Modern Russian cinema
A breakthrough in the film industry of the country and Europe
Victoria Arden

© Victoria Arden, 2025

ISBN 978-5-0067-8628-8

Created with Ridero smart publishing system

This book is an analytical study of the renaissance and transformation of Russian cinema in the 21st century. She examines how Russian cinema overcame the crisis of the 1990s, adapted to new economic, technological and cultural realities, and once again became a significant force both in the domestic market and in the international arena. The book is not a collection of reviews or laudatory odes, but an objective, structured analysis: what factors contributed to the breakthrough, how the language of cinema is changing, what role the audience, the state and festivals play. The book is intended for moviegoers, students, directors, producers, and anyone interested in culture, media, and modern Russia.

Introduction: From crisis to rebirth

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russian cinema found itself in a state of deep crisis. The system, which in the previous era was centralized, state-owned, based on a powerful infrastructure of film studios, subsidies and compulsory rental, collapsed along with the state that supported it. In the 1990s, film production dropped to a minimum. Many film studios were forced to rent out their pavilions, redevelop or close. The technical base was outdated, the equipment was out of order, the staff went to other areas or abroad. The film industry has lost not only its means of production, but also its economic model.

During the same period, the behavior of the audience changed dramatically. People stopped going to cinemas. The reason was not only the falling standard of living, but also the lack of interesting content. The box office was dominated by cheap comedies, low-quality crime films and, more importantly, a huge stream of foreign, mostly American, blockbusters. They offered entertainment, professional installation, high technical level – everything that the domestic production lacked. The viewer, faced with a choice, preferred quality and entertainment. Cinemas were emptying, and cinema began to be perceived as an archaic, unprofitable art form. It seemed that cinema in Russia was experiencing not just a recession, but a complete disappearance.

However, by the late 1990s and early 2000s, processes began that gradually led to a turning point. First of all, it was a general economic upswing. The stabilization of the financial system, income growth and the development of consumer culture have created favorable conditions for the revival of the industry. People started spending money on leisure activities again, including going to the cinema. At the same time, the active construction of modern cinemas with several halls, comfortable armchairs, high-quality sound and screens began. It changed the viewing experience itself, making it attractive and comfortable. The cinema has ceased to be just a place to show a movie – it has become a part of urban culture, an entertainment center where people go not only for the sake of the film, but also for the sake of the atmosphere.

Another important factor was the changing interests of the audience. After a period of cultural import, the viewer began to show interest in his own history, national identity, and topics that related specifically to his reality. People wanted to see their own stories on the screen, not others’, about the war, about family, about everyday life, about heroes with whom they could associate themselves. This request was also supported by the government, which began to see cinema not only as a business, but also as a tool for shaping public sentiment, patriotism and cultural identity. Government support, although not always uniform, has become an important incentive for launching ambitious projects, especially in the genre of historical and military dramas.

In this book, a «breakthrough» is not just an increase in box office receipts, although this has become an important indicator. A breakthrough is a qualitative change in the entire film industry. This is a revival of interest in Russian cinema from both the audience and the creators. This is the appearance of films that are not inferior in technical level to their foreign counterparts, have a strong script, cause a wide public response and find a response outside the country. This is the recognition of Russian cinema at international festivals, participation in competitive programs, and receiving awards. This includes an increase in the number of viewers, an increase in the share of domestic films at the box office, and, most importantly, a change in perception: domestic cinema is no longer considered second-rate, but is perceived as a competitive product.

The purpose of this book is to understand how this breakthrough became possible. What economic, technological, cultural and political factors contributed to the revival of the film industry? What challenges had to be overcome: commercialization, censorship, dependence on government funding, competition with Hollywood? And what are the challenges facing Russian cinema today? Is it possible to talk about a new wave? Will it be possible to maintain a balance between commercial success and artistic quality? How to develop an author’s cinema without losing a mass audience? The book does not aim at laudatory odes, but at an objective analysis. She considers cinema as a complex socio-cultural phenomenon reflecting the state of society, its fears, hopes and search for oneself in the modern world.

