Russia’s top film and TV producer Central Partnership (CP), which also dominates the local film distribution scene, announced impressive financial results for 2006.
Revenues for the 10-year-old outfit broke the $100 million mark for the first time. “In our young film industry that’s a major mark,” said Central Partnership’s Sergei Shestyakov.
Revenues grew last year by 23%, with company’s predictions for 2007 targeting an ambitious 34% rise.
Multifaceted company drew 72% from TV sales, 20% from film distribution and 8% from DVD and other ancillary rights.
As a private company, Central Partnership, now majority owned by Prof-Media, whose interests cover TV and film exhibition through its growing Cinema Park chain, does not directly disclose financial profits.
Since the company’s biggest hit last year, “Wolfhound,” was released in December, its grosses weren’t figured into 2006 revenues, as box office is charted Dec. 1-Nov. 31 each year.
Main projects for 2007 are eight features and 94 hours of TV fare, including a sequel to the feature actioner “Shadow Boxing.” TV projects include “Apostle,” going to Russia’s Channel One, and “Liquidation,” going to local pubcaster Rossiya, as well as “Street Racers,” which was sold in Berlin to Japan.
CP’s biggest upcoming film project is $10 million-budgeted “Taras Bulba,” adapted from the Nikolai Gogol classic.
