Evgenia Markova to Lead Russian Film Promotion Body Roskino

The organization’s new chief looks to boost export potential of Russian content.

Evgenia Markova has been appointed general director of Roskino, the Russian film promotion organization. Her selection was approved by the Roskino’s board of directors and supported by the Russian Culture Ministry based on the feedback of major Russian filmmakers, who acclaimed her work at international film markets. She replaces Catherine Mtsitouridze who left the post after nine years in the role.

Commenting on her appointment, Evgenia Markova set out priorities as new Roskino chief: “Roskino’s mission at the new stage is to create a professional national system for supporting the promotion of Russian content abroad. We want to make the country a transparent and reliable partner for international community and build up long-term relations with all the key stakeholders in the global industry: filmmakers, buyers, press, festivals, professional associations and others.”

Major Russian producers are expecting Markova to propel the promotion of the national film industry abroad to the next level.

“Evgenia Markova is recognized throughout the Russian film industry and international buyers’ community. Her experience and enthusiasm can help boost Russia’s exports of scripted formats in the world and deeper integrate Russian content into global markets,” says Fedor Bondarchuk, a member of Roskino’s Board of Directors, Russian director and producer, founder of Art Pictures Studio.

Markova arrives in the role with 15-year experience of the international management. At Roskino, she moves up from the position of industry liaison director of Expocontent, a company that advises Russian government agencies and leading producers and distributors on international promotion. Markova coordinated major Russian filmmakers’ participation under a single national brand at the world’s leading film markets: under the Made in Russia brand (with the support of the Russian Export Center) at the Marché du film in Cannes; and under the Created in Moscow brand (with the support of the Moscow Export Center) at the American Film Market in Santa Monica and the International Film Festival in Toronto.

Under her leadership, together with the industry and with the support of the Russian Culture Ministry, the Key Buyers Event, an international forum for foreign content buyers, was held in Moscow, Russia in October 2019, bringing together more than 50 executives of major studios and companies from the United States, China, Europe and Latin America.

Markova was also a member of the working group on the creation of a federal rebate system for foreign film producers in Russia. The corresponding Russian government decree was signed in November 2019.

Roskino is a Russian state company that promotes Russian films at international film festivals (in Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Toronto and London), at film markets (AFM in Los Angeles, EFM in Berlin, Marché du Film, MIPTV and MIPCOM in Cannes and FILMART in Hong Kong), and awards (the Oscars, Golden Globes and European Film Academy Awards). It provides support for Russian film distribution and helps attract investors and partners interested in coproduction with Russia.

Source:Roskino