A major film production initiative will take shape in Moscow, centered on the All-Russian Research and Design Institute of Metallurgical Engineering, known as VNIIMETMASH. The plans were shared with the public by the mayor of Moscow, Sergei Sobyanin, through the city’s telegraph channel.
According to Sobyanin, Moscow currently hosts many pavilions but lacks high‑tech facilities and modern complexes that incorporate the latest shooting technologies. He argued that for Moscow to advance its film industry and stay competitive, it must provide robust technological infrastructure for creative projects. To that end, the city intends to support producers by establishing a new creative cluster that fosters collaboration and innovation.
Sobyanin framed the objective vividly, saying the city aims to build a pavilion network that looks toward the future, not just the present or the recent past. The envisioned cluster will unfold across three sites, each contributing distinct capabilities to support film and commercial productions.
The first site is METMASH on Ryazansky Prospekt, a location already steeped in a filmmaking background. The plan includes a major overhaul of the initial ten buildings this year, transforming them into functional pavilions for film and commercial shoots. The area will also house a costume and decor studio and a dedicated cinema school to train the next generation of industry professionals.
Beyond these facilities, the cluster will feature a Visual Technology Center and an Innovation Development Center for the Film Industry, complemented by twelve specialized pavilions. All construction and modernization work is scheduled to be completed by 2026, creating a dense ecosystem for production, post‑production, and creative experimentation.
The second site is Moskino Cinema Park, located at Krasnaya Pakhra, which will support open‑air filming. This outdoor shooting space is designed to expand location options for filmmakers, offering control over lighting, weather considerations, and logistical flexibility that indoor sets alone cannot provide.
The third component is the Film Studio Gorky, a strategic addition that the city authorities will oversee as a centerpiece of the new cluster. This studio is envisioned as a hub that coordinates activities across the different sites while preserving Moscow’s cultural heritage and modernizing its film infrastructure.
These developments come in the wake of a related government action: a decree transferring Moscow’s shares of the Central Film Studio to the ownership of the studio, reinforcing the city’s commitment to consolidating capabilities in the screen arts. The decision aligns with broader efforts to bolster domestic film production, attract international partnerships, and create a sustainable environment for filmmakers to work within Moscow’s dynamic urban landscape.