Russia Opening U.S. Promotion Agency

by Sandy Mandelberger, North American Editor

Roskino, formerly known as Sovexportfilm, has decided to open up a full time promotion office in Los Angeles to promote the Soviet film industry in the USA and to create more opportunities for co-productions and co-ventures. The new Russian Film Commission will be looking to build relationships with US distributors for Russian films and to promote Russia as a filming location. Sergei Rakhlin, a prominent Los Angeles based Russian journalist and board member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association that presents the Golden Globes, will serve as Director of the Russian Film Commission Office. In addition to networking, the new office will create screening programs, panel discussions, cultural exchanges, and eventually host a Russian Film Week, to expose the newest talents emerging on the Russian film landscape.