Moscow Film Cluster
At this stage, our objective is very specific: establishing the Moscow Film Cluster as a clear, competitive and economically efficient location for Indian producers. The cluster is being created and developed as part of the Moscow City Film Program, initiated by Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin. And this is a key point: we are not talking about a one-off project, but about a consistent city infrastructure.
International marketplaces such as Red Sea Souk and now IIFTC in Mumbai are professional entry points for us into dialogue with the industry, where we can show how the Moscow model works - not in theory, but in figures and production scenarios.
What is the practical logic behind a rebate of up to 45% for Indian projects?
First of all, it is important to understand how the mechanism works. Up to 30% of eligible costs for shooting or post-production in Moscow are reimbursed to the producer as a direct financial rebate. Another 15% is generated by reduced costs for accommodation, logistics, and services within the cluster and the city ecosystem.
The key advantage is predictability. Rebate cost categories are clearly defined, local cost thresholds are fixed, application submission and review procedure is standardized and supported by the cluster team. This allows Indian producers to incorporate Moscow into their financial model at the pre-production stage and compare it with other jurisdictions on a like-for-like basis.
How is the current settlement practice between Russia and India affecting the financial side?
A separate factor that already affects the attractiveness of joint projects is the transition to the direct RUB/INR settlements. 90-95% of payments between our countries are currently made without USD or EUR use, which reduces currency risks for co-productions. A fast payment infrastructure has been created: up to 60% of payments from Russia to India are executed within 10 minutes, and the rest - within 24 hours; from India to Russia, about 15% of transactions are completed within 10 minutes.
For producers, this means that payments for services, fees, and local contractors can be built into the production schedule without long delays or additional exchange commissions. Moreover, a number of projects can already enjoy 1:1 RUB/INR conversion mechanism via banking instruments, which simplifies the financial planning.
What other practical matters are important for Indian groups-visas, entry to Russia, organizational issues for their stay?
We assume that producers are interested not only in venues and rebates, but also in the time needed for organizational issues. Our countries already enjoy close economic and sectoral cooperation. Against this backdrop, humanitarian mechanisms are also being simplified, including electronic visas and more predictable entry procedures.
For their part, the Moscow Film Cluster and Film Commission work with Russian production partners who accompany Indian teams throughout the entire process-from visa support to accommodation and logistics in the city. Our task is to ensure that producers do not waste resources on coordinating with numerous agencies and suppliers.
How would you describe the structure of the Moscow Film Cluster to an Indian producer who is encountering it for the first time?
In simple words, it is a one-stop-shop ecosystem. It includes: the Film City and the Film Park with large backlots, the Film Factory with virtual and industrial capabilities, the Maxim Gorky Film Studio as the flagship of studio production, the Moscow Film Commission, the Film in Moscow digital platform, and the Moskino cinema chain.
The cluster structure allows for the entire cycle to be carried out within a single jurisdiction: from scouting and location shooting to post-production and movie screening for Moscow audiences. An important point is that the film cluster directly manages some of the locations and infrastructure, which makes pricing more transparent and stable for international partners.
What types of locations and venues in Moscow might be particularly interesting for Indian projects?
When it comes to cluster sites, the Film City and the Film Park offer the opportunity to bring together different types of spaces in one complex - from historic streets to a modern European quarter. This is useful for scenarios where the action moves between countries or time periods.
The Film Factory adds a technological layer, which is important for projects with a large VFX volume. The Maxim Gorky Film Studio provides studio facilities-sound stages, workshops and the largest archive of costumes and props, which can be used without having to produce everything from scratch.
Outside of studios, Moscow offers a wide range of outdoor locations: the historic center, modern business districts, residential areas, parks and transportation infrastructure. Work with city locations is coordinated through the Moscow Film Commission, which reduces the risk of delays in obtaining permits.
How much interest is there specifically from India, and how has this interest been transformed into real projects?
The Indian interest in Moscow as a production site has become more concrete over the past two years. At FICCI FRAMES 2025, we presented the Film Cluster as a venue partner and held over a hundred meetings with Indian companies, from major studios to service providers. This actually resulted in a partnership agreement with Jio Creative Labs and in the Smash co-production project.
Smash is a good example of how financial and infrastructure instruments can be combined: the agreement was signed at the Moscow International Film Week. So, the shooting in Moscow will begin in 2026 and is supported by a rebate program. For us, this is an indicator that the Indian market perceives Moscow not as an abstract possibility, but as a real solution for specific production tasks.
What key advantages of shooting in Moscow would you highlight for Indian producers and studios?
In short, it is a combination of three groups of factors.
The first one is economics: up to 45% rebate, competitive labor costs, large backlogs that reduce travel expenses and an improved RUB/INR payment infrastructure that reduces currency and time costs.
The second one is process manageability: centralized work of the Moscow Film Commission, digital application procedures and a clear set of rules for using city locations and infrastructure.
And the third one is the ecosystem approach: the ability to conduct most of the production cycle in one city and within one managed system-from the Film City and the Film Factory to the Gorky Film Studio and the Moskino network. For Indian producers with their busy schedules and high demands on content volume, this allows for more accurate planning of workloads and budgets.
What message would you like to convey to the Indian industry following your participation in IIFTC 2026?
The main message is that the Moscow Film Cluster is already an operational system, not a âin-progress' one, and it was originally designed as a tool for international producers. We openly discuss the rebate structure, infrastructure and working conditions, based on facts and projects that have already been launched, including those with Indian partners.
Pragmatically speaking, we invite Indian companies to view Moscow as a regular link in their production chains: not as a one-off âexotic' location, but as a city that can be included in their content production schedule for several years ahead.
Rebate and project economics
Up to 45% cost rebate in Moscow:
30% - direct cash rebate on eligible expenses.
Up to 15% - through discounts on accommodation, logistics and services within the cluster and city ecosystem.
Rebate is available for shooting and post-production upon reaching the set thresholds for local costs.
The cluster was created as part of the Moscow - City of Cinema program initiated by Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin.
Infrastructure
Key cluster elements: Film City and Film Park (backlots), Film Factory (virtual and industrial production), Maxim Gorky Film Studio, Moscow Film Commission, Film in Moscow digital platform, Moskino cinema chain.
Examples of current projects: Smash sports drama (co-production by Smena / Kartina Entertainment), shooting in Moscow with rebate from March 2026.
Financial settlements between Russia and India
90-95% of settlements between countries are already conducted in RUB and INR, without the dollar or euro.
Up to 60% of payments from Russia to India completed within 10 minutes, and the rest - within 24 hours.
About 15% of payments from India to Russia take 10 minutes.
Banking solutions with a 1:1 RUB/INR conversion are available, simplifying financial planning for co-productions.
