Kolya and Alice live in different worlds. Kolya lives in modern-day Moscow, while Alice lives 100 years in the future. Kolya likes playing video games, writing rap songs and hanging out with his friends. He doesn’t think about the future at all. Alice knows everything about alien animal life, martial arts, and the history of the galaxy. The past holds a painful memory for Alice - her mother was killed in a battle between earthlings and space pirates. The defeated forces of evil will one day return, and worlds will collide. Kolya and Alice will meet, and their meeting will shape the future of our universe.

Guest from the Future

Alexander Andryushchenko

Vadim Vereschagin

Denis Baglai

Fedor Bondarchuk

Mikhail Vrubel

Grigory, the son of an oligarch, is fully rehabilitated after his humbling experience as a 19th-century serf. Moreover, he develops a strong sense of moral justice. When he meets a pampered young socialite named Katya, he is abhorred by her insolent escapades. Grigory transports Katya “back in time” to teach her a valuable lesson about humility.

Son of a Rich 2

Klim Shipenko (The Challenge, Son Of A Rich, Salyut 7)

Vadim Vereschagin (Billion, Text, Son of a Rich)

Anton Zlatopolsky (Three Seconds, T-34)

Vyacheslav Dusmuhametov

David Tsallaev

Taymuraz Badziev

Vitaliy Shlyappo

Alexey Trotsyuk

Denis Zhalinskiy

Eduard Iloyan  (Son of a Rich, The Last Warrior)

Based on real events.&nbsp;Eight-year-old Nikolai suffers from a congenital illness that leaves him unable to walk or speak. His doctors and even his own mother, Tatyana, have given up hope of treating his ailment. When Tatyana’s new friend Yuri tries using his own physiotherapy techniques to treat Nikolai, he discovers that Nikolai has a gift for music and teaches him to play the piano.&nbsp;With every note he learns and every melody he masters, Nikolai’s condition improves. He not only gains mobility, he also becomes an outstanding musician. Nikolai and Yuri travel to China together to take part in a piano competition, with a view to taking the grand prize.&nbsp;This is a humor-packed story about the healing power of music and fatherly love.

Extraordinary 

Ilya Malanin

Petr Anurov

Vadim Vereschagin 

Ellie lives in a distant city. One day, the evil witch Gingema conjured a hurricane that took Ellie and her dog Totoshka to the country of the Munchkins. To return home, Ellie and her friends the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodman and the Cowardly Lion will set off along the yellow brick road to the Emerald City in search of the Wizard who will grant their cherished wishes.

The Wizard of the Emerald City

Aleksandr Gorokhov

Leonid Vereschagin

Nikita Mikhalkov

Igor Voloshin

The dramatic life story of the world-renowned Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, from his days as a young student to his last days following the fateful duel. Pushkin’s complex personality is strikingly timeless and relatable, with his dark, sinister side contrasting starkly against the side that is vibrant and enlightened.

The Poet 

Felix Umarov

(Not) distant future. As a result of climate change, which led to a global nuclear war, civilization is practically destroyed: lands are scorched, cities are destroyed. The equipment does not work; gasoline has long lost its properties. The main currency in this world is two cartridges: 9mm and 7.62 from the AK-47.&nbsp;Haunted by the ghosts of the past, lone traveler Ronin wanders the postapocalyptic wastelands in search of his father's killer. Over the years, he has been creating a map of the lawless world inhabited by tough survivors. Everywhere he goes, he encounters blood-thirsty head hunters and rogue gangs. One day Ronin meets a wayward teenage girl Maria who offers him a precious bounty for escorting her to her birthplace.

The Last Ronin 

Vadim Vereshchagin

Vladimir Maslov

Sergey Shishkin

Elmira Dmitrievskaya

Max Shishkin

CENTRAL PARTNERSHIP INTERNATIONAL is a new brand launched as an extension of Central Partnership's International Distribution department, which has established strong relationships with distributors worldwide and strengthened its position as a leading player in the field of international sales of Russian films. Our constantly expanding slate includes all popular genres and formats, from feature-length action movies, comedies and drama to animation, documentaries and arthouse titles.&nbsp;Our mission is to bring top-quality Russian content to global audiences. CENTRAL PARTNERSHIP INTERNATIONAL is also focused on development and production of top-quality content with high commercial potential in the global entertainment industry.Established in 1996, Moscow-based CENTRAL PARTNERSHIP is a leading producer, financier, sales agent and distributor of feature film, VOD and television content in Russia.

About Us

Vadim Vereshchagin, CEO of leading Russian production and distribution company&nbsp;Central Partnership, says it’s time for the world to give a second look to Russian cinema—particularly the slick commercial titles that are racking up boffo box office back home.“The key thing for us right now is to explain to the foreign buyers primarily, ‘Look, we’ve got great films. We’re not asking the same amount of money as Hollywood independent studios would. But you get the same [quality],’” he says.Central Partnership began in the 1990s as a television production outfit, before branching out into distribution of mostly arthouse fare. In the early 2000s, it began moving toward mainstream titles, and since 2009 has been the exclusive distributor for Paramount Pictures in Russia. Its library includes films from top U.S. and European studios, as well as an extensive catalog of arthouse and commercial Russian movies.The company’s current slate, which it will be presenting to buyers during the&nbsp;Key Buyers Event&nbsp;organized by Russian film promotion body Roskino, runs the gamut from high-octane dramas with splashy special effects to a sports biopic about a Soviet soccer star and a slew of horror films.“Chernobyl. Abyss” is the first major Russian feature film to depict the aftermath of the explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, the subject of HBO’s Emmy-winning miniseries “Chernobyl.” Directed by Danila Kozlovsky, it’s produced by Academy Award nominees Alexander Rodnyansky and Sergey Melkumov (“Leviathan,” “Loveless”), Kozlovsky (“The Coach”), Vadim Vereshchagin (“Billion,” “Text,” “Son of a Rich”), and Rafael Minasbekyan (“Furious,” “Frontier”).“Fire” is a fast-paced actioner about heroic smokejumpers racing against disaster. “When you see it, you would not believe that these are special effects,” says Vereshchagin. “It’s a $10 million production. Good luck making that in the U.S. for anything below fifty.” Pic is directed by Alexey Nuzhniy and produced by Leonid Vereshchagin (“Three Seconds,” “The Crew”), Anton Zlatopolsky (“Three Seconds,” “Attraction”), Rafael Minasbekyan (“Furious,” “Frontier”), and Nikita Mikhalkov (“The Crew,” “Three Seconds”).“Silver Skates,” which Vereshchagin describes as “‘Titanic’ on ice,” is an adventure-romance set at the tail end of the 19th century in the winter wonderland of St. Petersburg. Directed by Mikhail Lokshin, it’s produced by Petr Anurov (“The Coach”), Leonid Vereshchagin (“Three Seconds,” “Viking,” “The Crew”), and Rafael Minasbekyan (“Furious,” “Frontier”).“Streltsov” is based on the life of rising Soviet soccer talent Eduard Streltsov, whose career is suddenly derailed on the eve of the World Cup. The film is directed by Ilya Uchitel and produced by Aleksey Uchitel (“Matilda,” “The Fool”), Rafael Minasbekyan (“Furious,” “Frontier”), Leonid Vereshchagin (“Three Seconds,” “The Crew”), and Anton Zlatopolsky (“Three Seconds,” “Attraction”).Central Partnership has struck gold with the sports genre before, with Vereshchagin pointing to the success of hoops drama “Three Seconds,” which earned $14 million in China—a record for a Russian film. The outfit is also preselling four horror films. “Those films travel,” says Vereshchagin. “There are a lot of local horror films which we make and produce specifically for the international market, because that’s where the money is.”The veteran exec credits platforms like the Key Buyers Event with presenting examples of Russian genre filmmaking that might upend the expectations of foreign buyers accustomed only to the country’s arthouse output. “The quality of our production is rising steadily. Our productions are at the same level as the European productions right now,” he says. He adds that while big-budget Russian war films like “Stalingrad” and “T-34” have sold widely in the past, even local dramas and comedies are “starting to get traction out of Russia, as well.”<a href="https://variety.com/2020/film/global/central-partnership-vadim-vereshchagin-russian-genre-hits-1234626008/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://variety.com/2020/film/global/central-partnership-vadim-vereshchagin-russian-genre-hits-1234626008/</a>

Vadim Vereshchagin, CEO of leading Russian production and distribution company&nbsp;Central Partnership, says it’s time for the world to give a second look to Russian cinema—particularly the slick commercial titles that are racking up boffo box office back home.

