Moscow – Russia’s cinema industry’s recent participation in the three key international content markets saw Russian companies present more than 250 projects at their joint exposition stands.
Russian cinema companies participated in the China Licensing Expo in Shanghai, TIFFCOM in Tokyo, and the Dubai International Content Market in Dubai.
Russian companies conducted over a thousand negotiations with a number of deals already closed, and contracts signed.
ROSKINO, a state organisation presenting the Russian audio and visual industry at international festivals and film markets, summed up the outcomes of the Russian cinema industry’s participation in the three key international content markets in October and November of 2025.
CEO of ROSKINO, Elza Antonova, said: “Asia and [the] Middle East are becoming the key directions for Russian content.
“The results of these markets show the growing demand for Russian films in diverse formats: from action movies to vertical micro dramas and documentaries.
“In these markets, we see not just interest but also aptitude for long-term partnership, cooperation, and joint production.”
Partners in Asia and the Middle East offered ROSKINO several co-production projects.
China Licensing Expo, Shanghai
In Shanghai, the Russian film industry was presented for the first time at the national stand at the China Licensing Expo (October 15–17, 2025), where the Chinese companies were mostly interested in animation and animation-associated IP products.
The leading Russian studios conducted meetings with the China Media Group, Tencent, ShanghaiBroadcast, and other key players in the market.
SMF Animation enjoyed special interest in the animation series Baby Fluffs, I’ll Get You!, and Chebi.
Voronezh Animation Studio’s projects, Arctic Heroes, Dr. Aibolit, and The Steel Family, drew special attention thanks to their visual style and licensing potential.
Besides, coproduction projects got into the spotlight with such projects as The Flying Ship by the Rock Films Studio. Masterskaya got an offer to develop a video game based on their film Sword of Justice.
TIFFCOM, Tokyo
TIFFCOM (October 29–31, 2025) in Tokyo confirmed the Asian Region’s growing fascination with Russian action films, animated and family projects, as well as horror movies.
The Central Partnership declared sealed deals to sell its catalog in Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan.
Art Pictures Distribution received several offers concerning full-feature films.
SMF Animation made an agreement to air its two animated films, Detective Chirp & The Golden Beehive and The Swiss Adventure, on Brunei’s Federal TV Channel, RTB, and got a Korean partner on board to place a package of animated series and films on AVOD.
The S Sales House pointed out that our Chinese colleagues direct their attention to documentary shows and the film Alien, produced by the Red Pepper Company (directed by Ivan Sosnin)—even before the market ended, one of the companies made an official offer.
The NTV Broadcasting Company agreed to resume cooperation and continue negotiations with Japanese, Chinese, and Korean distributors on the release of its TV series.
The CTB Film Company is now in the process of aligning several deals, including the purchase of rights for animated, family-audience films, and dramas with companies from Taiwan and Singapore.
A deal for next year is being negotiated with companies from China and Japan to sell theater distribution rights for the blockbuster The Ultimate Planet.
Dubai International Content Market, Dubai
At the Dubai International Content Market (November 4–5, 2025), ROSKINO presented the cinema market’s largest joint stand of Russian companies.
Many companies proved ready to create joint projects with Russia, especially in the domain of animation and family-audience films.
Buyers are ready for cooperation with Russian companies in case their content corresponds to the cultural and thematic particularities of the region.
The Central Partnership made deals in Turkey and continued negotiations to sell rights in the Middle East.
The CTB Film Company reached preliminary agreements for buying films My Pet Dragon and AI-4U Wired Together.
The SMF Animation signed an agreement with a VOD service Awaan (Dubai Media); over 20 hours of animation content was licensed, including series Oomka&Me, The Secrets of Honey Hills, and Monsikids.
RUSSIA TELEVISION AND RADIO is now negotiating with Dubai TV and Sharjah TV on its melodramas and documentaries.
The Media Technology reached a preliminary agreement with Indonesia on buying TV-distribution rights and with West Fly Entertainment on purchasing content for international flights.
The Platoshka Animation Studio received confirmation from the Etisalat Company to buy the second season of Beadies! and conducted productive negotiations with partners from Iran.
The Voronezh Animation Studio signed the agreement for the distribution of its animated film Arctic Heroes in Turkey and continued the estimation of deals for its projects in the Middle East.
In 2025, ROSKINO organised participation of Russian companies with joint stands at five major global markets.
In 2026, this geography will expand even more.
More details: www.roskino.org
