Russian Federation

[RU] Cinematography's Sphere Reorganized

IRIS 2001-5:1/17

Natalie Boudarina

Moscow Media Law and Policy Centre

On 4 April 2001, the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, signed two decrees regarding cinematography.

The first Decree, "on reorganization of federal state film studios", aims at: (a) restructuring the cinematography industry; (b) guaranteeing the efficiency of film studio production; (c) safeguarding public interests; (d) observing the copyright law.

In order to achieve these objectives, the reorganization of the federal state's film studios will be carried out by singling out of a certain number of state enterprises, which will then be restructured in the form of joint-stock companies.

This Decree gives the Government the powers necessary to achieve the reorganization.

In addition, under this regulation the Government must provide for the protection of exclusive intellectual property rights that belong to the federal state film studios.

Film production shall be considered the primary activity of the enterprises being organized under the Decree.

The second Decree, "On the creation of an "open jointstock company" Russian Motion Film Distribution" provides for the creation of an open joint-stock company, the Russian Motion Film Distribution Co. Its main tasks are as follows: (a) ensuring public access to film and video works of great artistic merit, both domestic and foreign; (b) production and introduction of up-to-date techniques and technology of showing of cinema works on the basis of domestic developments; (c) creating effective means of financing a distribution system for domestic films.