Central Partnership’s Vadim Vereshchagin on Rise of Russian Genre Hits

Leading American distributor Well Go USA Entertainment nabs all North American rights to Russian WWII action thriller “The Pilot: A Battle for Survival.” The WWII feature, directed by Renat Davletyarov, centers on an IL-2 pilot who crash-lands in a remote forest clearing after an air assault and must find his way back to friendly territory while battling hunger and extreme cold and evading packs of wolves and detachments of Nazi soldiers. The lead role is performed by Pyotr Fyodorov (“Sputnik,” “The Blackout”).“‘The Pilot: A Battle for Survival’ is a gripping story of survival, bravery and sacrifice in the face of chilling circumstances, made even more riveting due to its depiction of actual historical events,” said Doris Pfardrescher, President and CEO at Well Go USA. “This is a film that deserves a wide audience, and we are thrilled to work alongside Central Partnership to make ‘The Pilot’ available to North American viewers.”The film, co-produced by Interfest, Star Media and DaProduction, is distributed by Central Partnership.“As action-packed as the film is, it’s not only compelling due to high production value and dynamic plot, but also a strong yet relatable character – the feature is inspired by a true survival story. That’s the kind of national content we are keen on releasing internationally – high-end entertainment with a human story behind it,” says Vadim Vereshchagin, CEO of Central Partnership.Koch Media will release “The Pilot: A Battle for Survival” in the United Kingdom, Italy and Switzerland. The title has also been picked up for Japan by New Select, for South Korea by BoXoo Entertainment, Czech Republic and Slovakia by Foxx Media Group and former Yugoslavia by Stars Media.&nbsp;Stephen Joy, Head Of Acquisistions &amp; Sales UK Film: "Koch Films are thrilled to be bringing this powerful story and this excellent film to the Italian and UK audiences soon.“The producers are Renat Davletyarov, Vladislav Ryashin, and Dmitriy Pristanskov. The national premiere is set for the 4th of November 2021.&nbsp;

Leading American distributor Well Go USA Entertainment nabs all North American rights to Russian WWII action thriller “The Pilot: A Battle for Survival.”

RUSSIAN WWII PIC “THE PILOT: A BATTLE FOR SURVIVAL” GOES TO USA, EUROPE AND ASIA

Mexican, Indian, South Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and Italian adaptation rights to Russian comedy Son of a Rich have been acquired by Sony Pictures International Productions with French rights acquired by SND Films and Polish rights acquired by Monolith Films.Produced by Yellow, Black &amp; White Production Studio, MEM Cinema, and United Companies of GPM KIT (part of Gazprom-Media Holding), along with the support of the Cinema Foundation of Russia, Son of a Rich is currently the highest-grossing Russian film to date, it has taken in 3.071 billion rubles in Russia and has grossed a total of over $1.8 million USD abroad.Laine Kline, Head of Sony Pictures International Productions, the local-language production arm of Sony Pictures Entertainment’s Motion Picture Group, said “From the moment we watched Son of a Rich, we knew it was special. We couldn’t be more excited to adapt this picture for new audiences who I’m sure will like it as much as Russian movie goers did.”SND Films is the leading French distributor and production branch of Groupe M6, the largest existing French media company that owns the most popular French television network. SND Films bought the rights for the production of the remake in France.Rémi Jimenez - Managing Director of Acquisition and Production at SND, said, “We are delighted to produce and distribute the French remake of Son of a Rich.We really enjoyed the Russian movie, this hilarious mix of The Truman Show and the French classic comedy Les visiteurs, and we can’t wait to bring a « French touch » to this great story!”The Polish company of Monolith Films has bought the production rights for the Polish remake of the film, which they will begin filming next year.Monolith Films Chairman Mariusz Lukomski said, “We are very excited to work with Central Partnership on the Polish remake of the blockbuster comedy SON OF THE RICH. Principal photography is scheduled for August 2022 in Poland, and we strongly believe in the great success of this project."International sales are being managed by the film production and distribution company of Central Partnership (part of Gazprom-Media Holding).Son of a Rich also became the highest-grossing Russian film in the Baltic States (distributed by Garsu Pasaulio Irasai). By February 10th, more than 70,000 moviegoers had watched the film in the Baltic countries, thus bringing in €45,061,000 into the box office. Moreover, the film continues to hold the top spot in gross revenues among all Russian films in Serbia, the homeland of the film's leading actor, Milos Bikovich. There, the box office revenue well exceeded half a million dollars.Son of a Rich hit the screens in Israel (distributed by Stars Media), the USA, and in a number of European countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and England (distributed together by Kinostar and KinoKartina.TV).The total revenue grossed by the film in Europe and the United States amounted to 497 thousand euro, which goes to show that there were more than 45 thousand tickets sold.Klim Shipenko's comedy managed to even take this record-breaking title from T-34, a military action motion picture that was the previous highest-grossing Russian film in Europe (222,700 thousand euro). Not only this, but Son of a Rich surpassed in gross revenue other well-received films like the fairy tale of The Last Warrior (187 thousand euro), the comedies Yolki 6 (145 thousand euro) and Yolki 7 (166 thousand euro), as well as the sports drama Three Seconds (197 thousand euro).Vadim Vereshchagin, the general director of Central Partnership, said, “The signed agreements come as a tremendous success and further proof that a cool, understandable story is what is most valuable in filmmaking. I am sure that the remakes of Son of a Rich will be in demand among foreign audiences, as well as bring box office success to the production studios. "&nbsp;Yellow, Black &amp; White Production Studio General Producer Eduard Iloyan stated, “Son of a Rich's original concept aroused tremendous interest of the audience in Russia and turned out to be relevant to audiences in many other countries. We are very happy that foreign filmmakers also paid attention to this idea and decided to adapt it on their lands. In the modern world of gadgets and social inequality, the lack of [internet/cellular] connection and connections is considered to be extreme, so this helps our hero, and along with him the viewer, to once again learn how to communicate with people, find a true friend, and find love. "

Mexican, Indian, South Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and Italian adaptation rights to Russian comedy Son of a Rich have been acquired by Sony Pictures International Productions with French rights acquired by SND Films and Polish rights acquired by Monolith Films.

SONY PICTURES INTERNATIONAL PRODUCTIONS, SND FILMS AND MONOLITH FILMS ACQUIRE ADAPTATION RIGHTS TO RUSSIAN COMEDY ‘SON OF A RICH’

Shout! Studios has acquired all rights to “The Ice Demon” for the territory of North America. The film has also been sold to Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan and Poland. Central Partnership (part of Gazprom-Media) is handling global sales.“We’re delighted to continue our successful partnership with Ivan Kapitonov and with Central Partnership.&nbsp;The Ice Demon more than delivers on its promise to scare, thrill and entertain, so we’re eager to share with audiences across North America,” said Jordan Fields, VP of Acquisitions at Shout! Studios.Home entertainment and digital release of “The Ice Demon” in the USA and Canada&nbsp;is planned for Spring 2022.“Horrors are not the easiest genre to gain popularity among international audiences. Russian producers have made a number of successful horror stories, proven popular around the world by box-office numbers before 2020. The “Ice Demon'' keeps up with this pre-pandemic trend, with impressive production value and a deeper bone-chilling story behind it”, says producer Ivan Kapitonov.The film will also be released in South Korea by Cinema Black, Vietnam by Purple Plan, Taiwan by Movie Cloud, and in Poland by MediaSquad.The horror by Ivan Kapitonov comes from the creators of “The Mermaid: Lake of the Dead” (also directed by Kapitonov), a record-breaking horror sold to over 155 countries. It has been produced by Svyatoslav Podgaevsky (The Bride, The Mermaid: Lake of the Dead), Ivan Kapitonov (Baba Yaga: Terror of the Dark Forest, The Mermaid: Lake of the Dead), Rafael Minasbekyan (Furious, Frontier, Mermaid: Lake of the dead), Vadim Vereschagin (Billion, Text, Son of a Rich), and Alena Akimova.&nbsp;

