Russian cinema owners' group: unlicensed foreign film screenings to end by New Year's

Alexey Voronkov, chairman of the Russian Association of Theater Owners, told the outlet NSN that Russian cinemas will fully stop offering so-called "pre-show services" — a practice used to screen foreign films without official licensing — within the next two to three months. That would mean the unlicensed practice could disappear by New Year's.

Still, the government regulations that currently permit such unlicensed screenings formally remain in force until March 1, 2028.

Voronkov also responded to rumors that Russian screenings of the Hollywood films Avengers: Doomsday and Dune: Part Three, set for worldwide premieres on December 16 and 17 respectively, might be pushed back to make room for the premiere of the Russian film Fredonia: The Movie. He said Russian audiences may indeed end up seeing these films long after their global releases, but not because of Fredonia.

No confirmed release dates

Speaking to the outlet Podyom, Voronkov said no Russian distributor has officially announced release dates for either Avengers: Doomsday or Dune: Part Three in Russia this December, next January, or in March 2027 — regardless of when Russian films are scheduled. Because of this, he argued it would be inaccurate to say the films' releases have been postponed, since no release was ever announced in the first place. Even if negotiations with Hollywood studios succeed, he said, the films could not reach Russian theaters before April 1, 2027.

In July, distributors had already asked Russian cinemas to delay screenings of Spider-Man: Brand New Day in favor of the Russian film The Last Warrior: Kolobok. After the Spider-Man screenings were postponed, viewers began criticizing Kolobok's creators, who reportedly received threats. Russia's Investigative Committee has opened a criminal probe into those threats.