The first international forum Key Buyers Event took place in Moscow between October 25 and 27. Russian companies showed international buyers 119 titles – 51 movie, 42 series and 26 animated series. The tree-day screenings included ready-made projects as well as those in the development state.

The participants were able to watch 24 international premieres, including the drama Text from Central Partnership, sci-fi movies Coma and Robo from Planeta Inform, Goalkeeper of the Galaxy from STB, drama The French Man from All Media, series Storm and Gold Diggers from Yellow, Black and White, Cold Shores from Star Media, Ekaterina: Pretenders from VGTRK, Triade, Call Center and Call DiCaprio! from GPM Entertainment Television (Gazprom Media), Filatov and Lanky Girls (Dyldy) from CTC (Art Pictures Distribution), as well as animation films Fantastic Return To Oz (Wizart) and The Fixies Vs Crabots from Central Partnership.

The forum gathered a large number of foreign content distributors that work in different genres – 50 top buyers from Europe, Latin America, Asia and the USA along with 33 key Russian companies. The largest Russian producer and distributor of theatrical films, Central Partnership, became the general partner of Key Buyers Event. The Ministry of Culture supported the forum as well.

The program of the forum included negotiations on the possible purchase of content, discussions of the prospects for cooperation in terms of joint film production, as well as government support for the film industry. At the opening of the Key Buyers Event, Russian Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky noted that the state welcomes co-production, and since the Ministry is responsible for grants for new movies, series and animation, he promised high chances for receiving grants if foreign companies offer joint projects. On top of that, Medinsky spoke about the introduction of a rebate system in Russia: foreign producers working together with local partners will be able to cover up to 30-40% of expenses incurred on the territory of the Russian Federation.

International distributors praised the level of Russian content. At the focus groups, they noted the directorial and acting work, the artistic concept of projects, the use of the latest technologies in creating special effects and animations, as well as the variety of genres in which Russian producers work.

For Russian participants, this event was a unique opportunity to fully demonstrate their content as part of a three-day screening and to establish business relations with new partners.

Kazufumi Nagasawa, MD of Hulu Japan, said that the company focuses mainly on series, and he liked several projects presented during Key Buyers Event. They have an original concept, and that is what Hulu is looking for in content – originality. Nagasawa was also impressed with feature films, especially in the action and sci-fi genres.

Erika Tothova, Head of Acquisitions at TV JOJ, said that there is a great demand on the Slovak market for war-themed films, historical dramas, disaster films, and action movies. And during the markets, she pays attention to these genres. Although in terms of animation and series in Russia, there is also something to see, and the company is already considering some series for purchase either as ready-made content, or as formats for further adaptation.

Leonid Godik, International Sales Manager at Beta Film, said that the company mainly focuses on TV content, series, and he paid attention to pilots and trailers of new series. He also looked at movies from the standpoint of director and screenwriters’ work. There were film projects that really impressed him as a spectator and as a professional. Godik hopes that these films have a good future, and their creators, perhaps, will also make series that the company can distribute to international markets.

The GM of Expocontent Alexandra Modestova said that the company has been organizing the participation of Russian companies in foreign markets for many years, and now for the first time it organized such a market in Russia, taking into account the ten-year experience and the wishes of domestic industry players. She believes that Expocontent managed to achieve the initially set goals - to organize a space for communication of international buyers with Russian producers, to introduce new projects in different segments, to create a platform for further work to promote Russian content. This is truly a turning point for the development of industry in foreign markets.

Evgenia Markova, director of industry relations at Expocontent, said that Key Buyers Event was a significant step in the overall strategy for the development of the film industry abroad. It was important to show the key foreign partners the entire market and its trends, and not just individual players; demonstrate the level and quality of production in all segments; the dynamics of industry development within and outside the country.