Co-production in Russia

– “National film” status

If a film, including a co-production with foreign partners, meets the status of a “National film”, it can apply for state support. In this case, the financial support comes from the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation or the Cinema Fund.

– Minority co-production

Since 2019, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation has been supporting minority co-productions. The money goes to Russian production companies taking part in such projects. 

For example, a film “COMPARTMENT NO. 6” which competed in the main selection at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and won Grand Prix is a co-production between Finland, Estonia, Germany and Russia – is one of the first films to have received a subsidy from the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation as a minority co-production. 

– Co-production treaties

Russia is a member of the European Convention on Cinematographic Co-production, which unites over 40 countries. In addition, Russia has separate co-production treaties with the following states: France, Spain, Canada, Italy, Bulgaria, Germany, China, India, CIS countries. 

By the end of 2021 a treaty with Israel is expected.

Eurimages

Since 2011, Russia has been a member of the European Cinema Support Fund (“Eurimages”), which promotes independent filmmaking by providing financial support to feature-length films, animation and documentary films. Co-productions with Russia’s participation regularly receive support from the fund.

In 2020, support was granted to 3 feature films:

– “CAPTAIN VOLKONOGOV ESCAPED” (Russia, France, Estonia)
– “SNOW IS FALLING UP” (Russia, Slovenia, Turkey)
– “THE CONFERENCE” (Russia, Estonia)

In 2021, support was granted to 2 feature films:

– “THE ANTIQUE” (Georgia, Russia, Croatia)
– “DANDELION NECTAR” (Russia, Finland)

Support from private foundation Kinoprime
https://www.kinoprimefoundation.com/en

Funded by private investors, the Kinoprime foundation for the development of modern cinematography provides support to co-production projects, among other things. Since 2019, it has supported 48 films, with total investment reaching 26.3 million euros.

Subsidies: up to 50% of the production budget but not more than 100 million rubles

How to receive it: 

– file an application
– undergo an expert assessment 
– obtain and agree the finalized version and investment terms 

Support from the Russian Export Centre
https://www.exportcenter.ru/

The main requirement for receiving it is to have a Russian service partner.

It supports:

1. feature films or series, 
2. animation films or series, 
3. documentary films or series. 

This subsidy can cover 30% of the costs of a foreign customer on the territory of the Russian Federation, or 40% if a surcharge rate is applied.

– Rebates

The Russian Export Centre (REC) in association with the Ministry of Economic Development provide federal governmental support to Russian audiovisual industry organizations that provide services in production to international partners on the territory of the Russian Federation. More details

– State support for Russian audiovisual projects in terms of language adaptation and marketing on foreign markets (duration of the program is up to two years)

Envisages compensation of up to 70% of spending on:

1) online and offline promotion and marketing abroad 
2) dubbing, translation and subtitling for external markets 
3) legal support for export deals 
4) marketing research 
5) trademark registration abroad. 

Requirements for the exporter company:

1) to have an export contract in place at the time of the application 
2) when the agreement expires, to reach a volume of export three times the amount of the subsidy received. 

Applications for subsidies under the adaptation program are submitted to the Russian Export Centre.