In an attempt to champion its homegrown movies, the Russian government now has the power to intervene with film distributors, forcing them to move the release dates of Hollywood movies.
The new powers have been introduced by culture minister Vladimir Medinsky, known for his heavily nationalistic bent. “We are only worried about releases of Russian films,” he told news agency TASS. “It is important for us to make sure that they recoup their budgets.” The ministry are to issue release dates for Russian films and liaise with distributors to make sure the releases don’t clash with Hollywood hits.
Medinsky used the news to make another veiled threat to filmmakers who don’t cast Russia in a positive light, saying: “We won’t fight for every [Russian] film, though. We will set financial, political or ideological priorities.” Previously Medinsky has said that regarding state funding for films, “all flowers should grow but we will only water the ones we like.” He also tried to have a law passed that would have films “posing a threat to national unity” banned, with only those deemed patriotic allowed to be screened, though this failed to pass a review process this week.
Another failed Medinsky law was a quota system for Russian movies. He proposed last year that a fifth of all films released in the country be Russian productions, but Vladimir Putin disagreed, saying: “It would be wrong to pinch our consumers in those goods people would like to have.”
One proposal that has come to pass is a ban on film profanity, meaning releases are subject to cuts – including Leviathan, the Golden Globe-winning drama that Russia is nevertheless trying to muffle, given its biting portrayal of local Russian politics and bureaucracy. Medinsky has criticised the film, saying: “I did not recognise myself, my colleagues, friends or even friends of friends in Leviathan’s characters.” It could nevertheless win an Oscar for best foreign film next month.
