Buyers from Russia, described by one sales executive as the “most active and aggressive market” for indie film over the past few years, are expected to pull back from dealmaking this European Film Market, due to a tax hike, tightening of censorship laws and an increase in local production.
Following an initial unofficial boycott of Russian buyers in response to the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many indie sellers have continued to do robust business with non-government-affiliated distributors. The latter have been eager for content following the withdrawal of the US studios’ titles from the territory. Many sellers have obliged, citing various reasons from the fear of illegal, pirated versions of their films making it to Russian cinema screens, to the desire to engage with the Russian population through culture.
Russia was the fourth biggest international territory for French titles in 2025, and The Housemaid, Marty Supreme and Shelter are all presently on release in Russian cinemas.
But that could now change. From January 1, Russian buyers will be obliged to pay a 25% income tax to thegovernment when making payments to “unfriendly countries”, encompassing all European Union countries, the US and the UK.
It is also becoming harder to predict for which titles the Russian government will grant a cinema release certificate. LGBTQ content, drugs, untraditional sexual relationships, violence and suicide are all disliked by Russia’s censors. From March 1, a law about traditional and moral values will be introduced, with a lack of clarity over how it will be applied and which films will be banned. Securing a certificate can also now take up to a month, compared to a few days previously.
“Traditional values are key in current politics,” said Nadezda Motina, CEO and founder of Moscow-based distributor Arna Media. She is attending the EFM, and has acquired titles including The Magic Faraway Tree and the French-Canadian title Once Upon My Mother. “The government is trying to do whatever it can to promote the idea of having more kids and [of having a] traditional family, which has to have at least three kids.”
As a result, Screen understands buyers are asking for amendments or clauses that will allow them to back out of deals.
But some sellers remain bullish on Russia. ”It remains competitive, just more disciplined and pragmatic than in its peak years,” said Matt Shreder, founder and CEO of the US’s Concourse Media, of the market. “It’s not the overheated, bidding-war environment it was a few years ago. Prices aren’t escalating the way they once did, and distributors are being more selective and analytical about acquisitions.”
Additional reporting by Jeremy Kay.
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