m2. And three in the second – 1,189 m2, 1,045 m2 and 939 m2. Any of them may be equipped for chromakey filming. There are make-up, wardrobe, office and staging properties facilities nearby.

Media Resources Management. 22 Zakrevsky St., Kiev 02660, Ukraine 24 www.mrm.ua Tel.: +380 (44) 459-4610; e-mail: [email protected] Interview Interview C Interview №6 27 April, 2012

In an exclusive interview to CIS:Content Report David Vashadze, Head of Distribution and Export Depart- ment of The Georgian National Film Center (GNFC), told about Georgian-European co-production proj- Interview ects, Georgia membership in Eurimages and the launch of GNFC project development programme.

During the meeting of Georgian and Ukrainian delegations that took place within the Berlin Inter- national Film Festival a question of signing the inter-governmental agreement for film co-produc- tion was raised. What is done for this issue by now? David Vashadze «Distribution The initiative of signing the agreement was taken by Ukrainian State Film Agency. The project is based is the weakest link in on the agreement between Ukraine and France signed in 2011 and is developed by the Agency. The film co-production agreement between Ukraine and Georgia is due to be adopted and signed during the 65-th Georgian Cannes International Film Festival in May 2012. film industry» There is news that GNFC has launched project and script development fund. What are the func- tions and the objectives of this fund? How does it work?

One of the main GNFC’s objectives of 2012 is to stimulate writing of new scripts and development of new film projects which can be of interest to Georgian producers and can attract foreign filmmakers for film co-production. Early this March GNFC in cooperation with Literary Competition GALA set up a screenplay competition for full-length feature film with a new nomination for the “Best Screenplay”. It is open to ev- eryone. The entry deadline for competition is May 10, 2012.

We also try to adopt best practices from European experience. This February during the film festival and film market in Berlin Georgian delegation met with representatives of different script development and project development funds and organizations, such as Poland based ScripTeast that supports scriptwrit- ers in Central and Eastern Europe (Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia) in developing and promoting their projects. We discussed the ques- tions of cooperation programs, learned the organizational principles as well as the terms and conditions of participation in such programs.

GNFC cooperates with European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs (EAVE), networking organization providing training programs for scriptwriters and producers as well as promoting and launching co-production projects. EAVE headquarters is located in Luxemburg. Early this April GNFC together with EAVE has an- nounced a call for applications for its Mini EAVE Script Development Training Program. The programme consists of two workshops (June and November) and online sessions (September) held by EAVE special- ists. GNFC with International Expert Committee will select five producer-writer teams with their scripts to be translated into English and promoted to find European co-producers.

Does GNFC cooperate with German co-production and promotion organization German Films?

Georgian producers haven’t yet launched projects in cooperation with German Films. But we keep in touch with Simone Baumann, who is German Films representative in Eastern Europe. Early this April Georgian National Film Center and Georgian Ministry of Culture and Protection of Monuments organized premiere screeningof the documentary drama Khodorkovsky in Amirani cinema in Tbilisi. Simone Baumann as its producer and Cyril Tuschi as its director presented the film.

Georgia became a member of Europe’s Eurimages Fund last year. What has it gained from this membership?

In 2011 feature drama Seagull directed by the Spanish Miguel Ángel Jiménez received €210,000 from Eurimages. Kinoskopik film studio (Spain), Ibrus (Russia), CINETECH (Georgia) and Eaus Vives (France) were engaged in this feature co-production. 20% of the total budget is provided by Georgia – early last year film was granted €110,000 by the National Film Center. Feature is in post-production now.

At the 126-th meeting this March, the Board of Management of the Council of Europe’s Eurimages Fund agreed to support 16 co-production feature films. Among them there is a feature drama Epic directed by David Vashadze Pawel Pawlikowski (Poland) which was granted €550,000. Georgian film company 20 Steps Film Ltd is engaged in this co-production as well as Epic Films Ltd (United Kingdom), Metrafilms (Russia) and Haut Et Court Production (France). It’s a story of a British film director who has to shoot a film for a Caucasus dictator to glorify the country he runs. Film is to be shot in Georgia.

Media Resources Management. 22 Zakrevsky St., Kiev 02660, Ukraine 25 www.mrm.ua Tel.: +380 (44) 459-4610; e-mail: [email protected] Interview Interview C Interview №6 27 April, 2012

The same day the Eurimages Board of Management decided to extend the contract with Executive Direc- tor Roberto Olla for a third two-year term and in a week Roberto Olla visited Tbilisi. There he participated in the meeting of Georgian directors, producers and various representatives of film industry, organized by GNFC.

What co-production projects received funding of Georgian National Film Center in 2012?

Co-production projects competition took place in late February 2012. The time-frame of this programme is set to allow those co-production film projects received state grants to apply for support of Eurimages.

In 2012 GNFC budget included 900,000 lari (GEL) (approximately €400, 000) for production of full-length feature films, 250,000 GEL (€117,000) – for documentary films production, and 150,000 GEL (€70,000) – for short films. Moreover 500,000 GEL (€230,000) was divided between two co-production film projects. The amount of GNFC funding for Georgian-French co-production drama Brother totals 345,000 GEL (ap- proximately €160,000). This project is produced by Zurab Maghalashvili (Cinetech film studio, Georgia), Juliette Lepoutre and Marie-Pierre Macia (MPM Film, France). The director is Teona Grenade. Total bud- get of the film is €1 million. Georgian contribution covers 30%. French contribution comprises €444,000 accounting for 44% of the total budget. The project is still planned to apply for the grants of European film funds.

