Valery Pereverzev, who directs the film Brother 3, rejected the claim that the project had been barred from obtaining a distribution certificate. This clarification was reported by RIA News.
He stated that there are currently no restrictions on issuing lease certificates. Officially, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation has not refused to grant them. Yet, he noted a recent setback: the ministry’s leadership decided to postpone any decision on issuing a distribution certificate until the following week, a move he described as a disheartening development.
Pereverzev suggested that a decision could be reached by November 20, which would allow the premiere in Tambov to go ahead as planned. He emphasized that the film is technically complete and has already been accepted by the State Film Fund. He also mentioned that some colleagues involved in handling rental documents within the Ministry of Culture advised him to consider changing the film’s name, a suggestion he treated as a personal matter rather than a legal requirement.
On a practical note, he recounted everyday discussions about the choice of title and why such a name might provoke questions. He insisted that the title Brother 3 did not contravene any laws of the Russian Federation, framing the name issue as a routine, everyday concern rather than a legal hurdle.
Initially, the plan did not include a November 18 premiere. Instead, the film’s big-screen debut in Moscow was projected to take place at the October cinema, with a broader release expected later. Vladislav Pasternak, who heads theHHG distribution company, later stated that Pereverzev’s film was slated for a wide release on November 23, subject to the approval of all necessary permissions.
Cast details for the film reveal a diverse lineup. The project features rapper Ptah along with actors Eric Roberts and Olivier Siu. It also stars brothers Vladimir and Yuri Torsuev, while the leading roles are portrayed by Vasily Karpenko and Alexandra Voznesenskaya. The project stands apart from the well-known duo of Alexey Balabanov by design, signaling a distinct creative path for this production.
In other cultural news, discussions about leadership at major institutions continued, as Valery Gergiev had previously commented on the possibility of returning to head the Bolshoi Theater, a separate thread in the broader conversation about Russia’s performing arts scene.