International
Simultaneous worldwide release a dilemma for films
MUMBAI: Two of this summer‘s biggest hit movies illustrate the lucrative possibilities of a simultaneous worldwide release — as well as its limits.
Sony greenlighted its Tom Hanks starrer Angels & Demons – based on author Dan Brown‘s less well-known follow-up to The Da Vinci Code – specifically because of its international expectations.
Staging a simultaneous worldwide bow in May, the results haven‘t disappointed: Angels has soared to $329 million internationally, combining with a more earthbound $128 million in North America.
“The world has become so small, and a film like Angels & Demons is able to tap into a worldwide audience,” said Sony worldwide distribution president Rory Bruer, who‘s in the Netherlands here this week for the annual Cinema Expo confab. “But you have to look at what‘s best for the picture.”
Indeed, though executives at all studios now routinely scrutinize foreign box-office projections when developing projects and planning campaigns, one need look no further than Terminator Salvation to realise some films will always elude easy alignment around the world.
Warner Bros. opened the iconic sci-fi sequel Stateside on May 21, but Sony — which holds most foreign rights on Salvation — held it back a couple weeks in most foreign territories to allow Angels a more open playing field.
Salvation has earned $200 million internationally, so it‘s hard to see where the delay hurt its worldwide haul.
On an industry-wide basis, domestic and international receipts now roughly even out. But Angels shows how disproportionately lucrative foreign campaigns can be, while Paramount‘s sci-fi reboot of Star Trek — a $239 million domestic grosser that‘s done just half as much business internationally — shows how individual films still can defy glib generalizations, Still, a growing global trend is clearly afoot.
International
Moskino and Bollywood: Moscow Film Cluster and Film City Mumbai signed a cooperation agreement
Moscow Film Cluster has signed a cooperation agreement with Film City Mumbai. The parties agreed to cooperate in developing the film industry, promoting shooting locations and supporting filmmakers.
The memorandum was signed on the sidelines of the India International Film Tourism (IIFTC) Conclave in Mumbai. At this forum, the Moscow Film Cluster presented Moscow’s opportunities for film shooting, including infrastructure projects such as Film City Moskino and Film Factory. Special attention was paid to the Moscow rebate system – up to 45% – and the co-production development.
Memorandum of Understanding between the Film City and Moscow Film Cluster provides for the establishment and development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the film industry development, including joint promotion of shooting locations, support for filmmakers, implementation of marketing and industry events, development of incentive support measures and strengthening of economic and cultural interaction between India and Moscow.
The parties also intend to promote the development of the audiovisual sector through the exchange of experience, joint initiatives and the search for opportunities to create new industry partnerships and clusters.
Moscow Film Cluster is a major city initiative led by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin to develop the capital into a global cinema hub. It brings together key production infrastructure – such as the Moskino Film Сity, Film Factory and Gorky Film Studio – along with the Film Commission, digital platform and cinema chain to streamline shooting, support productions and attract international filmmaking to Moscow.
Also, Moscow offers a rebate of up to 45%: 30% as direct production cost compensation, up to 15% for visa and accommodation support. The Moscow Image Grant provides up to $255,000 for films showcasing iconic city views.
The Moscow Film Cluster booth attracted considerable attention from Indian producers and studios. Over 80 business meetings were held, including those with major Indian companies.
One of the booth guests was the famous Indian actress Khushboo Sundar, known to Soviet and Russian audiences for her role in My Soul and considered the leading star of Tamil cinema, in whose honor one of the local temples was even built. Prithul Kumar, representative of the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and one of the officials responsible for regulating the film industry in the country, also expressed interest in the development of the Moscow Film Cluster.
One of the highlights of the India International Film Tourism Conclave was the awarding of The Greatest of All Time in the For Cinematic Excellence category. The movie was shot in Moscow. The jury members noted the project’s contribution to the development of tourism.
The shooting of The Greatest of All Time AGS by Entertainment was organized with the assistance of the Moscow Film Cluster and the Moscow Film Commission and took place in April 2024 on the streets of Moscow. The scenes were shot in such famous locations as Patriarch Bridge, Teatralnaya Square, Manezhnaya Square, Kazarmenny Lane, Podsosensky Lane, Nikolskaya Street and one of the festival venues of Moscow Seasons.
The Greatest of All Time became a landmark event in Indian box office history. It ranked fourth in box office earnings among all movies released in India in 2024 and is one of the most successful Tamil-language movies in history.
At the same time, the shooting of another joint Russian-Indian movie started at the Moskino Film City in Moscow. A film project dedicated to badminton became one of the first participants in the Moscow rebate program.
A project by Smena & WISH Media (Russia) and Kartina Entertainment And Sports Private Limited (India) will tell the story of a badminton player who travels to India with the Russian national team to compete in a tournament. Russian viewers will see for the first time the scale of sporting competitions in Asia, where badminton is a cult sport and draws packed stands of fans.
The agreement on the joint production of the Smash movie was signed st the Moscow International Film Week in August 2025. And as Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said, a rebate application was also submitted at that time to reimburse part of the costs incurred during the shooting process in the Russian capital.