Part I. Economy and infrastructure of the new cinema

This part of the book explores the fundamental changes that have taken place in the conditions of creating and showing films in Russia. Without understanding the economic and infrastructural transformations, it is impossible to explain the breakthrough itself. Cinema is not only an art, but also a complex industrial process that requires huge investments, a technical base, a distribution network and an audience. This part shows how the entire ecosystem of the film industry has been restored and modernized over the past decades, from initial financing to the final screening of the film. It was these changes that created the conditions for domestic films to cease to be niche and begin to compete on an equal footing with major international projects.

Chapter 1. Government support: from subsidies to strategy

The restoration of Russian cinema would have been impossible without the active intervention of the state. In the 1990s, when the industry was on the verge of extinction, government support was minimal and chaotic. By the 2000s, the situation had changed dramatically. The state has recognized cinema as an important tool for cultural influence, the formation of public consciousness and national identity. This has led to the creation of a regular funding system, including grants, subsidies, benefits, and specialized funds. These entities have begun allocating funds for script development, production, post-production, and film distribution. Without this financial mechanism, many ambitious projects requiring multimillion-dollar investments simply would not have been implemented.

The support policy, however, is not neutral. It is shaped by current societal and political priorities. This leads to a difficult balance between the need to support feature films and the desire to finance projects that correspond to certain ideological or patriotic attitudes. As a result, a significant portion of public funds is directed to films with historical, military, or family themes that emphasize generational continuity, heroism, national unity, and the importance of traditional values. Such films often become box office leaders, which confirms their relevance to a wide audience, but also raises discussions about the possible limitation of thematic diversity.

The impact of government support on the subject of cinema cannot be overestimated. It contributes to the growing popularity of genres related to national history, heroic deeds, family values and spirituality. This creates a certain «official» canon, which becomes a guideline for many producers and directors. However, this can also lead to risks when filmmakers begin to focus not on their creative intent, but on the expectations and preferences of financial sources, which can affect artistic freedom.

The system of state support is also fraught with a number of problems. The grant application process is often accompanied by complex bureaucracy, long review times, and ambiguous selection criteria. This can scare off young and independent filmmakers who don’t have the resources or connections to go through all the stages. There is also the problem of selectivity: some projects receive significant funding, while others, perhaps no less worthy, remain without support. In addition, there is always a risk of censorship, not in the direct, legal sense, but in a milder form – through the refusal to finance projects that may be perceived as socially acute, critical or inconsistent with the «spirit of the times.» Despite these difficulties, government support remains a key element, without which large-scale film production in Russia would be economically impractical.

Chapter 2. Private equity and production

In parallel with government support, the influx of private capital played an important role in the revival of cinema. The emergence of private film studios and production companies has become one of the main factors that allowed the industry to reach a new level. These structures operate according to market principles, which gives the process of making films greater dynamics and flexibility. They are able to make quick decisions, invest in promising projects, and effectively manage production.

For a private business, cinema is a commercial project, and any investment is assessed in terms of risks and potential payback. The selection of scripts takes place according to strict criteria: the presence of a recognizable genre, the potential for mass audience interest, the presence of a stellar cast, the possibility of creating a franchise. Producers analyze the market, study audience preferences, evaluate the competitive environment, and build financial models to minimize losses. This makes the process of making a film more disciplined, but at the same time it can limit experiments and author’s ideas, which do not guarantee box office success.

Large media companies with their own TV channels, cinemas, and digital platforms play a special role. They can not only finance production, but also control the entire cycle – from creation to distribution and promotion. This allows them to minimize risks and maximize profits. Their resources make it possible to launch large-scale marketing campaigns, provide wide distribution and use cross-promotion, attracting an audience from television or streaming services. This vertical integration creates powerful synergetic effects, making these companies dominant players in the market.

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