Shout! Studios has acquired all rights to “The Ice Demon” for the territory of North America. The film has also been sold to Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan and Poland. Central Partnership (part of Gazprom-Media) is handling global sales.&nbsp;

Shout! Studios Nabs Russian horror Ice Demon for North America

Wild Bunch&nbsp;has snatched up all rights in Germany, France and Spain for&nbsp;The Pilot: A Battle for Survival,&nbsp;a Russian World War II action film from director Renat Davletyarov (Steel Butterfly,&nbsp;Mortal Affair).The Pilot&nbsp;is set in December 1941. Russian pilot Nikolai Komlev (Dead Mountain&nbsp;and&nbsp;Stalingrad&nbsp;star Pyotr Fyodorov), flying his Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, is shot down behind enemy lines. After surviving a crash in a remote forest, he has to find his way back home, battling hunger and extreme cold while evading packs of hungry wolves and detachments of German soldiers.“We were really convinced by the story and the production value of&nbsp;The Pilot,&nbsp;which is also one of the most beautiful Russian films we’ve ever distributed,” said Wild Bunch’s Gregory Strouk.International&nbsp;sales group Central Partnership, the Gazprom Media subsidiary handling sales for the title worldwide, has closed deals for&nbsp;The Pilot&nbsp;in 180 territories to date. Well Go USA has domestic rights for the film.Given the uncertainty in Europe around cinemas closures — countries including Austria, Slovakia and the Netherlands have imposed lockdowns or tight curfews that have impacted theaters — it is not yet clear what sort of release Wild Bunch is planning for the title.<a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/wild-bunch-buy-russia-ww2-film-pilot-europe-1235056146/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Hollywood Reporter</a>

In a deal with Central Partnership, Wild Bunch has picked up all rights in Germany, France and Spain for Renat Davletyarov's action thriller.

Wild Bunch Boards Russian WWII Action Film ‘The Pilot’ for Europe

When the Soyuz MS-19 spaceship blasts off from Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome on Oct. 5, bound for the International Space Station,&nbsp;Vadim Vereschagin&nbsp;– CEO of production and distribution giant&nbsp;Central Partnership&nbsp;– believes his company’s prospects will likewise lift into the stratosphere.Onboard the ship will be director Klim Shipenko and actor Yulia Peresild, who are setting out on a 12-day mission to film scenes from the upcoming drama “The Challenge” aboard the station. Produced by public broadcaster Channel One and leading studio Yellow, Black and White, in collaboration with the Russian space agency Roscosmos, the first-of-its-kind feature will be distributed by Central Partnership.Vereschagin says the cosmic shoot is a “dream” for him personally, as well as a fitting milestone for a company that’s celebrating its quarter-century anniversary this year. “This project, for us, is the pinnacle of all the 25 years that we’ve done so far,” he says. “You look at it, and this is crazy. This is something that hasn’t been done before.”Since its modest beginnings as a television production outfit, Central Partnership has grown into a production and distribution powerhouse. It’s distributed a string of commercial blockbusters, such as WWII epic “T-34” and the smash comedy “Son of a Rich” – the highest-grossing Russian film of all time – and has a commanding hold on Russia’s exhibition industry: last year its distribution arm boasted a nearly 30% market share of total box office. The company’s library includes titles from top U.S. and European studios – since 2009, it has been the exclusive distributor for Paramount Pictures in Russia – as well as an extensive catalog of arthouse and commercial movies from the fast-growing domestic industry.Vereschagin credits the company’s ability to adapt to an ever-changing landscape as a key component of its staying power. “This is the oldest company in the market in Russia,” he notes. “A lot of companies that started at the same time are gone and have been gone for a while.”This week Central Partnership will take part in CineEurope Barcelona, marking the first time a Russian distributor is presenting its international content at the exhibition industry confab. Leading its slate are a host of ambitious titles boasting the signature touches – epic human dramas, lavish production values, stories made for the big screen – that have become a company calling card.Among the highlights are “The World Champion,” a pulled-from-the-headlines story centering on the legendary 1978 chess match between Soviet world champion Anatoly Karpov and the dissident Viktor Korchnoi, which is helmed by “T-34” director Alexey Sidorov, and “December,” which centers on the last days of Sergey Yesenin, a famous Russian poet and lover of the American dancer Isadora Duncan. “The Challenge’s” Shipenko, who also helmed “Son of a Rich,” is attached to direct.Another hotly anticipated title is “The First Oscar,” which is inspired by the true story of the making of “Moscow Strikes Back,” the winner of the first Academy Award for best documentary feature in 1943. The film is produced by Natalia Mokritskaya, whose credits include “Battle of Sevastopol,” “Jumpman,” and “Zoology.” Also in early stages of development are “Wizard of Emerald City,” a CGI-laden family fantasy epic, and “Guest from the Future,” an adaptation of the iconic Soviet sci-fi novel “One Hundred Years Ahead,” created with “Stalingrad” and “Invasion” producers Fedor Bondarchuk, Michael Vrubel, and Alexander Andruschenko.At a time when streaming services around the world have seen subscriber numbers spike – a trend not created, but certainly fueled, by the coronavirus pandemic – Vereschagin is convinced that the future of the exhibition industry is bright, even if it relies on the kind of tentpoles and event movies that can lure audiences off the sofa. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that those are going to be fantasy, action, sci-fi films,” he says. “It’s not about the genre itself. It’s about the scale of the movie, the emotion that that movie brings to the audience.”While Hollywood studios are increasingly mulling hybrid releases of&nbsp;blockbuster titles like “Dune,” which Warner Bros. launched day-and-date on its HBO Max streaming service, Vereschagin is an adamant defender of the theatrical model. “We’ve had lots of conversations this year about doing hybrid releases, and we decided not to,” he says. “We’re going to be holding the window.”He concedes that “the platforms are willing to pay a lot of money for hybrid releases,” a phenomenon that has only gathered steam during the pandemic, as cinema closures and jittery audiences have made home-viewing an attractive option for many would-be movie goers. But Vereschagin also sees this as an existential struggle for the future of the industry that goes far beyond today’s bottom line.“The long-term problem with going hybrid is that at a certain point you’re going to train the audiences to be ready to watch it on a platform, and that kills off your exhibition business,” he says. “We’re not ready to support that. Theatrical distribution has been out there for as long as movies exist, so let’s keep it that way.”Though the coronavirus pandemic caused a three-month shutdown for the Russian industry last spring, production on a host of Central Partnership titles was soon up and running. “We had a pipeline going on. We continued to produce movies,” says Vereschagin. “That actually helped us to live through this whole pandemic. We had a slate – not only for the domestic distribution, but for the international distribution as well.” Even as domestic and global box office shrunk in the past year, “we managed not only to survive but increase our revenues,” he adds, with revenue from international sales during the pandemic growing by 50%.That’s sparked one of the key takeaways from the past year for the Central Partnership topper. “First lesson learned is make sure you still own a big chunk of your library. Don’t sell it to whomever forever; keep those license deals short, because you never know when you might need that content,” he says. “We were lucky to have a big chunk of our library available when the pandemic hit, and all of a sudden, all of the streamers needed that content.”To ensure that library is stocked and the production pipeline continues to flow – particularly when fast-growing domestic streaming services have set off an arms race for Russian talent – Central Partnership has inked a number of first-look deals with leading studios such as Kinoslovo, which produced the Netflix period romance “Silver Skates,” and the genre specialists QS Films. It’s also partnering with Latin American film group BF Films on the psychological horror “Schizophrenic,” marking the first ever co-production between the two industry giants.Vereschagin says there will be more international co-productions to come, offering a hint of what lies in store as Central Partnership embarks on the next 25 years of its journey. “I think that in Russia, we’ve reached the limit of what we can possibly do,” he says. “We’re looking globally now. That’s our strategy. There’s 140 million people living in Russia. There’s another 6 billion people living outside of Russia. That’s our audience.”<a href="https://variety.com/2021/film/global/central-partnership-vadim-vereschagin-25-years-1235080333/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Variety</a>

When the Soyuz MS-19 spaceship blasts off from Russia’s Baikonur Cosmodrome on Oct. 5, bound for the International Space Station,&nbsp;Vadim Vereschagin&nbsp;– CEO of production and distribution giant&nbsp;Central Partnership&nbsp;– believes his company’s prospects will likewise lift into the stratosphere.

