Russia plans box office tax on foreign films to support domestic cinema, director says

Russian director Nikita Mikhalkov told state news agency TASS on June 30 that Russia plans to deduct a percentage of revenue from foreign films shown in theaters and redirect the funds to support domestic cinema. The exact percentage has not been determined; Mikhalkov said it would be left to economic experts.

Additionally, authorities are considering a fee for the theatrical release of foreign films, which Mikhalkov called an "entry ticket." This fee would be charged simply for a foreign film to be considered for screening. He noted that this practice is not new and exists in countries like France and China. According to him, this does not mean foreign films will disappear from Russian screens.

This is one of several measures aimed at supporting Russian cinema. In March 2026, at a meeting of the Council on Culture, Mikhalkov complained to President Vladimir Putin that the Culture Ministry was delaying the adoption of a document that would introduce quotas for foreign films. Putin urged Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova to expedite the process.

In June, Konstantin Ernst, general director of Channel One and a film producer, also expressed support for introducing quotas on foreign films, citing France as an example. The Telegram channel "Plot" noted that France imposes an 11% tax on every movie ticket sold, but the tax applies to all films, both foreign and domestic. The proceeds are used to support domestic film production.