Moscow Mayor Lifts Ban on Film and TV Production

Anthony D'Alessandro Editorial Director/Box Office EditorSolstice Studios is partnering with Fast and Furious producers Original Film on the original action thriller Shadow Run by Magnum P.I. and upcoming Cliffhanger reboot scribe Joe Gazzam.Shadow Run tells the story of a CIA agent who devoted five years of his life to capturing the Russian spy who killed his wife.

The recent revelation about Russia-paid bounties to Taliban forces for killing American soldiers adds an eerie and tragic timeliness to The Outpost. Rod Lurie's film depicting the real-life story of one of the bloodiest battles of the Afghan War possesses an inevitably haunting quality due to the strategic blunders that led to vastly outnumbered U.S.

Leo Barraclough Senior International CorrespondentFilm and theater director Kirill Serebrennikov, whose film “Leto” played in competition in Cannes in 2018, was found guilty of embezzlement by a Russian court on Friday, according to news agency TASS.Serebrennikov, a vocal critic of the Kremlin, was accused of being the leader of a group that embezzled 129 million roubles ($1.87 million) in state funds, a charge he denied.

Tom Grater International Film ReporterKirill Serebrennikov, the prominent Russian filmmaker behind The Student and Leto, has been found guilty of criminal fraud by a Moscow court after a controversial trial.Supporters of Serebrennikov claim the decision is politically motivated.

Christopher Vourlias While international audiences have gotten used to Russian auteurs on red carpets from the Croisette to the Dolby Theatre, where directors such as Andrey Zvyagintsev (“Leviathan,” “Loveless”) and Kantemir Balagov (“Beanpole”) have scooped up prestigious awards and Oscar nods, more and more Russian filmmakers are focused on making a splash in the global market.Buoyed by high-octane actioners and genre titles with slick special effects, international sales for Russian films

World Cup final in Moscow to protest police brutality, an action for which they served 15 days in jail. Two months later, he became severely ill from what group members suspected was poisoning and was flown to Germany for treatment.

Christopher Vourlias Russian filmmaker Kirill Serebrennikov (“Leto,” “The Student”) is developing a limited series based on the life of legendary Soviet filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky, Variety has learned exclusively.The series will be written and directed by Serebrennikov, and produced by Ilya Stewart, Murad Osmann and Pavel Burya of Moscow-based Hype Film.“Andrei Tarkovsky and his iconic masterpieces greatly influenced world cinema and continue to be a source of endless inspiration for filmmakers

Christopher Vourlias After grounding to a standstill during the coronavirus lockdown, film and TV production in Moscow is expected to resume as early as the end of June, according to several sources.For industry players and government officials, a summer reboot would begin the latest chapter in ongoing efforts to turn the Russian capital into a leading production destination, a process that many say begins with the simple step of introducing the world to the city.“I believe the international

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentThough international film and TV production is currently halted due the pandemic, Russia is becoming more attractive for prospective partnerships once lockdown restrictions lift.That was the takeaway of a panel held during the Key Buyers Event: Digital Edition organized by Russian promotional entity Roskino moderated by Variety’s Leo Barraclough who chatted with Marc Lorber, senior VP international co-productions and acquisitions at Lionsgate, and David

MOSCOW -- Muscovites clad in facemasks and gloves ventured into Red Square for an outdoor book market Saturday, a small sign of gradual efforts to open the Russian capital back up amid the country's coronavirus outbreak. Although the city’s ban on public gatherings continues, authorities gave permission for the market to take place with restrictions.

Each month, we’re running down memorable clips and celebrating artists who are breaking new ground with their visuals or choreography. In May’s edition, Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande carry out dance battles in outer space, Bronx rapper 645AR takes an unhinged field trip to Times Square, Kate NV sends a brilliantly campy news broadcast from Russia, and more. Check out the best of the best below.