Central Partnership’s Vadim Vereschagin Maps Future Plans, Global Outlook for Russian Production and Distribution Giant

Well Go USA&nbsp;has nabbed North American rights to “Row 19,” a thriller from director Alexander Babaev, which is being sold by&nbsp;Central Partnership.The film centers on a young female doctor and her 6-year-old daughter, who board an overnight flight in a violent storm. When passengers on the half-empty plane inexplicably begin to die, the woman’s grip on reality weakens and she is forced to relive her worst childhood nightmare. The film, which is slated for release in Russian cinemas on Nov. 11, has also sold to Latin America (BF Distribution), South Korea (Cinema Black), Italy (Minerva Pictures), and the Middle East (Phars Filmco Motion Pictures).“‘Row 19’ is a spine-tingling new entry to the genre that will prove quite capable of keeping audiences around the world at the edge of their seats, and we’re thrilled to team up with Central Partnership to bring the film to horror fans throughout North America,” said Doris Pfardrescher, president and CEO of Well Go USA.“‘Row 19’ is a high-quality genre film which keeps the viewer glued to the screen until the end,” added producer and Central Partnership CEO Vadim Vereschagin. “It will be equally spine-chilling and entertaining for audiences in any country, and we expect more global deals by the end of the year.”Pic is a Film Studio KIT, Central Partnership, Monumental Pictures, and Red Media production. It is produced by Vereschagin (“Billion,” “Text,” “Son of a Rich”), Rafael Minasbekyan (“Furious,” “Frontier,” “Mermaid: Lake of the Dead”), Dzhanik Fayziev (“Furious,” “Frontier,” “Mermaid: Lake of the Dead”), Paul Heth, Michael Schlicht and Roman Stolyarsky.Babaev is a film and TV veteran whose directing credits include the 2016 haunted house thriller “Bornless Ones” and the 2019 horror “Hospice.”<a href="https://variety.com/2021/film/global/row-19-well-go-usa-north-american-rights-1235080137/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Variety</a>

Well Go USA&nbsp;has nabbed North American rights to “Row 19,” a thriller from director Alexander Babaev, which is being sold by&nbsp;Central Partnership.

Well Go USA Buys North American Rights to Russian Thriller ‘Row 19’

Russian production and distribution powerhouse&nbsp;Central Partnership&nbsp;has unveiled a slate of upcoming releases at the Toronto International Film Festival, which&nbsp;Variety&nbsp;can reveal exclusively.Among the films they’ll be introducing to foreign buyers are the latest blockbuster from Sergey Mokritskiy, whose 2015 WWII epic “Battle of Sevastopol” sold worldwide after conquering the Russian box office; an actioner based on a true story of heroism during the Syrian War; and a trilogy following the exploits of the beloved fictional character Ostap Bender.“In Russia we are the major producer and distributor of local titles, and we will continue strengthening this position by working with our filmmakers on creating truly international content that suits the widest audience not only locally but in the world,” says Central Partnership CEO Vadim Vereschagin. “Our slate has become more diverse as we continue our efforts in bringing the best of Russian cinematography to international audiences.”“The First Oscar” (pictured) is a WWII drama about rival students in Moscow competing to get ahead in film school and win the heart of a beautiful classmate. As war approaches, all three volunteer to serve on the front line, where they witness both the horrors of war and the heroism of Soviet soldiers. The experience changes their attitude towards art and life, allowing them to film unique footage that will make history. Produced by Natalia Mokritskaya (“Battle of Sevastopol,” “Jumpman,” “Zoology”), the film is inspired by the true story of the making of “Moscow Strikes Back,” which won the Academy Award for best documentary feature in 1943. “The First Oscar” is in post-production and slated for a 2022 release.Director Igor Zaytsev is at the helm of an already completed trilogy that follows the fictional character Ostap Bender on the hunt for imperial gold. As the story unfolds a priceless scepter, a treasure that could secure a worry-free life in sunny Rio de Janeiro for Ibrahim Bender and his young apprentice Ostap, has slipped from under their noses and ended up in possession of an anarchist army commander. As the hunt intensifies, Ostap and Ibrahim must do everything in their power to outmaneuver their rivals, even as Ostap has to fight to win back his fair maiden and stop her from marrying another man. The films are produced by Aleksander Tsekalo and Ivan Samokhvalov.“Mission ‘Sky’” is an action film based on a true story from the Syrian War. Lieutenant colonel Oleg Soshnikov and captain Konstantin Muravyov are deployed to Khmeimim Air Base in Syria. During a combat flight their plane is shot down. Both pilots eject, but only one of them returns home alive. Directed by Igor Kopylov and produced by Kopylov, Inessa Yurchenko and Sergey Scheglov, the film is slated for an Oct. 7 release in Russia.Central Partnership will also continue sales on “100 Minutes,” from director Gleb Panfilov, following its world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival. Inspired by Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s classic “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich,” the film explores the fate of Soviet soldiers who upon returning home from WWII were sentenced to hard labor in Siberia, branded as traitors or accused of collaborating with the Nazis. The film questions how they managed to stay human against all odds. Panfilov won Locarno’s Golden Leopard in 1969 for his debut feature, “No Path Through Fire,” and took home a Golden Bear in Berlin in 1979 for “The Theme.” Produced by Maksim Panfilov, Anton Zlatopolsky (“Three Seconds,” “T-34”) and Irina Savina, “100 Minutes” will be released in Russia on Sept. 23.Also on Central Partnership’s slate are three films preparing for theatrical release in the final months of 2021. “Row 19” is a psychological thriller centered on a young doctor and her 6-year-old daughter whose redeye flight gets caught in a terrible storm. “The Pilot: A Battle for Survival” is a WWII survival drama about a fighter pilot who crash lands in a remote forest clearing and is forced to battle the elements and enemy soldiers while finding his way back to friendly territory. And “The World Champion” is a drama based on the legendary 1978 chess match between Soviet world champion Anatoly Karpov and the dissident Viktor Korchnoi.With COVID case numbers declining from summer peaks as Russia coped with the pandemic’s third wave, Vereschagin says audiences are eager to return to cinemas. “The Russian theatrical market is feeling more or less healthy as long as the right content that connects with the Russian audience is available,” he says. While the international theatrical market remains uncertain, he adds, “globally platform business has been a huge success in the past two years,” with Central Partnership productions “Silver Skates” and “Chernobyl” making it onto Netflix top five lists around the world.“As for the global positioning our goal is to become a well-known player that provides diverse content to global audiences,” Vereschagin continues. “In order to do that it’s not only important to work with domestic talent but also look at international co-production and co-investment opportunities.” Upcoming projects include Central Partnership’s first co-production with Latin American powerhouse BF Films, the horror film “Schizophrenic,” and “Boundless,” a story of the first round-the-world journey conducted by the explorers Magellan and Elcano, which the company co-financed.<a href="https://variety.com/2021/film/global/central-partnership-2021-fall-slate-toronto-film-festival-1235058672/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Variety</a>

Russian production and distribution powerhouse&nbsp;Central Partnership&nbsp;has unveiled a slate of upcoming releases at the Toronto International Film Festival, which&nbsp;Variety&nbsp;can reveal exclusively.

