Moscow – Russian cinema new (2014) line up and project at the production stage is having a high commercial potential and focused in wide international audience. Russian comedy, big-budget historical costume series, action films, and full-length animations for family viewing have the greatest demand among foreign buyers.
Bazelevs Distribution announced its debut on the Israeli market as direct distributor. A new comedy Kiss Them All 2 will be the first Bazelevs release of that kind. The sequel to the most profitable film in the history of Russian cinema will hit the screens of the Israeli network Yes Planet simultaneously with its release in Russia. The film will be shown in Russian with Hebrew subtitles. According to the information from the company’s press-service, they plan to continue showing all our new films in Israel in that format. Ahead of the launch, the Russian-language Israeli broadcaster Channel Nine Israel will air the first Kiss Them All film. In addition, Kiss Them All will become available to subscribers of the HOT cable network in Israel. They are planning to finalise the transfer of TV premiere rights to and discuss in detail their further cooperation with Israeli partners. There are also other projects: Christmas comedy Yolki 1914: Tsar Christmas (December, 25, 2014), Fools’ Day (release – November, 2014), Paws, Bones & Rock’n’roll (January, 2015), Kiss Them All 2 (October, 2014), Kiss Them All (2013).
Planeta Inform Film Distribution presented the new series productions. They were premium-series Catherine the Great (produced by Mars Media by the Channel One Russia order), Rasputin, Headhunters, The Three Musketeers in the company’s set. Catherine the Great is on production stage now, the work over Rasputin has been recently completed, but the telefilm isn’t on the air at present moment. On the territory of the Russian Federation Channel One holds the rights for both projects.
The company made over 30 appointments with the representatives from Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Korea, Italy, Brazil, Turkey. The talks about sales of The Three Musketeers, a film and the series to Turkey, China, France will be carried on. Earlier the film was sold on the territory of Germany, Poland, Korea, Israel and the USA (digital rights). According to A.B, the first reports from the realisation of the films set over digital platforms in the USA will be available in November. But it has already become known that The Three Musketeers took the leading positions with the number of views in the film catalogue, supplied by company’s partner VOD-platforms. Also Planeta Inform Film Distribution will carry on their work over Metro (2012), Chempiony (2014), The Brest Fortress (2010).
Wizart Animation will keep selling their full-length projects Sheep and Wolves (2015) and The Snow Queen 2. An English version of the last one has recently been grown by a star cast. Animated characters will be dubbing by Sean Bean, Sharlto Copley, Bella Thorne and Isabelle Fuhrman. The release of The Snow Queen 2 is scheduled on 1 January 2015. According to the results of the previous markets, the first film of the franchise The Snow Queen was successfully sold in more than 35 countries and triumphantly conquered all the continents.
Sovtelexport, an overseas distributor of Russia’s television and film content, showcased its new extensive catalogue of the programming in various genres: feature films, documentaries, series, adaptations of Russian classics, TV shows and concerts. The catalogue contains the content of Russia Television and Radio and other Russia’s production companies – in particular, these are Russia Today, Nikita Mikhalkov’s Studio TriTe, Bazelevs Production, the Star Media studio and Format TV. The historical drama Ekaterina is the company’s flagship project in this season; it tells the incredible story of a great empress and ill-fated woman, the world-renowned Ekaterina II. According to the company’s management opinion, the popularity of the genre, a substantial budget, magnificent costumes, superb acting, multiple filming locations, authentic interiors and stunning scenery combine to make an impressive production with real appeal on the international market. Sovtelexport also highlights in its line-up as promising projects: drama mini-series Demons (2014) based on the eponymous Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel and biopic The Iron Ivan (2014).
New People Film Company presented Battle for Sevastopol (2015), Russian-Ukrainian production. This project has two formats: film and mini-series. Also the company will keep on promotion of the Ivan Tverdovsky`s film debut Corrections Class (2014).
Russian World Vision (RWV), performing a wide range of local comedies and action films, announced in its set series Insomnia (2013), Fort Ross (2014), an action Spiral (2014), Kazakh-Russian action The Witch’s Brook (2014), a comedy Sex Competition 2 (2014) by Sarik Andreasyan, which new film American Heist, created in co-production with the USA, participated in the competitive programme of just ended 39th International Toronto Cinema Festival (Canada).
All Media will continue international sales of a comedy Kitchen in Paris (2014), based on the original Russian TV series Kitchen.
A distribution company Total Content has selected 6 main positions: two films by Renat Davletyarov Mortal Affair (2015) and Steel Butterfly (2012), Short Stories (2012) by Mikhail Segal and also series The Story Of Nanny (2015), Second Breathe (2013) and Dragon Syndrome (2012).
Russian-American distribution company Red Sea Media presented a comedy Some Like It Cold (2014), a drama Princess’ War (2013) and a horror Synevir (2013).
Antipode Sales & Distribution carries on sales and promotion of Andrei Konchalovsky’s The Postman’s White Nights (2014), having won an award at the 71st Venice Film Festival – a Silver Lion and a new film by Alexei Fedorchenko: Angels of Revolution (2014).
Production Centre Art-Leader presented a drama The Son (2014), telling about difficult relationships between son and mother, suffering from schizophrenia. The film is winner of the “Best Feature Film” at the 22st Russian Film Festival “Window to Europe”, Vyborg, 2014. Russian theatrical release is scheduled on January-February, 2015.
