Cinema as a Business. How to Ensure Further Growth, Development, and Profitability of the Industry? - Programme - St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum
Panel Discussion
RUS, ENG

Cinema as a Business. How to Ensure Further Growth, Development, and Profitability of the Industry?

11/09/2025
16:00 — 17:30
General Staff Building, Green Hall 6/8 Palace sq., St. Petersburg

Worldwide, the film industry is at a turning point: content-consumption models are changing; digital platforms have become powerful commercial players; and local content has ever more opportunities to break out in international markets.

At the same time, production costs continue to rise despite technological advances.

Sustained growth and profitability require a rethinking of the film business’s key aspects.

  • Which themes attract the greatest interest abroad, and which markets are most promising for cooperation?
  • Is a universally successful commercial product possible for both platforms and theatrical release?
  • How can we retain audience attention—especially among young people—amid content over-saturation?
  • Criteria for evaluating new subjects and stories at the project-selection stage.
  • New models for financing and monetizing the industry.
  • State support or private investment?

How to combine traditional box office with other revenue streams?

Moderator:
Ivan Kudryavtsev, film journalist, producer, host of the program “The Film Industry”.

Speakers:

  1. Svetlana Balanova, Director General, National Media Group JSC;
  2. Alexander Zharov, Director General, Gazprom-Media Holding;
  3. Anton Sirenko, Director General, KFRKA LLC;
  4. Vadim Vereshchagin, Director General, Central Partnership;
  5. Ilya Popov, President of the Association of Animated Film Industry Organizations, producer;
  6. Suen Yu-Fai, producer; Managing Director, Berkley Media Group Limited;
  7. Zhang Di, Director, Xicheng Media.