Russia’s Central Partnership Unveils Fall Slate at Toronto Film Festival

Co-organized by Central Partnership (part of Gazprom Media), China Film Group and the Saosyan Film Company, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Russian Embassy in China, this is the first Festival of Russian Military Cinema in this country that kicks off today, September 6, in Beijing.The festival will take place across two cities: Beijing, from September 6th to 10th, and Changsha, the largest city in the Hunan Province, from September 8th to 12th. With the aid of&nbsp;Central Partnership, the&nbsp;festival will showcase a selection of iconic, contemporary films, including both time-tested favorites and all-new releases straight from the Russian box office, such as Zoya, The Last Frontier, T-34, Frontier, Match and Height 89.&nbsp;&nbsp;Vadim Vereshchagin, General Director of Central Partnership, said: 'We are excited to take part in organizing such an important and interesting festival – both for the creators of Russian military cinema and for Chinese viewers. I'm certain that the festival will be a great success, helping to strengthen Russian-Chinese cultural ties and promote high-quality Russian cinema in the region'.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prensario.net/35373-Central-Partnership-organizes-Festival-of-Russian-Military-Cinema-in-China.note.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Prensario Internacional</a>

Co-organized by Central Partnership (part of Gazprom Media), China Film Group and the Saosyan Film Company, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Russian Embassy in China, this is the first Festival of Russian Military Cinema in this country that kicks off today, September 6, in Beijing.

Central Partnership organizes Festival of Russian Military Cinema in China

French sales agent Kinology has agreed a deal with Moscow-based distributor and production company Central Partnership to handle international sales on Russian drama Gerda, which receives its premiere in the international competition at this year’s Locarno Film Festival (August 4-14).Written and directed by Natalya Kudryashova, Gerda is about a young woman named Lera who is trying to escape the constraints of her provincial life. A sociology student by day, she works in a local strip joint by night to support herself and her mother, who suffers from a mental disorder.&nbsp;The cast is led by Anastasiya Krasovskaya, Yura Borisov, Yulia Marchenko, Darius Gumauskas, Maria Leonova, Maria Ivanova and Tatiana Okwamo.This is Kudryashova’s third outing as a director, following 2015 Berlinale selection Pioneer Heroes and 2016 omnibus film Petersburg. Selfie. She also won best actress in Venice’s Horizons sidebar in 2018 for her performance in Aleksey Chupov and Natasha Merkulova’s The Man Who Surprised Everyone.&nbsp;Gerda is co-produced by Central Partnership and Russian Resurrection with support from the Russian Ministry of Culture, Roman Abramovich’s Kinoprime Foundation for the Development of Contemporary Cinematography, and the Red Media Broadcast and Production Union. White Nights is releasing the film in Russian cinemas later this autumn.Paris-based Kinology’s current slate includes Leos Carax’s Annette, Nadav Lapid’s Ahed’s Knee and Mia Hansen-Love’s Bergman Island, which all played in Competition at Cannes, as well as Marc Dugain’s new Balzac adaptation Eugenie Grandet.Gerda will premiere in Locarno on August 8. <a href="https://www.screendaily.com/news/kinology-boards-locarno-premiere-gerda-for-world-sales-exclusive/5162215.article" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Screendaily</a>

French sales agent Kinology has agreed a deal with Moscow-based distributor and production company Central Partnership to handle international sales on Russian drama Gerda, which receives its premiere in the international competition at this year’s Locarno Film Festival (August 4-14).

Kinology boards Locarno premiere ‘Gerda’ for world sales

Vadim Vereschagin, CEO of&nbsp;Central Partnership, commented: 'Our slate has become more diverse as we continue our efforts in bringing the best of Russian cinematography to international audiences. It's not only important for us to work with domestic talent, but also look at international co-production and co-investment opportunities. This summer we announced our first co-production with Latin American powerhouse&nbsp;BF Film&nbsp;called&nbsp;Schizophrenic, while we are co-financing&nbsp;Boundless,&nbsp;a story of the first round-the-world journey conducted by Magallanes and El Cano, and also working on some truly global projects that we will be announcing very soon at&nbsp;CineEurope&nbsp;in Barcelona'.&nbsp;The First Oscar, WWII drama by Sergey Mokritskiy (Battle for Sevastopol), is set to premiere in 2022. It centers on student cinematographers in pre-war Moscow who volunteer for the front line where the horrors of war and the heroism of Soviet soldiers transform their attitude towards their art and life in general. The movie is inspired by the true story of&nbsp;Moscow Strikes Back, a documentary film that won an Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the 1943 Academy Award ceremony.100 Minutes, Locarno official selection in 2021, is a new drama by Gleb Panfilov – a laureate of&nbsp;Berlinale, Venice, Locarno and Cannes. It tells the story of a Russian soldier Ivan Shukhov who returns from a Nazi prison camp. Under Soviet law he is declared a traitor to the state and sentenced to ten years of forced labor in Gulag. Despite all the injustice, hunger, humiliation and fear, Ivan manages to maintain his best human qualities and stay hard-working, honest and sincere. He possesses simple folk wisdom and unshakeable faith in miracles even on the brink of death. Philipp Yankovsky, the lead actor, was awarded the Boccalino d’Oro for this role this year in Locarno.&nbsp;War action&nbsp;Mission Sky&nbsp;by Igor Kopylov is based on a true story that happened during the Syrian war in 2015. During a combat flight, an aircraft of two Russian soldiers is shot down. Both pilots eject after the aircraft is hit, but only one of them returns home alive. The movie will be released this October.Central Partnership will handle global sales for&nbsp;Ostap Bender&nbsp;trilogy from the&nbsp;Gogol&nbsp;creators –&nbsp;Sreda production company. The adventure trilogy by Igor Zaytsev consists of three feature films. Ibrahim Bender and his young apprentice Ostap hunt for imperial gold, a priceless scepter which has slipped from under their noses and ended up in possession of an anarchist army commander. With mafia, partisans, and officers of the Red and White armies all determined to get their hands on the fabled gold cache, Ostap and his mentor must surpass their own brilliance to outmaneuver their rivals and snatch the prize. Other long-awaited fall premieres include&nbsp;The World Champion,&nbsp;The Pilot. A Battle for Survival&nbsp;and&nbsp;Row 19.&nbsp;Thriller&nbsp;Row 19&nbsp;by Alexander Babaev centers on a young female doctor and her 6-year-old daughter, caught in a violent storm on an overnight flight. When passengers on the plane inexplicably begin to die, the woman’s grip on reality weakens and she is forced to relive her worst childhood nightmare. The WWII movie&nbsp;The Pilot. A Battle for Survival&nbsp;by Renat Davletyarov is inspired by a true survival story. It centers on an IL-2 pilot who crash-lands in a remote forest clearing after an action-packed air fight, and has to find his way back to a friendly territory battling hunger and extreme cold, evading packs of wolves and detachments of Nazi soldiers. The feature will premiere early November.The World Champion&nbsp;by Alexey Sidorov (T-34) will premiere on December 30th. Co-produced by&nbsp;Three T Productions&nbsp;by Nikita Mikhalkov and&nbsp;Russia 1, the film follows the most dramatic and legendary showdown in the history of chess – the match between Anatoly Karpov, then world champion, and Viktor Korchnoi, a recent emigrant from the USSR. In this battle between two outstanding chess players, a duel of personalities under immense psychological pressure, the stakes are incomprehensibly high. <a href="https://www.prensario.net/35462-TIFF-2021-Central-Partnership-focuses-on-international-co-productions.note.aspx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Prensario Internacional</a>

The major Russian distributor announced its brand-new titles and upcoming fall premieres at Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), highlighting the first co-production with Latin America's BF Film (Chile-Brazil) called&nbsp;Schizophrenic&nbsp;and the co-financed project Boundless, a story of the first round-the-world journey conducted by Magallanes and El Cano.

