Burgeoning market plays it safe

Variety.com
October 24, 2007

By TOM BIRCHENOUGH

In Russia’s rapidly growing distribution market, top-level indie films
— with the right distributor and release strategy — surpass or match
Hollywood studio fare. The middle ground is sparser; more determined
arthouse films look increasingly desperate for screen space and audience
interest, leaving would-be distribs disgruntled at rising asking prices
for specialty films. That’s increasingly pushed many indie players
toward distributing local fare and expanding into exhibition. With
screen space still at a premium, though, many distribs will be looking
only for DVD and ancillary rights at AFM.

Central Partnership (CP)
Topper: Ruben Dishdishyan
B.O.: $66.8 million
Top pic: `Wolfhound’ ($20 million)
In brief: Founded in 1996, CP is the major player on the Russian indie
front. It is well-capitalized and aligned with parent company
Prof-Media, which is also investing in multiplexes. Strong domestic film
and TV production slate dominates over acquisitions. Foreign purchases
aimed at top indie product (released via main CP label) as well as at
arthouse fare (via CP Digital). The main Russian player at AFM, CP also
is the main seller of Russian product at markets: AFM screenings include
costumers such as Vladimir Khotinenko’s `1612’as well as contempo
actioners `Paragraph 78′ and `Revenge.’

Paradise
Topper: Gevorg Nersisyan
B.O.: $36.7 million
Top pic: `Resident Evil 3′ ($9.1 million)
In brief: Shingle, launched in 1992, favors predominantly European niche
acquisitions, prebuying projects by auteurs such as Emir Kusturica. Its
ownership of around 30 miniplex screens in and around Moscow (via its
Five Stars brand and flagship two-screener Rolan) has made Paradise a
leading player locally. Entered into domestic production with last
year’s boffo WWII kid drama `Scum.’

West
Topper: Tigran Dokhalov
B.O.: $19.4 million
Top pic: `1408′ ($3.4 million)
In brief: West’s slate highlights more English-language indie fare than
others, currently most dominantly repped by Weinstein Co. product. No
sign of support for local production just yet, but West, founded in
1994, controls at least three Moscow screens, including its flagship
Orbita venue.

Cascade Film
Topper: Stepan Pojenyan
B.O.: $15.3 million
Top pic: `Servant of the Sovereign’ ($5.3 million)
In brief: When Sony and Disney set up direct distribution in territory,
Cascade opted to remain an independent player. It has sought out local
product to distribute, with company’s top results this year being
costumer `Servant of the Sovereign’ (repped at AFM by CP). Outfit
co-distributed some international product this year with Paradise.

Pyramid
Topper: Sergei Sendyk
B.O.: $7.2 million
Top pic: `Hostel 2′ ($1.5 million)
In brief: Grown out of a TV, DVD and ancillary sales rights company,
Pyramid is now active in the theatrical market and runs a number of
Moscow cinemas. Acquisitions are broadly focused on English-language
product. Distrib has an extensive library.

Kino Bez Granits (Cinema Without Borders) (CWB)
Topper: Sam Klebanov
B.O.: $684,000
Top pic: `Reincarnation’ ($84,000)
In brief: Shingle has remained Russia’s main arthouse player, though
founder Klebanov is the first to admit it’s a precarious role. The
Russian-born, now Swedish citizen runs a tight ship through a
Gothenburg-based affiliate company. Focus is on Euro festival fare, with
a greater emphasis on Asian product than most others in the field. CWB
also handles limited releases of local arthouse pics.

Intercinema
Topper: Raisa Fomina
B.O.: n/a
Top pic: n/a
In brief: Kept indie fare alive in territory through the lean 1990s, as
well as repping local quality product at international markets for more
than a decade. Ambitions seem to have been pulled back somewhat with
more selective acquisitions. Outfit continues to work with local
filmmakers such as Andrei Zvagintsev (2003’s `The Return’ and 2007
Cannes actor winner `The Banishment’).

Note: For CWB and Paradise, 2007 B.O. through Oct. 1; for others, B.O.
Dec. 1, 2006-Oct 14, 2007

Source: Russian Film Business Today

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