Russian film companies have reported great interest in Russian films from the Asian distributors following one of the largest international film markets held in Shanghai at the end of June – the Shanghai International Film & TV Market.
At this very event, ROSKINO, a promoter of Russian films, organized a joint stand called Russian Content Worldwide to showcase the Russian film industry. In total, more than 150 films, series, full-length cartoons and animated series were presented.
Among the most popular genres, content buyers from China and other Asian countries named action, war dramas, thrillers, science fiction, documentaries, and animation. There is also a demand for co-production with Russian filmmakers and remakes, and interest in arthouse films is growing. Content for primary school children is in demand. Russian animation companies also noted the ‘Labubu Effect’ – the demand for bright, unusual characters in animation.
ROSKINO CEO, Elsa Antonova commented: “The Shanghai Film&TV Market was useful in terms of generating new contacts: a number of companies have good prospects for deals. We see interest from Asian distributors in a wide variety of types and genres of Russian content. It is also encouraging that in addition to distribution, our foreign partners are interested in other formats of work such as creating joint projects and remakes.”
Action, Drama and Fantasy Are the Focus of Interest
What Russian films were Asian companies interested in? Here are some examples:
A joint Russian-Chinese adventure detective film Red Silk (Art Pictures Distribution): This film is to be released in Chinese cinemas in September of this year. The events portrayed unfold in the year 1927 on the Trans-Siberian Express. There are secret documents aboard this train that will determine the future of the USSR and China, and they are being transported across Russia. Dressed as ordinary passengers, foreign intelligence officers and real thugs operate, ready to do anything for the sake of obtaining, or protecting, these documents. A young Red Army soldier and a former Tsarist agent have to team up to uncover a common enemy.
The thriller DOWN (Central Partnership): A young couple is stuck in the elevator of a Moscow skyscraper with a mysterious stranger who knows everything about them. The situation is clearly no ordinary accident. Trapped in a confined space with a predatory madman, anything can happen. Especially when the space itself is a death trap waiting to fall… DOWN.
The large-scale fantasy action film The Ultimate Planet from the CTB Film Company: The main role is played by Yura Borisov, the first Russian actor in history to be nominated for an Oscar. According to the plot, after surviving a clinical death, Dan Cruncher “Crunch” is flooded with memories of events he never participated in – fierce battles, loyal friends, and a beloved girlfriend. Determined to untangle reality from illusion, Crunch finds himself locked in a struggle against formidable foes – both on Earth and a distant Ultimate Planet. The prize is a panacea capable of saving those he holds dear and transforming the fate of humanity itself. Every moment on the Ultimate Planet pulses with danger and suspense, ratcheting up the tension. But at its heart, this is also a tale of profound sacrifice and a love that transcends all boundaries, shining brightly even in the darkest corners of the universe.
The Princess of Siam, an historical drama about the love of a Russian noblewoman and the Chakrobong, the Crown Prince of Thailand (Pan-Atlantic Studio): Negotiations with leading producers of the Shanghai Film Group are planned for this project to detail issues concerning cooperation and possible co-production. The joint production of The Princess of Siam was also discussed with Thailand, and preliminary agreements on its co-production status have already been reached.
The Russian company Bubble Studios, which presented the action flick Major Grom: The Game, noted the great interest from companies from China, Thailand and Indonesia in such content creation based on comics.
Russian TV series have also not gone unnoticed by international distributors. Thus, the historical detective serial Dark Sacrifice (NTV Broadcasting company) has enjoyed success. This is a chilling mystery thriller, full of suspense and tension. Beautifully filmed, this historical drama is rich in authentic detail of the late ‘60s USSR. Absolutely thrilling with unexpected twists and a fantastic ending, this original series will grip even the most discerning mystery fans. In the ‘socialist paradise,’ no one had ever heard of a serial killer – that is, until KGB Major Chubin faced one and nearly became a victim. Scarred but driven, he follows the trail of the Chernobog cult to Leningrad, where a killer strangles young women, leaving a charcoal marks to signify his handiwork. Chubin and Captain Fyodorov must defy superiors who believe the case is closed to uncover the truth and bring the real killer to justice.
Russian war dramas are still in demand in China. The series Saving Captain Maximov (Russia Television and Radio), presented at the Shanghai International Film & TV Market, left no one indifferent.
Documentary Films: Themes of History, Nature and Russian Regional Cultures
Interest in Russian documentary films has always been high in Asian countries. This time, distributors were also enthusiastically familiar with new documentary projects from Russia. Thus, representatives of China, as well as Mongolia, India, Iran, and Vietnam were attracted by films on the theme of history and nature: Moscow Kremlin Treasures, Country of Birds (Russia Television and Radio), and others.
Representatives of China and Indonesia were also attracted by the project Women Claim Sea, created by the Producer Center of the Regional Cinema Support Fund. This project is about the Arctic Sea workers, those who paved the way for women in the maritime professions in the past and who still follow this course today. The unfathomable Arctic has always attracted scientists and sailors. The past hundred years have witnessed women increasingly conquering the realm dominated by ice, bears, and men. However, breaking stereotypes, these tireless female explorers are also disrupting the familiar style of their own lives.
Labubu Sets Trends
The Shanghai Film&TV market was also productive for Russian animation companies.
Preliminary agreements were reached with companies from China, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam on the distribution of the animated series Zigg’s Space Rangers and Rockoons (SMF Animation Studio): Seven curious, playful raccoons live in a music box which serves as their playground. In each episode, they perform funny songs with unexpected fantasy twists to introduce kids to a variety of new words and concepts. One of the series’ main objectives is to develop and enrich kids’ vocabulary using various language techniques.
Dragonia and Tickabo, two animated serials with colorful characters from YARKO Animation, also attracted great interest from Chinese representatives. This is due to the current demand in China for colorful and unusual characters, echoing the global popularity of such characters as the Labubu and Crybaby toys. Tickabo is a musical and educational series for children up to 4 years old. Russian animation is also distinguished by its educational nature, and Tickabo is one example of such content.
Distributors from China and Vietnam highly appreciated the new full-length animated film Champies about space pirates (Digital Television Media Holding).
There is also potential in the Chinese film market for the new cartoon Dr.Paws (Voronezh Animation Studio), as well as the animated series The Steel Family. Brotherhood vs Gold with high-quality special effects.