TIFF 2021: Central Partnership focuses on international co-productions

Russian production and distribution powerhouse&nbsp;Central Partnership&nbsp;and the Latin American film group&nbsp;BF Films&nbsp;have announced their first co-production,&nbsp;Variety&nbsp;can reveal.“Schizophrenic” is a psychological horror film set in the real world of severe mental disorder. Dark stories of real patients will serve as inspiration, and a variety of schizophrenia symptoms are part of the script, including conspiracy theories and altered reality perception.The story was created by J.P. Jacobsen, and the script is being written by Hernany Perla (“Blink, “Revelation,” “Santería”) whose scripts have twice been featured on Hollywood’s Black List. Perla is represented by Verve, Anonymous Content and attorney Marios Rush.The film’s director and cast are currently being scouted and will be announced in the coming months. The project will be shot in English by an international team working in Russia in late 2021 or early 2022. Executive producing are BF Films partner and CEO Carlos Hansen and the company’s partner and head of acquisitions Juliana da Cunha Jacobsen, and Central Partnership CEO Vadim Vereschagin.“We have over 15 years of finding the world’s best film projects and widely distributing them in Latin America,” said Hansen. “We know what works in our territories, and now the time has come for us to collaborate with some of our favorite international partners to develop and produce BF’s projects aimed at the global market.”“‘Schizophrenic’ is a vivid illustration of what BF Films strives for,” added Jacobsen. “We all know that the horror genre has had an explosion of interest worldwide, and the challenge is to do something fresh that stands out in a crowded marketplace. The story carries an intriguing premise, two iconic female lead roles, and a lot of creative potential that we’re confident will attract world-class talent.”The film will be distributed by Central Partnership in Russia, and in Latin America by BF Distribution. The companies are also working as partners to sell the rights to other territories.“We are excited to be starting a new chapter in Central Partnership’s history and beginning production of a joint project with our accomplished partner BF Distribution, one of the largest independent content distributors and producers in Latin America,” said Vereshchagin. “‘Schizophrenic’ carries a powerful statement and is perfectly positioned to be a successful horror film. The story appeals to one of the most relatable human fears, something wide audiences will understand and feel for, not just in Russia and Latin America, but all around the world.”The project was announced during the&nbsp;Key Buyers Event, which takes place online June 8-10. Also on Central Partnership’s slate during the KBE are “The World Champion” (pictured), a drama based on the legendary 1978 chess match between Soviet world champion Anatoly Karpov and the dissident Viktor Korchnoi; “December,” a 1920s-set drama that follows the last days of Sergey Yesenin, a famous Russian poet and lover of the American dancer Isadora Duncan; and “Row 19,” a psychological thriller centered on a young doctor and her 6-year-old daughter who are on a redeye flight and get caught in a storm. <a href="https://variety.com/2021/film/global/central-partnership-bf-films-schizophrenic-1234990351/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Variety</a>

Russian production and distribution powerhouse&nbsp;Central Partnership&nbsp;and the Latin American film group&nbsp;BF Films&nbsp;have announced their first co-production,&nbsp;Variety&nbsp;can reveal.“Schizophrenic” is a psychological horror film set in the real world of severe mental disorder. Dark stories of real patients will serve as inspiration, and a variety of schizophrenia symptoms are part of the script, including conspiracy theories and altered reality perception.

Russia’s Central Partnership, LatAm’s BF Films Partner on Psychological Horror ‘Schizophrenic’ 

Soaring local box office has pushed the Russian film industry to new heights in recent years, even despite a downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but&nbsp;Vadim Vereshchagin, CEO of leading production and distribution company&nbsp;Central Partnership, says introducing fresh Russian talent to the world remains his outfit’s top priority.“For us, it’s business as usual—boosting that potential,” Vereshchagin tells&nbsp;Variety. “We’re getting more experience on which titles we should be making. Right now, every big-budget title we make, we’re thinking about the international market as well.” The challenge, he says, “is to get the right stories being made which would be appealing to general international audiences.”With a library that includes films from top U.S. and European studios, as well as an extensive catalog of arthouse and commercial Russian movies, Central Partnership has been a leading distributor for nearly two decades. After ramping up production in recent years, with an emphasis on high-end commercial titles, it’s now poised to capitalize on a growing international appetite for Russian fare.“We’re still on track to make these big-budget event films,” he says, pointing to blockbuster productions like the high-octane actioner “Fire,” and “Chernobyl,” an action film about the aftermath of the nuclear power plant meltdown, starring and directed by Danila Kozlovsky (“Vikings”). “Those are big-scale productions, big budgets, very internationally appealing movies.”Central Partnership will be launching a slate of new titles at the&nbsp;European Film Market, starting with “The World Champion” (pictured), a pulled-from-the-headlines story based on the legendary 1978 chess match between Soviet world champion Anatoly Karpov and the dissident Viktor Korchnoi. Co-produced by Nikita Mikhalkov’s Studio TriTe and pubcaster Russia-1, pic is directed by Alexey Sidorov, who helmed the WWII blockbuster “T-34,” and stars Konstantin Khabensky (“Fire”), Vladimir Vdovichenkov (“Leviathan”), and rising star Ivan Yankovsky (“Fire”).“December” focuses on the last days of Sergey Yesenin, a famous Russian poet and lover of the American dancer Isadora Duncan, who plans his escape from the Soviet Union. The thriller is set in the captivating noir atmosphere of 1920s Russia, and directed by Klim Shipenko, who helmed last year’s smash comedy “Son of a Rich.” Pic is co-produced by Yellow, Black and White and START, with the support of the Fond Kino Cinema Fund and Kinoprime.The WWII survival drama “Pilot: A Battle for Survival” centers on a fighter pilot who crash lands in a remote forest clearing after a daring air battle, and is then forced to battle the elements and evade detachments of Nazi soldiers while finding his way back to friendly territory. Starring Pyotr Fedorov (“Stalingrad,” “The Blackout”), the film is set to premiere in May 2021. A very different tale of perseverance, “White Snow” is based on the life of world-renowned Russian skier Elena Vyalbe, telling the story of the hardships and challenges she had to overcome on her rise to the top of the sport.Central Partnership is also unveiling a slate of genre films, including the horror pic “The Ice Demon,” from the creators of “The Mermaid: Lake of the Dead” and “Baba Yaga: Terror of the Dark Forest.” It’s the story of a man who returns home after spending years in a coma, only to find that his family has moved on. As strange events begin to unfold, the family realizes that a supernatural force has entered their home. Currently in post-production, pic is set to premiere this fall.Another autumn premiere will be “Row 19,” a thriller about a young female doctor trapped with her small daughter on a flight during a violent storm. When passengers on the half-empty plane inexplicably begin to die, she’s forced to relive her worst childhood memory.Finally, the company will look to close more deals on Alexey Nuzhniy’s “Fire,” a big-budget action film about heroic smokejumpers racing against disaster, which as&nbsp;Variety&nbsp;previously reported&nbsp;has sold to North America and a host of other territories, including Germany, Spain, South Korea, and Japan. It will also look for additional sales on “Chernobyl,” which has already sold to North America and a number of other territories, including Spain, Latin America, South Korea, and Japan.The slate reflects efforts by Central Partnership to adapt to the changing times, with Vereshchagin noting that along with its trademark blockbuster event films, “we’re also considering producing smaller movies, which are not necessarily made for theatrical distribution.”Though the Russian box office has rebounded in recent months after a turbulent 2020, fueling hopes that local audiences will soon return for the splashy event films that are his company’s calling card, Vereshchagin says the pandemic has helped to accelerate trends that were already in the making.“There’s a lot of financial sense in producing smaller films…and skip theatrical, and go directly to VOD,” he says. “Obviously, the international market is still open for these films. So is the television distribution. And you can get away with that without spending advertising money on theatrical.” He adds: “The market is there, the market is very healthy.” <a href="https://variety.com/2021/film/global/central-partnership-chernobyl-fire-world-champion-efm-1234909275/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Variety</a>

Soaring local box office has pushed the Russian film industry to new heights in recent years, even despite a downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic, but&nbsp;Vadim Vereshchagin, CEO of leading production and distribution company&nbsp;Central Partnership, says introducing fresh Russian talent to the world remains his outfit’s top priority.

