Russia Introduces a “Propaganda Tax” on Foreign Films
Russia is preparing new restrictions on foreign cinema, pushing international studios out of the country’s film market, The Gaze reports, referencing the Center for Countering Disinformation.
The Russian Union of Cinematographers has backed a proposal by pro-Kremlin director Nikita Mikhalkov to impose a $63,000 fee just for considering an application to screen a foreign film in Russia.
In addition, 10% of the box office revenue from all foreign films would be forcibly redirected to support the Russian domestic film industry — a move critics are already calling a “propaganda tax.”
These measures aim to drive out foreign content from Russian cinemas and redirect profits to fund state-backed ideological films.
The regulations are designed to make operating in the Russian film market prohibitively expensive for global studios, effectively reducing the presence of foreign films.
This policy is part of the Kremlin’s broader strategy of information isolation and state control over culture, ensuring that Russian audiences primarily consume domestically produced, government-approved content.
While officials claim this supports national cinema, in reality, it entrenches censorship and stifles cultural diversity.
Read more on The Gaze: How Russian Propaganda Works at Home and Abroad