This is one of the consequences of the sanctions imposed on Russia: Russian cinemas are deprived of Western films and blockbusters. A blow for the first European cinema market, which reacts in places by showing illegal copies of films.
Sanctions affect Russian cultural sector
This is a consequence of the Russian invasion in Ukraine and the sanctions imposed by the international community on Russia: Russian cinemas are deprived of films . And especially those coming from major studios like Sony, Warner, or even Disney. Add to this that Netflix has interrupted its service on Russian soil, leaving the request of the Russian public unanswered. There is the public on one side, therefore deprived of films to eat. On the other hand, operators and owners of cinemas who frankly stick out their tongues...
Indeed, according to the Russian Association of Cinema Owners, which issued a long and alarmist press release, the collapse of the film industry is on the horizon. With a loss of income estimated at 80%, the future of some 700 theaters and 2,600 cinema screens represented by the Association is more than compromised
We express our concern about the high probability of liquidation of the entire film industry of the country against the background of the introduction of large-scale and unprecedented sanctions by a number of states against the Russian Federation, including those directly related to cinemas.
Some cinemas show illegally downloaded movies
A wind of panic is blowing, and some cinemas have taken the decision to deal with the situation by broadcasting films all the same, with copies whose origin is illegal. In order not to be fully responsible for an illegal distribution, these cinemas have had the clever idea of ​​renting rooms to private organizations which, in turn, distribute the film in their name . Below is an example for The Batman broadcast .
Others do not bother to complicate their approach in this way. And broadcast blockbusters and the latest popular films that have been downloaded illegally directly to their theatres. This is particularly the case of the groups "Kino Non-Stop" and "World Movies on the Big Screen" which announce screenings on their social networks .
A practice that can help Russian cinema operators keep their heads above water. But which is logically condemned by the Association.
The illegal public display of pirated, or rather stolen, copies of films in cinemas takes Russian cinema out of the legal arena and takes us back to the dark days of the illegal trade of the 1990s. (...) We condemn the practice of illegal screening of films in Russian cinemas and call on the entire professional film community to prevent such practices.