Programme

Co-production in European film has become a standard operating plan, while Hollywood has long since moved beyond the borders of Los Angeles, and global blockbusters are made in Europe, Latin America, and China, and released worldwide. The major studios are actively looking not just for new markets but also for ground-breaking stories, and despite an underdeveloped infrastructure, Russia could become a supplier of new content. How is Russia currently positioned in global cinema, and what should be done to establish Russia as a fully-fledged partner with leading film producers? Can Russia become a global supplier of new ideas and quality content within established formats? How are new sales channels for film content impacting the film industry?

Moderator:
Marina Zhigalova-Ozkan , General Director, The Walt Disney Company, CIS

Marina Zhigalova-Ozkan

General Director, The Walt Disney Company, CIS

Marina Jigalova-Ozkan was appointed Managing Director for the Russian Disney office in April, 2006. Marina is responsible for all company’s businesses and brands within CIS countries, Georgia and Mongolia. Thanks to Ms. Jigalova-Ozkan Disney Russia has grown into one of the leading entertainment and media players in the region and has become a center of technical innovations that are being used by Disney offices around the world. Disney continually performs strongly in the following four major segments: Walt Disney Studios, Media Networks, Disney Interactive and Disney Consumer Products. Under Ms. Jigalova-Ozkan’s leadership, the biggest kids and family entertainment FTA TV channel - Disney Channel - was launched in Russia; joint film distribution venture became the number one film distribution company in Russia. Disney became the first major to sign direct licensing agreements with the biggest Russian TV channels. Marina and her team built functionally integrated businesses in DCP to become the number one licensor in Russia and launched the largest Runet family destination - disney.ru. Marina Jigalova-Ozkan is named one of the best Top-3 managers of High-Level Executives Rating by Kommersant (Media Business), honorary member of jury of St. Petersburg International Film Forum (2011), member of jury of TEFI-Region competition (2014, 2015), distributors’ jury chairman of Kinotavr Film Festival (2015), winner of Ernst & Young’s Women in Leadership competition (Media Leader) (2013), recipient of national awards.

Panellists
Alexey Petrukhin , Producer, Director, Writer, RFG Russian Film Group
Ilya Popov , President, Russian Animated Film Association
Yuliana Slashcheva , Chairman of the Management Board, Creative Production Association Soyuzmultfilm Film Studio FSUE
Natalia Smirnova , Director, Globus Film Ltd.
Vadim Sokolovsky , Producer; Head, Sony Pictures Television Russia

Ilya Popov

President, Russian Animated Film Association

EDUCATION University of Technology and Design, specialising in Interior DesignModern University for the Humanities, specialising in Business Administration EXPERIENCE 1998–2000 St. Petersburg Division, Centre for Prospective Developments, Managing Director. 2000–2004 Fun Game Publishing House, Managing Director2003–2010General Producer of the Smeshariki project Since 2010General Producer, Riki Group Riki Group projects: Smeshariki, Fiksiki, PIN-CODE, Smeshariki 3D, Kumi-kumi, Malyshariki, Tima and Toma, Alice Knows What To Do!, Space Archaeologists, Pussy Cats, Move On!, Kingdom M, Animated Russia Since 2012:President of non-profit partnership Association of Animated Films;Experience in NGOs:Board member, Foundation for Support of Family and Childhood Initiatives “National Children’s Fund”;Board member, Kid Stuff Industry Association;Member, Board of Trustees, All-Russia S.A. Gerasimov State University of Cinematography (VGIK);Member, Expert Group on Film Projects for Children and Young People, Federal Fund for Social and Economic Support to National Cinematography;Member of the Public Board, Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation;Recipient of the State Prize of Russia for promotion of culture and art.

Yuliana Slashcheva

Chairman of the Management Board, Creative Production Association Soyuzmultfilm Film Studio FSUE

Prior to joining CTC Media, Yuliana was President of the Mikhailov & Partners group of companies. Before that, she was Chief Executive Officer of Mikhailov & Partners, one of Russia’s largest strategic communications agencies, having assumed this role in 1994. From 2004 to 2005, Yuliana was a partner with the BBDO Group, where she was responsible for business development activities. From 2001 to 2004 she was a Board member and Corporate Communications Director for the Russian investment company ESN Group, as well as the Vice Chairman of Kelenergo, a Russian energy company. Yuliana was named one of the 20 most influential businesswomen in Russia by Kompania Magazine in 2013. In 2012, she ranked first in the PR agency manager category of Kariera Magazine’s list of “Top 100 communications specialists.” Yuliana also won the 7th Annual National Media Manager of Russia Award in 2007. Yuliana received a degree in marketing from the Moscow University for the Humanities.

Vadim Sokolovsky

Producer; Head, Sony Pictures Television Russia

CEO, Sony Pictures Television Russia. Director, writer, producer. Education: Lomonosov Moscow State University School of Journalism, 1993 Higher Courses for Scriptwriters and Film Directors: Film School of Valeriy Rubinchik, 1995 Work Experience: In 1996 he started his career in Hollywood by working as a producer for Steven Spielberg's documentary project Survivors of Shoah. In 1998 he was the writer and producer of the feature film Breaking the Silence (released in Russia as «Lima: Breaking Loose», directed by Menahem Golan). In 1999 returned to Moscow as a producer of Moscow bureau of NBC News Film Company. Upon expiration of his yearly contract with NBC, he started collaboration with Roger Corman, a famous Hollywood producer whose studio produced The Arena (2000, released in Russia as «Gladiatrix», directed by Timur Bekmambetov), The Barbarian (2001). He is the writer and co-producer of the feature «In June of 1941» (2002, directed by Mikhail Ptashuk). In 2003 he became the producer and co-director of the fairy-tale film «Keeper of Time» created jointly with Aleksey Utchitel's film studio «Rok». In 2004 headed the production department of the company A-media (TV series «Bednaya Nastya/Poor Nastya», «33 kvadratnykh metra/33 square meters», «Dorogaya Masha Berezina/Dear Masha Berezina ») Since 2005 he has worked as a production director for a number of TV series and feature films for «Rossiya», a Russian TV channel, including: «Heotlozhka-2/Urgent-2» (co-writer, 8 episodes, 2005), «Bilet v Garem/Ticket to the Harem» (8 episodes, 2006 г.), «Sluchainiy poputchik/Accidental Travel Companion» (co-writer, 2007), «Muzhchina dolzhen platit/A Man Should Pay» (co-writer, 2007). From 2007 to 2014 was the head of film production and purchasing department with Walt Disney CIS Company. In 2014 he headed the Russian office of Sony Pictures Television.