THE FILM INDUSTRY IN THE FEDERATION OF RUSSIA A report for the European Audiovisual Observatory by Nevafilm with contributions from RFilms November 2009 The Film Industry in the Federation of Russia Research by Nevafilm, with the collaboration of RFilms (Invest Collegium) for the European Audiovisual Observatory. Director of Publication: Wolfgang Closs, Executive Director of the European Audiovisual Observatory. Supervising Editor: André Lange (European Audiovisual Observatory). Study carried out by: Oleg Berezin, Xenia Leontyeva, Svetlana Mudrova (Nevafilm Research); Konstantin Nafikov, Anastasia Tchudakova, Anastasia Bitkova (RFilms); with the participation of Alexei Sokhnev (Ministry of Culture, RF). Chief Editor: Xenia Leontyeva (Nevafilm Research). Translation: Michael Prokofiev. Editing and proofreading of the English text: Eclectic Translations and Susan Newman-Baudais (European Audiovisual Observatory) Publisher: European Audiovisual Observatory 76 Allee de la Robertsau – F – 67000 Strasbourg, France Tel.: +33(0)3 90 21 60 00, Fax: +33(0)3 90 21 60 19 E-mail: [email protected] URL: http://www.obs.coe.int Research Companies: Nevafilm JSC 33-2B Korablestroiteley Street, St. Petersburg, 199397, Federation of Russia Phone: +7 812 449 70 70, Fax: +7 812 352 69 69 “Tsvetnoy, 30” Business Center, office 307, bld.1 30, Tsvetnoy Boulevard, 127051, Moscow, Federation of Russia Phone / Fax: +7 495 694 2615 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.nevafilm.ru http://www.digitalcinema.ru RFilms (Invest Collegium Ltd) Kalashny pereulok 14, Moscow, 125009, Russia Phone / Fax: +7 495 690 37 06 E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.rfilms.org The analyses presented in these articles are the authors’ own opinions and cannot in any way be considered as representing the point of view of the European Audiovisual Observatory, its members or of the Council of Europe. Data compiled by external sources are quoted for the purpose of information. The authors of this report are unable to verify either their means of compilation or their pertinence. © European Audiovisual Observatory, November 2009. 2 STUDY OF THE FILM INDUSTRY IN THE FEDERATION OF RUSSIA CONTENT Chapter 1. THE FILM INDUSTRY IN RUSSIA: INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK .....................................................................................5 1.1 An overview of state policy governing Russian cinematography........................................... 7 1.1.1. The activities of federal authorities in cinematography......................................... 7 1.1.2 The activities of regional and local authorities in cinematography ..................... 11 1.1.3 Review of the regulatory acts governing cinematographic activity ..................... 13 1.1.4 Analysis of the system of state support for cinematography .............................. 15 1.2 The system of professional film education in Russia........................................................... 22 1.3 Activities of state-owned cinematographic organisations .................................................... 23 1.4 State support of international cooperation and co-production ............................................. 26 1.5 Activities of Russian civil organisations in cinematography................................................. 28 Chapter 2. FILM INDUSTRY: AN OVERVIEW ....................................................33 Chapter 3. DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS OF THE VARIOUS BRANCHES OF THE RUSSIAN FILM INDUSTRY ................................................47 3.1 Film production for cinema and TV in Russia: Producers and production companies ........ 49 3.1.1 Branch structure.................................................................................................. 49 3.1.2 Principal players in film and TV production......................................................... 66 3.1.3 Investment in film production .............................................................................. 74 3.2 Production facilities: studios, equipment rental and post-production services .................... 77 3.2.1 Industry structure ................................................................................................ 77 3.2.2 Principal players on the film production services market.................................... 91 3.2.3 Principal market trends and perspectives in film production services ................ 94 3.3 Exhibition.............................................................................................................................. 98 3.3.1 Industry Structure................................................................................................ 98 3.3.2 Principal trends and development prospects.................................................... 109 3.3.3 Principal players................................................................................................ 113 3.4 Theatrical distribution......................................................................................................... 115 3.4.1 Industry Structure.............................................................................................. 115 3.4.2 Principal trends and development prospects.................................................... 131 3.4.3. Principal players................................................................................................ 139 3.4.4. Cross-border distribution of Russian films ........................................................ 145 3.5 DVD Distribution................................................................................................................. 147 3.5.1 Industry structure .............................................................................................. 147 3.5.2 Principal trends ................................................................................................. 159 3.5.3 Principal players................................................................................................ 162 LIST OF TABLES............................................................................................................................ 165 LIST OF FIGURES.......................................................................................................................... 166 Research companies ......................................................................................................... 169 The European Audiovisual Observatory ............................................................................ 169 STUDY OF THE FILM INDUSTRY IN THE FEDERATION OF RUSSIA 3 Chapter 1. THE FILM INDUSTRY IN RUSSIA: INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK 1.1 AN OVERVIEW OF STATE POLICY GOVERNING RUSSIAN CINEMATOGRAPHY 1.1.1. The activities of federal authorities in cinematography Regulation of cinematography at the federal level in the Russian Federation is the function of the Ministry of Culture. Its structure includes the Department of Cinematography, which consists of 5 units1. In its capacity of an executive authority, the Ministry of Culture supports the production and distribution of national films in the Russian Federation and organises various events, such as film festivals within Russia, weeks of Russian cinema abroad, presentation of the Russian film industry during international film festivals and film fairs (including participation of Russian films in the main international film festivals, organisation of stands and pavilions for Russian films during film fairs, etc.), international fairs and forums of co-produced films within Russia, special conferences and roundtables. In addition, the Ministry of Culture:2 - issues distribution certificates for film products released for distribution across Russia (including film, DVD and video distribution, and TV broadcasting in every format)3; - issues ‘national film’ certificates4; - runs the joint State Registry of Cinema and Video Films5; - executes the functions of the state customer in budgeted target programmes, including support in the production and distribution of national films. In the course of its reorganisation during 2008, the Ministry of Culture was merged with the Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography (which had initially been formed in 2004 in the course of administrative reform of the structure of the Russian Government6). Thus the functions of developing and implementing state policies in cinematography were united once again under the umbrella of a single executive authority. The controlling and supervising functions exercised by the Federal Supervisory Service in Legislation on Protection of Cultural Heritage have however remained under a separate structure. Developing and implementing new initiatives, such as budgeted target programmes, new mechanisms for financing the film industry, reorganisation of film industry bodies that remain under state control, and updating current legislation aimed at improving the efficiency of state regulation are 1 Regulations on the Department of Cinematography under the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Ministry of Culture, December 9, 2008, № 234. 2 As per the Regulations on the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, approved by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of May 29, 2008, № 406, and Regulations on the Department of Cinematography under the Ministry of Culture. 3 Obtaining a distribution certificate is mandatory for film products issued to distribution in the territory of Russia, as per Order of the Ministry of Culture of Russia of September 27, 2004, № 60.