Prime Minister Vladimir Putin met with Soyuzmultfilm animated filmmakers. Earlier this year, the film community sent an open letter to the prime minister, in which they described the state of the film studio. The Soyuzmultfilm studio is facing bankruptcy, and it’s already 50 years that its facilities have not been remodeled. The prime minister admitted that he read the letter sent by legendary Soviet animated filmmakers by chance.
“I was riding in a car to the airport. The epistolary genre is a fine art form, but can’t you just come or demand a meeting with the minister?” said Putin.
Minister of Culture Alexander Avdeyev reported on the woes of national animated filmmaking. According to the minister, cinema production, as well as the United National Film Collection federal state unitary enterprise, turned out to be poorly suited to a market economy. The film fund of all major studios (except for Mosfilm), Soyuzmultfilm included, became a part of the United National Film Collection federal state unitary enterprise. Studios received 25% of the net profit from the rights for film exhibition of the timeless Kinokollektsiya (Film Collection) classics; the remaining 75%, the United National Film Collection federal state unitary enterprise kept for its own needs. As a result, Soyuzmultfilm is left without any financial means to exist.
“What has this organization been doing?” asked the prime ministered angrily. “They make no product and receive all of the profit. For what purpose do we need such an organization?”
Everyone agreed that this organization is not needed, but the question of why it was allowed to exist for 10 years remained unanswered. Putin proposed to return the rights to films back the studios that produced them; the proceeds from their exhibition can be set aside for the production of new films. Avdeyev also suggested that the state fully finance the children’s film industry, which would include the production of animated films. The production of Garry Bardin’s “The Ugly Duckling” received only 2/3 of its funding from the state; about a third had to be asked from private investors who were raised on Soviet animated films.
Not all of Avdeyev’s proposals found approval with the animated filmmakers. Yury Norstein, famous for his “Hedgehog in the Fog,” said that Soviet animated filmaking was properly suited to a market economy. Not only film distribution, but also sales of accompanying products made film production profitable.
“Sales of a thin brochure reproducing stills from a new animated film that was printed and sold all around the country covered all of the production expenses,” said Norstein.
In Norstein’s opinion, Soyuzmultfilm should offer courses on animated filmmaking because each year the number of real, internationally renowned professionals in this field declines.
“About 80 people gathered at the 75th celebration of the Soyuzmultfilm studio. I asked those who were younger than 50 to raise their hands. Two people raised their hands, they were children of our colleagues,” lamented Norstein.
All things considered, national animation has been rescued. The 280 million roubles that the animated filmmakers requested in their letter will most likely be allocated to save the studio. Their 12 million rouble debt will also be written off, in addition to 6 million roubles earmarked for studio renovations. For animated film production the state will allocate altogether from the budget additional 500 million roubles.
Anastas Novikova