"The demand for domestic films has doubled"

The film "Red Silk" helps strengthen ties between Russia and China. This was stated to Izvestia by Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova on the sidelines of the XI St. Petersburg International Forum of United Cultures. According to her, filming of the continuation of the story is already underway in Vladivostok, and is also planned in historic Shanghai. About this, as well as about how the state supports national cinema that can attract an audience, and about films for studying in schools — in an exclusive interview with Izvestia.

"Black Silk is scheduled to be shot in the Far East, on a ship in the Pacific Ocean, and in historic Shanghai."

— The Red Silk joint project continues to flourish in China. How do you assess the success of the film at the Chinese box office?

— The premiere of the Russian-Chinese detective action film "Red Silk" took place on September 4 at the China Film International Cinema in Beijing, the main cinema of the largest film corporation China Film Group, which distributes the film in China.

On the Russian side, it was attended by Alina Kabayeva, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Media Group, Vadim Byrkin, General producer of the film, Andrey Volgin, director, Maria Nefedova, screenwriter, Maxim Mikhanyuk, cinematographer, Milos Bikovich, Svetlana Chuikina, actors, Dmitry Liu, producer, and Svetlana Balanova, General Director of NMG.

From the Chinese side, the premiere was attended by the head of China Media Group, Shen Haixiong, representatives of the management of the film's distributor in China, China Film Group, including Chairman of the Board Fu Ruoqing, CEO Li Xianzen and other top managers of the company, head of the State Film Agency of China Mao Yu.

The film was widely released throughout the People's Republic of China on September 6. In China, "Red Silk" received the status of a national film, became the owner of the so-called "Dragon Seal". The painting touches on historical aspects of Russian-Chinese relations and helps strengthen cultural ties between our countries.

— Could you tell us about "Black Silk", the sequel to the story: how will it surprise you and where will the filming take place?

— If "Red Silk" showed the viewer the beauty of Lake Baikal and Siberia, the filming of "Black Silk" is planned in the Far East, on a ship in the Pacific Ocean and in historic Shanghai. The plot of the film is also based on real events. Filming of the Russian part is already underway in Vladivostok. The release of "Black Silk" is scheduled for February 2027.

-What other Russian-Chinese film projects are currently in the works?

— In order to deepen cooperation in the field of cinematography between Russia and China, as part of the implementation of the Joint Film Production Action Plan until 2030, signed in May 2025 between the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the State Administration of Cinematography of the People's Republic of China, pitchings were conducted to identify potential joint production projects of various genres and formats: feature films and documentaries, multi-part films, animated films.

In March of this year, Russian cinematographers presented a number of projects to their Chinese colleagues. In continuation of the Russian-Chinese film dialogue, the 18th meeting of the Russian-Chinese Subcommittee on Cooperation in the field of Cinematography (within the framework of the Commission on humanitarian cooperation) was held at VGIK in early May. One of the main topics of the meeting was joint filmmaking, and Chinese film projects were also presented. It is expected to create meaningful joint films, as well as strengthen direct contacts between Russian and Chinese figures and organizations in the field of cinematography for further cooperation.

"The premiere of the comedy "Serf 3" is scheduled for June 2026"

— In the last month and a half, cinema attendance in Russia has fallen to the lowest levels in several years (according to the EAIS). What will the Ministry of Culture do to support film distribution?

— The total cinema attendance in the first eight months of 2025 was 76.5 million people. Over the past five years (2021-2025), the cinema attendance rate in January-August was lower in 2022, when Hollywood studios left the Russian film distribution market, when only 58.3 million people visited cinemas by the end of August. In recent years, the national film distribution market has undergone structural changes: previously, up to 70% of the audience was provided by foreign films, but now 80% of cinema visits are provided by domestic films. In comparison with the same period in 2021, the attendance of domestic paintings has doubled.

The main measure implemented in order to support the film distribution market and ensure the development of a self-sufficient and competitive cinematography is state support for high-quality national films that attract an audience. The decision made on the possibility of financing the sequels of the most beloved films at the expense of irrevocable funds, subject to release in the summer months next year, will help to increase the audience flow in the summer: the premiere of the comedy "Serf 3" is scheduled for June 2026. The previous films of the franchise were released during the New Year period, the fees of each exceeded 3 billion rubles.

— How does the Ministry of Culture contribute to the implementation of the Ministry of Education's program on teaching the history of Russian cinema in schools?

— The Ministry of Culture of Russia is working on filling the Culture portal.Russian Federation films that are included in the list of programs of the Ministry of Education of Russia for studying in schools. At the same time, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Russia and the Ministry of Education of Russia, the Cinema Center LLC is implementing the Kinoklass project, which unites schools and cinemas throughout the country. The project was launched on September 1, and at the moment more than 300 cinemas have already joined it, and more than 90 films are available in the repertoire.