In a bid to step up their presence in the Asia-Pacific region, Russian film companies have prepared an impressive offering for Asia TV Forum & Market Online (ATF), which is running on December 1-3. It should be noted that ATF ONLINE+ goes live from December 2021 to June 2022.
At the umbrella booth Russian Content Worldwide (RCW), organized by ROSKINO, a Russian state agency representing Russian content in international markets, with support from the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Cinema Fund, sixteen production companies and content distributors present over five dozen features, series and animated films.
“We are glad to see a trend towards an increased Russian presence in the region. While last year, less than 60 projects were presented at ATF, this year, there are almost 80. Taking into account the Asian audience’s interests – which is action movies, adventure and animation – Russian companies are presenting a lot of content in these genres. Last year, following the work done at ATF, many important deals were concluded with China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Japan and other countries. China is still the undisputed leader in consuming Russian content in Asia. South Korea and Malaysia are also in the top 3, but we intend to expand the geography of our presence thanks to ATF” Evgenia Markova, CEO of ROSKINO commented.
Markova said that All Media (A START Company) presented LITVYAK, a WWII drama centered on female fighter jet pilot Lidia Litvyak and the melodrama DANUBE. Markova also said that among the projects brought to ATF by Art Pictures Distribution are the fifth season of the series IVANOVS VS IVANOVS, the comedy series THE KITCHEN. THE WAR FOR THE HOTEL, the crime series SERGEANT the melodrama BALLET, as well as two features, JETLAG and SAVING LEGACY. Three projects – HAPPY END, CHICKS and PSYCHO – are presented under more.originals brand. Ms Markova explained that Russian World Vision (RWV) introduces Asian buyers to the war drama ICON, focused on the defense of Moscow against the Nazi army in late 1941, the sports drama ELEVEN SILENT MEN, focused on a 1945 London visit of the Soviet football team Dynamo, the thriller HOMEWARD, the sports comedy GIRLS GOT GAME and the WWII drama A SIEGE DIARY, which has won a number of Russian and international awards.
Markova explained that Sovteleexport already has established ties with players in China, Japan and South Korea, which it plans to strengthen at ATF. The company’s offering includes ELSA’S LAND, a touching love story between two elderly people, and three series, THE SON, focused on a mother looking for her missing son, CLOISTER, a love story between a secret service officer and a Gulag prisoner. Markova also mentioned that Star Media, which considers Asia one of its priority markets, offers potential buyers the 8-episode detective series THE COPYCAT, the war detective THE BLACK SEA, and DETECTIVE ANNA II. Gazprom Media Entertainment Television presents its new series – CATFISH, PROF and STONE BRIDGE CRIME.
Ms. Markova said that as Russian animation is already known and loved in Asia, the animation segment has a strong presence at ATF. Markova mentioned that Wizart Animation, which has long been successfully collaborating with Asian partners, presents the series Backpack, centered on unusual residents of a four-year old Grisha’s backpack, and the comedy series Tin’s Firebots. Wizart Animation is also bringing to ATF several feature-length animated films, including the family adventure The Warrior Princess and the fifth installment in the Snow Queen franchise, The Snow Queen and Princess.
Evgenia Markova said that among the projects of the iconic animation studio SMF Studio (Soyuzmultfilm) are the series Rockoons for preschool children, the comedy series The Adventures of Peter and Wolf, the series Coolics centered on extraterrestrial hamster Ziggy and his friends, Meow Magic, the story of a magical cat, and Monsikids, a series that has been already successfully broadcast in China. Markova said that Parovoz Animation Studio presents animation series currently in development – Spaceport, which is set in the distant future and focused on a galaxy populated by various creatures. Parovoz Studio hopes to find co-production partners for this project. Markova also said that among other Russian participants at this year’s edition of ATF are AMEX MEDIA, Digital Television, IGMAR, Odin-Meida, Channel 5, Sputnik Vostok Production, Parovoz Animation Studio and others.