‘World Champion,’ ‘December,’ ‘Chernobyl’ Lead Central Partnership’s EFM Slate

Variety&nbsp;has been given exclusive access to the international trailer (below) for World War II drama “First Oscar,” which is inspired by the true story of the making of documentary “Moscow Strikes Back,” winner of an Oscar in 1943, the first year when documentaries had their own Academy Award. “First Oscar” is in post-production, and will be released on March 24.&nbsp;<a href="https://variety.com/2021/film/global/central-partnership-vadim-vereschagin-25-years-1235080333/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Central Partnership</a>&nbsp;is representing the film in foreign markets. The film follows two student cinematographers, Ilya Kopalin and Leonid Varlamov, who, as the Nazis approach Moscow, refuse to be evacuated and instead volunteer to be front-line cameramen capturing the horrors of war and bravery of the Soviet soldiers. The film follows a second storyline that unfolds in the U.S. After the film’s premiere, one of the members of the&nbsp;<a href="https://variety.com/t/academy-awards/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Academy Awards</a>&nbsp;selection committee tries to persuade his colleagues to launch a new category for Best Documentary at the upcoming&nbsp;<a href="https://variety.com/t/oscars/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Oscars</a>&nbsp;event. The Academy citation read: “A special award to ‘Moscow Strikes Back’ for its vivid presentation of the heroism of the Russian Army and of the Russian people in the defense of Moscow, and for its achievement in so doing under conditions of extreme difficulty and danger.” “First Oscar” was directed by Sergey Mokritskiy, best known for World War II movie “Battle for Sevastopol,” the story of female sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko.“First Oscar” was produced by Natalia Mokritskaya, whose credits include “Jumpman,” “Zoology,” “Battle for Sevastopol,” “Corrections Class” and “Playing the Victim.” Other films on the Central Partnership slate include “Mission ‘Sky,’” an action film based on a true story from the Syrian War, “100 Minutes,” inspired by Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s classic “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich,” and “The Pilot: A Battle for Survival,” about a Russian pilot who is shot down behind enemy lines.

Variety&nbsp;has been given exclusive access to the international trailer (below) for World War II drama “First Oscar,” which is inspired by the true story of the making of documentary “Moscow Strikes Back,” winner of an Oscar in 1943, the first year when documentaries had their own Academy Award.

‘First Oscar,’ Story of Russian Soldiers’ Heroism in Defense of Moscow, Debuts Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)

“The Swiss Adventure” (pictured) is the first big-screen animated film from SMF Animation Studio, the venerable Russian animation house formerly known as Soyuzmultfilm. It tells the story of a 16-year-old servant who falls in love with the daughter of a wealthy merchant, who’s determined to marry her off to a rival of high social standing and low moral values. After being forcibly separated from her, the boy is sent to join General Alexander Suvorov’s army on its legendary Swiss expedition, where he earns the respect and loyalty of his fellow soldiers while thwarting a treacherous enemy plot. Proving that anyone can be a hero if they are driven by love, “The Swiss Adventure” is produced by Yulia Osetinskaya, Lika Blank and Boris Mashkovtsev with Natalia Kharybina serving as creative producer. It’s directed by Boris Chertkov, Sergey Antonov and Victor Strelchenko from a screenplay by Andrey Kureychik. “Dolphin Boy” is the story of a group of dolphins that rescues a little boy who survives a plane crash at sea. He lives a carefree life beneath the waves until an evil monster seizes power over the underwater world. The boy is banished to dry land, where a kind-hearted captain takes him in. With the captain’s help, the boy sets out on a journey to solve the mystery of his true identity.The SkyFrame production is produced by Andrey Gogolev, Geyrat Sokhrab, Mohammad Hamedani and Andrey Shishkanov, and directed by Hamedani off a screenplay by Yana Kuzmina. Central Partnership is also launching sales during EFM on “Nika,” which will world premiere in competition at SXSW’s in-person film festival in March, and is based on the real-life story of Nika Turbina, a world-famous Soviet child poet who vanished from the public eye in the 1990s. Based off a screenplay by Yulia Gulyan and Vasilisa Kuzmina, the film from co-directors Vasilisa Kuzmina and Alexander Andryushenko picks up with the 27-year-old former prodigy at a crossroads as she tries to pursue happiness as an adult while overcoming the ghosts of the past. A co-production between the Russian production houses Vodorod, Art Pictures Studio and Central Partnership, “Nika” is produced by Mikhail Vrubel (“Sputnik,” “Attraction”), Alexander Andryushenko (“Sputnik,” “Attraction”), Fedor Bondarchuk (“Stalingrad,” “Attraction”), Denis Baglay, Vadim Vereschagin (“Row 19,” “Son of a Rich”) and Vyacheslav Murugov. “During the pandemic, we saw huge interest in family films and we are confident that this demand will continue,” said Central Partnership CEO Vadim Vereschagin of the two animated titles. Commenting on “Nika,” he added: “In our opinion, this drama has a great international potential as it raises acute and topical issues that are relevant all over the world.” Vereschagin also said that Central Partnership expects to close most of the remaining territories during EFM for hot-selling titles “The World Champion,” a drama based on the legendary 1978 chess match between Soviet world champion Anatoly Karpov and the dissident Viktor Korchnoi, and “The First Oscar,” which tells the true story of how “Moscow Strikes Back” won the first ever Oscar for best documentary in 1943. Central Partnership will participate at the EFM as part of Russian Content Worldwide, an umbrella export brand for the Russian content industry organized by state film promotion body Roskino.

Russian production and distribution powerhouse&nbsp;<a href="https://variety.com/t/central-partnership/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Central Partnership</a>&nbsp;will launch two new animated features at this year’s&nbsp;<a href="https://variety.com/t/european-film-market/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">European Film Market</a>, along with a live-action film that will have its world premiere in competition at SXSW next month.

Central Partnership Toons Up EFM Slate With New Animated Features (EXCLUSIVE)

<h2>This is the first ever presentation of a Russian company at the convention, and it's launching "Syndrome", "Rat Catcher" and "The Challenge", the first feature film shot in the space.</h2> <a href="https://centpart.international/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Central Partnership International</a>&nbsp;is presenting its upcoming film projects at the META Cinema Forum in Dubai. This was the first ever presentation made at the convention by a Russian cinema company. Vadim Vereschagin, CEO at Central Partnership, presented a selection of new titles in various genres alongside leading global studios and local filmmakers.&nbsp;The first film is "Syndrome", a psychological thriller co-produced by Central Partnership and GorAd Production Center. Vadim Vereschagin’s presentation also included new projects by Art Pictures Studio, Vodorod, and Central Partnership.&nbsp;"Rat Catcher" is a fantasy set in the year 2032 after a war between human hybrids, whose DNA was augmented to provide resistance to disease (referred to as “rats”), and ordinary human “rat catchers”. "Lord of the Wind" tells the story of explorer Fedor Konyukhov’s 11-day solo trip around the world in a hot-air balloon. Based on the renowned book series by Kir Bulychev,&nbsp;"Guest from the Future" takes a new look at the adventures of time-and-space traveler Alisa Seleznyova. "The Dino Family", an animated co-production between Central Partnership and YARKO animation studio, is a children’s adventure about a family that finds a secret portal to the Mesozoic Era. A joint project by Central Partnership, Kinoslovo, Nikita Mikhalkov’s Studio TriTe, and CGF,&nbsp;"Wizard of the Emerald" Сity is based on the fairytale of the same name by Alexander Volkov. Vadim Vereschagin ended his presentation with&nbsp;<a href="https://senalnews.com/en/tv/channel-one-russia-announces-the-challenge-the-first-film-shoot-in-space" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">"The Challenge"</a>, a coproduction by the Russian space agency Roscosmos, Channel One Russia, the START streaming platform, and Yellow, Black and White film studio. "The Challenge" is a space drama directed by Klim Shipenko ("Son of a Rich") and is about a surgeon who has one month to prepare for a flight to the International Space Station, where she must operate on a crew member. "The Challenge" is the first feature film shot on board the ISS, 400 km above the Earth’s surface. It will premiere internationally in April 2023. Vadim Vereschagin, said,&nbsp;“Over the last five years we’ve released more than 100 films in over 200 countries.To date these films have earned more than 52 million dollars and they have been seen by 11 million people all over the world. Whatever project we work on, we always think about the international audience and consider the film’s potential in different regions.We believe that Russian cinema should be an indelible part of global cinema, and we are glad that we can raise awareness and share our national culture abroad through this medium.”

