Film critic David Shneiderov told the National News Service that box office earnings from illegal pirate film distribution in Russia are tens of times higher than legal sales.
Speaking at the press center of the Russian news agency, Shneiderov expressed confusion over the official response to shadow cinema operations. He urged relevant state agencies to make a definitive decision on whether Russia is actively combating movie piracy or permitting it.
The remarks follow a sharp intervention by Elena Drapeko, deputy chairman of the culture committee in the State Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament. Drapeko previously proposed transferring data regarding illicit screenings of new foreign feature films directly to security forces.
Political Factors and Cinema Revenue
Shneiderov questioned why official stance has not translated into enforcement, calling the dominance of pirate revenue a disgrace. He stated that if a boycott exists and foreign movies are barred, authorities should enforce that ban. However, he expressed belief that substantial financial interests and the broader political situation prevent officials from stopping pirate screenings.
He added that attempting a total ban on major releases would trigger severe public backlash, remarking that audiences would tear down theaters if popular titles were blocked completely. The blockbuster Spider-Man: A New Day, which broke global box office records, generated nearly 900 million roubles in Russian distribution during its opening weekend.
Lawmakers Urged to Contact Law Enforcement
Industry executives responded by calling on parliamentarians to take formal legal steps rather than making public demands. Alexey Vasyasin, head of Cinema Park and Formula Kino, Russia's largest combined multiplex cinema network, addressed the proposal at the news agency press center.
Vasyasin stated that Drapeko has every opportunity to assist the Ministry of Culture in submitting an official report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the federal agency responsible for law enforcement, to initiate action against illegal foreign film screenings.
