Art Pictures Distribution will present new NMG films at the Marché du Film in Cannes

Art Pictures Distribution will present projects at the international film market, which will be held from May 12 to 20 at the Cannes Film Festival, and will also show its partners a new film adaptation of Pinocchio.

As part of the film market, Art Pictures Distribution (part of the National Media Group holding) will present new projects to international buyers and partners. Among them: "Hottabych", "Alpine Ballad", "Varvara the Beauty", "Sleeping Beauty", "The Abyss", "Adventures of a baby mammoth" and others.

"The development of international distribution and cooperation is one of the focuses of NMG. Last year alone, in 2025, NMG content was sold to 90 countries around the world. We also continue to enter into joint production with new international partners. Thus, the film "Alpine Ballad", which will be presented on the film market, will be the first Russian-Serbian film under the agreement on cooperation in the field of cinematography between Serbia and Russia, signed in 2025. Cinema is the universal language of modern cultural diplomacy, which allows us not only to tell the world about the richness of Russian culture, but also contributes to the deep penetration of our cultural code into the hearts of an international audience. We are convinced that each of the paintings on the market, whether it's The Alpine Ballad or the new film adaptation of Pinocchio, carries a unique imprint of our cultural DNA and opens up new horizons for dialogue between Russia and the world," said Svetlana Balanova, Director General of NMG.

Anastasia Korchagina, CEO of Art Pictures Distribution, in turn, noted that projects of different genres will be presented in Cannes, but they are united by drama understandable to an international audience and a strong visual component.

"It is important for us not just to show the catalog, but to find our audience for each film. We consider Marché du Film as a key platform for the presentation of projects and the formation of international partnerships and distribution strategies," she stressed.

"Hottabych" is an adventure tale about a schoolboy who accidentally frees an ancient genie from an ancient lamp and finds himself embroiled in a chain of magical events where every wish has unpredictable consequences. This is a story about friendship and responsibility, in which the characters will face the mysteries of the past and try to change their fate. The film was directed by Nikita Vlasov, and the main roles were played by Fyodor Bondarchuk, Mark Grigoriev, Askar Ilyasov, Polina Denisova, Nadezhda Mikhalkova, Anna Mikhalkova and Vitaly Kornienko.

"We are pleased that our Hottabych will be presented at one of the largest film markets in Cannes. Nikita Vlasov's painting is a project with great international potential and a plot that can be understood in any country and is not tied to a location. We have the adventures of a genie, magic, the interaction of children and parents — all these are universal components. Such a story may be interesting in Latin America, Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Middle East, because it can happen anywhere," said Denis Baglay, CEO of Art Pictures Studio.

In the center of the plot of "Alpine Ballad" is a Soviet soldier Ivan, who escapes from a death camp located in the Italian Alps. However, unexpected fellow travelers interfere in his plans — the famous German movie star Dieter Schulze and the Italian anti-fascist Julia. The film was directed by Andrey Bogatyrev. The main roles were played by Ivan Yankovsky, Milos Bikovic, Denise Sardisko, Petar Zekavica, Stefan Kapicic and Rostislav Bershauer.

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"Marché du Film is the largest and most influential film market in the world, participation in which is not only prestigious and important for the fate of our film, but also opens up huge opportunities for the realization of rights, and also serves as a good start for the festival fate of the project. Our expectations are the most favorable, and we hope that "Alpine Ballad" will not go unnoticed due to its multicultural setting, casting, the presence of stars, as well as its great audience and genre potential," said Ekaterina Filippova, CEO of Pan—Atlantic Studio.

The film "Varvara-Krasa" is a modern reinterpretation of folklore with an emphasis on a vivid visual style and an adventure component, aimed at a family audience. The film is directed by Anton Lanshakov. Starring Rinata Timerbayeva, Alexander Petrov, Milos Bikovic, Vitaly Kornienko and Kirill Pletnev.

Another film, Sleeping Beauty, is a romantic fantasy adventure in which the spoiled princess Lyubava first encounters real feelings after meeting engineer Ivan, and the disappearance of the heroine leads to a dangerous journey between reality and the world of dreams. The heroes will have to confront the Shamakhi Queen and their own fears in order to find a way back and preserve their nascent love. The director was Anario Mammadov. The main roles were played by Yuri Kolokolnikov, Nastasia Samburskaya, Arseniy Popov, Vitaly Kornienko and Anastasia Talyzina.

"Family movies with a fabulous plot are a genre that is popular with audiences all over the world. Add to this a stellar cast, a unique, carefully thought-out world, colorful, attractive and original fairy-tale characters and high-quality graphics that emphasize and complement the artistic idea. As a result, we got films with great export potential. We are looking forward to the reaction of our foreign partners in Cannes!" said Mikhail Pogosov, the film's producer.

"The Abyss" is an adventure thriller with elements of psychological drama, which centers on three people in extreme conditions, where the struggle for survival is intertwined with personal relationships. Directed by Alexey Ionov. Starring: Mark Edelstein, Tina Stojilkovic and Stepan Belozerov.

"The Abyss" is a tense thriller centered on a choice between the past and the present in an environment where life is at stake. And all this is against the backdrop of the impressive landscapes of the Caucasus. We are confident that the project has every reason to resonate with an international audience, including thanks to the international acting ensemble represented by Mark Eidelstein and Tina Stojilkovic, who are well known to foreign audiences," added Alexander Andryushchenko, the film's producer.

"The adventures of a baby mammoth. In Search of Mom" is an animated film for a wide family audience, reinterpreting a familiar story in the format of a full—length adventure with international potential. The film was directed by Alexander Voitinsky.

"The Adventures of a Baby Mammoth" is a modern version of the well—known story about the search for mom and her family. This kind of plot is easily understood and felt by viewers all over the world. Vivid animation, an exciting adventure and the opportunity to develop the project further make it attractive to an international audience and promising for export," said Maria Zatulovskaya, producer of the film and head of Bazelevs development.

A special screening of the film "Pinocchio", which will be held on May 15, will be a separate event. The rights to show the modern adaptation of Alexei Tolstoy's fairy tale have already been sold to more than 50 countries around the world. Directed by Igor Voloshin, the main roles were played by Alexander Petrov, Mark Eidelstein, Victoria Isakova, Ruzil Minekaev, Vitaly Kornienko, Fedor Bondarchuk and other Russian stars.

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The documentary film "Sudoplatov. Chronicles of the Secret War through the Eyes of an Eyewitness" produced by NMG on April 28 received a special prize at the VI International Festival of Proper Cinema at the Victory Museum. The premiere of the film took place in September last year on REN TV. The film is made in the genre of game documentaries and is based on the last interview of the outstanding Soviet intelligence officer Pavel Sudoplatov. The project tells about the operations of the Soviet special services that influenced world history.