Eksmo-AST, Russia’s largest publishing group, closed 2023 with a record surge in film-rights sales linked to its catalog. Reporters from Vedomosti noted that the year saw a notable acceleration in adapting published works for screen audiences, signaling a strategic shift toward multi-platform storytelling.
Alexandra Shipetina, the creative director overseeing the holding’s film production, confirmed that 18 rights agreements were signed since the start of 2023. These deals predominantly target online cinema platforms and major television channels, underscoring a clear preference for digital-first and broadcast-ready projects. In prior periods, the annual total rarely surpassed 12 to 13 deals, highlighting a tangible expansion of Eksmo-AST’s adaptation pipeline.
Among the planned adaptations, five projects draw from the works of Asya Lavrinovich, while Olga Primachenko’s psychological self-help title Tenderly to Yourself is slated for a Kinopoisk production. Additionally, Narine Abgaryan’s novel Simon is set for a movie venture on Premier, illustrating the publisher’s push to diversify genres and reach a broad audience with emotionally resonant storytelling.
Meanwhile, Penguin Random House continues active operations in Russia, including the German and Spanish divisions, reflecting one of the world’s largest publishing houses maintaining a footprint in the local market. This ongoing activity mirrors the broader, global publishing landscape where major houses pursue collaborative projects and local content integration to engage Russian readers and international viewers alike.
Earlier, the film project Let’s go to Macau with you gained attention, though early box-office indicators suggested a cautious reception. The industry watchers note that market performance remains an important barometer as publishers increasingly cross over into film and television, testing audience appetite for serialized narratives and cinematic adaptations. The evolving ecosystem rewards publishers who can align literary works with compelling visual storytelling, while also navigating the commercial realities of streaming windows, theatrical releases, and regional distribution strategies.