Russian Federation

[RU] Amendments restrict exhibition at film festivals

IRIS 2018-8:1/38

Andrei Richter

Comenius University (Bratislava)

The Federal Statute “On amendments to the Federal Statute “On State Support for Cinematography of the Russian Federation” was adopted by the State Duma on 26 July 2018 and signed by the President on 3 August. The amendments to the 1996 cinema statute (see IRIS 1999-2/17 and IRIS 2014-6/32) specify the regulation of foreign film exhibition at festivals in Russia.

The law now provides a definition for a “film festival” as “a cultural and educational event that is held in accordance with the regulations (rules) as approved by the organizers of this event, presents in itself screening of specially selected films and can have a contest programme consisting of films rated by the jury”. The Ministry of Culture is now empowered to approve on an annual basis a list of international film festivals to be held in Russia in accordance with the by-laws and criteria that shall be developed and approved by the government.  

The changes were made to specify the current permission to exhibit foreign films at international film festivals in Russia without an exhibition permit as stipulated in Article 5.1 of the Statute “On State Support for Cinematography of the Russian Federation”. Currently, this article allows the exhibition without a permit (see IRIS 2016-5/29) of: 1) any films made for TV and shown on television, 2) foreign films exhibited at international festivals held in Russia, and 3) films in the public domain that were produced in the Russian Empire or the USSR if the exhibition is of a non-commercial nature and is organized by museums, cultural centres, libraries or educational institutions.

The amendments now stipulate that the rules to exhibit without a permit shall remain valid only if the international film festival is on the Ministry list, has a contest programme consisting of films rated by the jury, and lasts for up to 10 days, where a participating film is shown no more than twice.

The amendments enter into force on 3 November 2018.