Russia’s CTB Set to Follow Hit ‘Upon the Magic Roads’ With ‘Nutcracker,’ ‘My Sweet Monster’

Abel Ferrara’s latest film, “Siberia,” finds his constant muse, Willem Dafoe, in an icy, isolated wasteland not explicitly meant to be the Russian tundra but rather an abstract plane of solitude. His character Clint, an English-speaking bartender out of place in this far-off land populated by indigenous peoples, follows the ambient energy of the area on a metaphysical journey through his own past.

Emilio Mayorga Spain’s Mago Production will produce the animated TV series “Polinopolis” in co-production with France’s Godo Films and Mexico’s Apapacho Films. Barcelona-based Goldbee will handle international sales.Also co-producing are public broadcasters TVE and TVC in  Spain, as well as Argentine state kids channel Pakapaka, and the Catalan Institute of Cultural Companies (ICEC).

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IFC Midnight has boarded U.S. rights to UK genre pic Burial.

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorAnimaccord, the Russian company behind one of the world’s top five children’s shows, animation series “Masha and the Bear,” has revealed plans to expand into longer-form content, including a feature film, as well as podcasts, tech-driven content and custom-made content for social media platforms. More than a decade after its launch, the show “just keeps giving and giving,” Animaccord CEO, Claus Tomming, told Variety.

Marta Balaga SMF Studio (Soyuzmultfilm), one of the oldest animation companies in Russia, and France-based PlayBig, specializing in distribution, development and production of animation content across linear and non-linear platforms, have announced a partnership to distribute “Captain Kraken and His Crew” to South and Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and South Korea.The deal – revealed during the Key Buyers Event, taking place online June 8-10 – includes 26 episodes of the show that targets 4

Christopher Vourlias With production in Moscow continuing at a steady clip throughout the coronavirus pandemic after a brief lockdown last spring, industry insiders believe the Russian capital can blossom into one of the world’s next shooting hotspots.That was the takeaway from a panel discussion that was held this week during the virtual Key Buyers Event, which takes place online June 8-10.“Moscow, and Russia in general, is underrated as a production destination,” said Val Kupeev, head of

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorGrindstone Entertainment Group, which has a distribution partnership with Lionsgate, has acquired North American rights to the Russian box office hit “Upon the Magic Roads.” The fantasy adventure film was released in Russia on Feb. 18 and grossed an outstanding $15.9 million.

Christopher Vourlias As the ambassador for this year’s Key Buyers Event, the annual showcase for Russian content and talent organized by state film promotion body Roskino, leading man Yuri Kolokolnikov, who was born in Moscow but raised in Canada, sees himself as a fitting spokesperson for an event designed to build bridges.“Since early childhood, my life was between East and West. I witnessed how the world has become unified, in spite of all the existing disagreements,” he told Variety.

French media giant Vivendi has confirmed it is in talks to sell a 10% stake in Universal Music Group to hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Tontine Holdings in a deal that values the music company at €35 billion ($42B).

Christopher Vourlias Sony Pictures International Productions has acquired remake rights for the Russian blockbuster comedy “Son of a Rich,” the country’s highest-grossing film of all time, Variety has learned.The studio has secured the Mexican, Indian, South Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and Italian adaptation rights.