GNFC granted 155,000 GEL (approximately €70,000) for the production of biopic Parajanov dedicated to life and work of the famous film director Sergey Parajanov. Ukrainian Interfilm Production Studio is the major producer of this feature directed by Olena Fetisova and Serge Avedikyan who is also starring in the film. Its Georgian co-producer is Gemini film company (producer – Tinatina Kajrishvili). The budget of the film totals €2 million. The project has already gained 11.3 million hryvnias from the Ukrainian Film Agency, which comprises 50% of the total budget. Besides, the French financing comprises €400,000. Total Ar- menian and Norwegian contributions are about €194,000. So, the subsidy allocated by Georgian national Film Center constitutes the rest of the total budget. Shooting starts this May. The production team will move to Kiev, a bit later - to Paris and then back to Ukraine. Shooting is planned to be finished by the end of July 2012. The premiere of the film is set for 2014 and will be dedicated to the Sergey Parajanov’s 90th anniversary (film director was born in 1924).

Ursus feature project directed by Otar Shamatava also took part in co-production competition in Georgia but earned fewer points than Brother and Pardjanov. It is co-produced by Fresh Production (Ukraine), Studio O (Georgia) and Ma.ja.de (Germany).

What other film projects gained funding in 2012?

900,000 GEL (€400,000) were divided among three projects that won full-length feature films competi- tion. Grant of €200,000 was allocated for drama Corn Island directed by Giorgi Ovashvili (producer: Nino Devdariani; production studio: Alamdari). Bald Boys movie directed by Levan Koghuashvili was €133,000 funded by GNFC. Film is produced by Kino Iberika film company. And The Brides feature drama was grant- ed €66,000. Gemini Film company is engaged in production with Tinatin Kajrishvili as a producer.

Only seven of 29 documentary projects which took part in the competition for national support gained funding from GNFC. They are: Madonna directed by Nino Gogua and produced by LibGe production com- pany, Jail Confessions directed by Levan Koguashvili (Kino Iberika), See you in Chechnya directed by Alexander Kvatashidze (Studia Lokokina), Totalizator Psychosis directed by Givi Tukhareli (Gogo Lab pro- duction company), Ramaz Chkhikvadze directed by Alexander Rekhviashvili, produced by Saba Amirejibi, Library directed by Ana Tsimintiya (Mochhous Film), English Teacher directed by Nino Ordzhonikidze and Vano Arsenishvili (Artefact Production). National grants for documentary project production total 250,000 GEL (€117,000).

What can you tell about GNFC distribution support of Georgian films?

GNFC provides subsidies for production of national films. Distribution is the weakest link in Georgian film industry. All over the world distributors partner with film producers even before the shooting period or when the project is in a production stage. Georgian producers promote their films and try to distribute their projects only when the production is finished.

Media Resources Management. 22 Zakrevsky St., Kiev 02660, Ukraine 26 www.mrm.ua Tel.: +380 (44) 459-4610; e-mail: [email protected] Interview Interview C Interview №6 27 April, 2012

The cinema distribution market in Georgia has just began to evolve. Only two thirds of the 15 cinemas operate in our country all year long. At the same time the cinemas are film distributors themselves. They acquire the rights for Georgian and foreign movies. In Georgia 700,000 tickets were sold in 2011 with only 25,000 Georgian film admissions. The most of these local features are usually based on popular local TV series and are produced by independent film companies. GNFC supported projects are mainly arthouse movies with even less viewership.

What happened to those films received GNFC support? And what film festivals did they take part in?

Ketevan Machavariani’s debut feature Salt White granted financial support of GNFC in 2011 won 2 prizes at 21st Cottbus Film Festival (Germany). Ketevan Machavariani was awarded for the “Best Debut” and Gagi Svanidze got the prize as the best male actor.

Early this April documentary biopic But Is There a Theatre Over There? about the life of well-known Geor- gian actor Kakhi Kavsadze and his family was awarded with Nika Award of Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Sciences in “Best Film of CIS and Baltic States” nomination.

David Vashadze April 18 marked the opening of goEast – Festival of Central and Eastern European Film which took place in Wiesbaden, Germany. Georgian delegation headed by Tamara Tatishvili (CEO of the Georgian National Film Center) also visited the event. On April 21st within the Festival’s Industrial Program goEast Project Market, Tamara Tatishvili presented the Georgian National Film Center activities and announced its future projects. The Festival competition program included Nana Janelidze’s documentary film But Is There a Theatre Over There? 13 Georgian films were screened in various sections of the festival. Panel discussion “Georgian Cinema Today” was held on April, 23.

Cis: CONTENT REPORT Cis: Content report is a trademark of Media Resources Management, Ltd. Copyright belongs to MRM Company. In case of use of any materials or information from Cis: Content report interactive link to http://mrm.ua/en/project/regular/ciscr/subscribe is a MUST. Editorial team: Artem Vakalyuk, Alexandr Zakhlyupany, Maria Chuprina, Boris Sydorenko, Dmitry Rubin, Victoria Yarmoschyk. In case of any questions please contact us: Media Resources Management. 22 Zakrevsky St., Kiev 02660, Ukraine www.mrm.ua Tel.: +380 (44) 459-4610; e-mail: [email protected]

Media Resources Management. 22 Zakrevsky St., Kiev 02660, Ukraine 27 www.mrm.ua Tel.: +380 (44) 459-4610; e-mail: [email protected]