<h2>This is the first ever presentation of a Russian company at the convention, and it's launching "Syndrome", "Rat Catcher" and "The Challenge", the first feature film shot in the space.</h2>

CENTRAL PARTNERSHIP PRESENTS ITS LASTEST FILMS AT META CINEMA FORUM IN DUBAI

Under this exclusive agreement, Four Star Films will distribute Central Partnership International titles with the highest box office potential in the region. In addition to theatrical releases, Four Star Films has the option to manage other types of distribution rights. Content will be dubbed in English and demonstrated with localised subtitles. Four Star Films was established in 1961 in the Middle East region and has widely and consistently grown. They are the theatrical film distributor for Universal Pictures and Paramount Pictures in various Middle East territories, also handle Warner Bros. films in Cyprus and are constantly expanding into new markets.Commenting on the agreement, Elias Antypas, President of Four Star Films, said: “We are very excited about recently signing with Central Partnership International, a trailblazing &amp; powerhouse production company with an established track record of producing quality films in Russia, where they are a market leader.&nbsp;We are very eager for this collaboration and the opportunity to promote Central Partnership’s films to our Middle East audiences and cinemas.”Vadim Vereshchagin, CEO of Central Partnership, added: “The Middle East is one of the most attractive markets for film distribution in the near term. We strive to produce and release titles with high box office potential, designed for mass audiences, which are exactly the kind of films that are in demand in the Middle East.&nbsp;Four Star Films is the leading distributor in the region, and we are very excited to start our collaboration which will involve developing marketing strategies for each title. I am certain that this approach, based on a wealth of shared experience and unique expertise, will result in wide and highly effective movie releases throughout the Middle East.”

Starting January 1, 2023, film distributor Four Star Films will begin distributing Central Partnership International content across the Middle East under an exclusive two-year contract with automatic renewal.

Central Partnership International enters exclusive agreement with Four Star Films

The film is set in the year 2040. Evgeniy and Alexandra have been married for 20 years, and their relationship has lost its passion. Getting divorced isn’t an option – in the future, annulling a marriage is a very expensive affair. But fate hands them a chance: Evgeniy and Alexandra get sent back in time to that very day 20 years ago when Evgeniy, young and in love, proposed to Alexandra. Now the couple from the future want to break their young selves up in the past, but it won’t be easy when the young ones prove willing to fight for their love.Produced by TRITE Studio, Nikita Mikhalkov (an Oscar winner for “Burnt by the Sun”), broadcaster Russia-1, and Central Partnership, with support from the Cinema Foundation of Russia, “Couple from the Future” stars Sergei Burunov, Mariya Aronova, Denis Paramonov, and Darya Konyzheva. The movie was the third highest-grossing Russian film of 2021, taking in more than $7 million at the box office. Central Partnership is handling international sales.“‘Couple from the Future’ is a fresh, memorable and poignant romantic comedy,” said Eaton Dean, general director of Shanghai Matching Culture Media. “It has a very strong script and a brilliant cast. It’s a sweet and at times hilarious film with an excellent plot that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. We’re happy to collaborate with Central Partnership and are determined to release a Chinese version of the film.”“ ‘Couple from the Future’ resonates with audiences all over the world, as it speaks to the viewer about universal values in the contemporary language of film,” said Central Partnership head Vadim Vereschagin. “We are hoping for a bountiful collaboration with our partners at Shanghai Matching Culture Media, and are eager to see the Chinese version of the film, which we are sure will be interesting and in many ways original.”Central Partnership is the largest distributor of Russian films to international markets, with sales in over 200 territories across the world. In 2022, the company will begin presenting its projects under a new brand, Central Partnership International.

Russian sci-fi comedy “Couple from the Future,” a 2021 box-office hit directed by Alexey Nuzhny (“Fire”), is getting a Chinese remake,&nbsp;Variety&nbsp;has learned.Production and distribution powerhouse&nbsp;<a href="https://variety.com/t/central-partnership/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Central Partnership</a>&nbsp;has sold the rights for a Chinese adaptation to Shanghai Matching Culture Media.

Russian Smash Sci-Fi Comedy ‘Couple’ to Get Chinese Remake (EXCLUSIVE)

Central Partnership International&nbsp;to launch deals on the "Raiders of the lost library". To date, the film has been sold to South Korea (Wonder Studio), TV and VOD platforms in Spain (Paycom Multimedia), Taiwan (Av Jet), Former Yugoslavia (Red Art Workshop DOO) and the Republic of Cyprus (D&amp;A Film Company) for theatrical distribution. Also within the framework of EFM 2023, the film distributor presents other projects including the film “<a href="https://senalnews.com/en/tv/channel-one-russia-announces-the-challenge-the-first-film-shoot-in-space" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Challenge</a>”,&nbsp;a space drama directed by Klim Shipenko ("Son of a Rich"). In the film, the thoracic surgeon Zhenya has to prepare for a space flight in a month and go to the ISS in order to save the life of an astronaut. "The Challenge" is the first feature film shot aboard the International Space Station, 400 km from Earth. The film will have its world premiere in April 2023. The company is also featuring sci-fi film "The Rat-catcher", which takes place in 2032 after a war between hybrid people (rats), whose DNA has been amplified to fight diseases, and ordinary mortal "rat-catchers";&nbsp;the adventure "Lord of the Wind", inspired by the record-breaking solo trip around the globe in a hot-air balloon&nbsp;made by Russian explorer Fedor Konyukhov on July 2016, as well as&nbsp;the film based on the best-selling book series"Guest from the future", which will tell a new version of the story about the adventures of Alice, who travels through time. Kolya and Alice live in different worlds. Kolya lives in modern-day Moscow, while Alice lives 100 years in the future. For the first time,&nbsp;several projects were also presented on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.efm-berlinale.de/en/home/homepage.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">European Film Market,</a>&nbsp;including the war drama “Tzadik”,&nbsp;which takes place in 1942, when Red Army officer Nikolai Kiselyov receives orders to evacuate over 200 Jewish women, children, and elderly men facing brutality and death in Nazi-occupied Belarus;&nbsp;action-drama "Emergency landing", based on the real events of 2019,&nbsp;when pilot Damir Yusupov managed to save the plane from a crash by landing it in a corn field and&nbsp;the young adult comedy "Jane not sane", which tells the story of a teenage girl Jane. She is sad and angry at the world after an incident that involved a trauma to her head and leg. Now she has a metal plate in her skull and gets around with the aid of her grandpa’s cane. Jane blames her (now former) boyfriend Ivan for what happened to her, and directs her anger at him. She gradually learns to enjoy life and mends her broken relationship with Ivan thanks to a new acquaintance, robotics teacher Mr. Carin, who becomes her friend and mentor. Another project in CP’s line-up is thriller "Shadow" which tells a story of a talented spy, elusive like a shadow. A man of many faces whose identity is a mystery. Stopping him is the top priority for Russian counter-intelligence because he steals the most guarded state secrets. On the other hand,&nbsp;the distributor also continues to sell the action-packed thriller "Who's There?", the animated film "Dolphin Boy" and the psychological thriller "Like a Man."

<h2>The film has got several agreements and was sold to multiple territories including South Korea; Spain; Taiwan; Former Yugoslavia and Republic of Cyprus.</h2>