- Posts
- 10,811
- Posts Power
- 10,811.0%
- Liked
- 890
- Joined
- Jan 2, 1996
- Website
- inviteshop.us
In Russia, where various factions are in disagreement over the best way to permit piracy of Hollywood movies, new wildcards have entered the equation. The government-backed Cinema Fund says piracy carries “reputational risks” and that would be “inappropriate” right now. A furious cinema chief has accused the fund and government of protecting Western copyright holders. He says that Russia needs pirated copies of Barbie in cinemas, sooner rather than later.
It transpires that copyright is just one of the reasons behind Cinema Fund’s decision to oppose piracy of foreign content.
Sosnov’s letter states that allowing distribution of foreign films risks “providing access to content on the territory of the Russian Federation that is contrary to the fundamentals of state policy to preserve and strengthen traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.”
Given that escapism is why people love movies in the West (and perhaps why just one film supported by Cinema Fund*turned a profit*in 2022), Roman Isaev of the Council of the Association of Cinema Owners is clear: Russians want blockbuster foreign films and if local cinemas can’t offer them, they won’t survive.
“The Cinema Fund and the Ministry of Culture have a well-established, formulated position of protecting the interests of Western copyright holders, following in line with the Geneva and Vienna conventions for the protection of copyright,” Isaev says.
“For some reason, they believe that in the current geopolitical situation and pressure on Russia, our country must sacredly support and comply with all requirements for copyright protection.”
Russian Cinema Industry on the Brink
In comments published by NSN, AVK member Comscore*said*that if Russia’s film industry is to survive, it needs an injection of at least 40 billion rubles. To get properly back on track, around 60 billion rubles (around $629 million)
“The viewer determines the success or failure of a particular film and the state of the industry as a whole. He wants to watch world blockbusters, as they are shown in the cinemas of the CIS countries, appear on the news agenda, in particular, the sensational ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’,” Isaev adds.
“Russian cinemas cannot offer them. Some of the viewers will go to see a Russian film or foreign films that are legally available, but most will watch a pirated copy on the Internet.”
Copyright disputes have a tendency to become more complicated as the stakes increase, but nobody in Russia feels confident enough to address the elephant in the room. Cinema wasn’t collapsing in the hours preceding Thursday, Feb 24, 2022, and answers to the “geopolitical situation” won’t be found during the closing credits of Barbie, paid for or not.
It transpires that copyright is just one of the reasons behind Cinema Fund’s decision to oppose piracy of foreign content.
Sosnov’s letter states that allowing distribution of foreign films risks “providing access to content on the territory of the Russian Federation that is contrary to the fundamentals of state policy to preserve and strengthen traditional Russian spiritual and moral values.”
Given that escapism is why people love movies in the West (and perhaps why just one film supported by Cinema Fund*turned a profit*in 2022), Roman Isaev of the Council of the Association of Cinema Owners is clear: Russians want blockbuster foreign films and if local cinemas can’t offer them, they won’t survive.
“The Cinema Fund and the Ministry of Culture have a well-established, formulated position of protecting the interests of Western copyright holders, following in line with the Geneva and Vienna conventions for the protection of copyright,” Isaev says.
“For some reason, they believe that in the current geopolitical situation and pressure on Russia, our country must sacredly support and comply with all requirements for copyright protection.”
Russian Cinema Industry on the Brink
In comments published by NSN, AVK member Comscore*said*that if Russia’s film industry is to survive, it needs an injection of at least 40 billion rubles. To get properly back on track, around 60 billion rubles (around $629 million)
“The viewer determines the success or failure of a particular film and the state of the industry as a whole. He wants to watch world blockbusters, as they are shown in the cinemas of the CIS countries, appear on the news agenda, in particular, the sensational ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’,” Isaev adds.
“Russian cinemas cannot offer them. Some of the viewers will go to see a Russian film or foreign films that are legally available, but most will watch a pirated copy on the Internet.”
Copyright disputes have a tendency to become more complicated as the stakes increase, but nobody in Russia feels confident enough to address the elephant in the room. Cinema wasn’t collapsing in the hours preceding Thursday, Feb 24, 2022, and answers to the “geopolitical situation” won’t be found during the closing credits of Barbie, paid for or not.