Russian producer launches new art-house distributor in collaboration with US Lorum Ipsum Corp

Russian film producer and director Sam Klebanov has launched a new film distribution company, Arthouse, in collaboration with US distributor Lorem Ipsum Corp. Klebanov, owner of Cinema without Frontiers, Russia’s oldest art-house distribution company, will focus his new company on distributing independent and auteur cinema in Russia and the CIS.

According to Sam Klebanov, Arthouse will not limit its activities to screening hits from international film festivals. “It will be a timeless special project that will combine the offline and online, film and internet, parties and social networks — the whole world for those who love and understand first-rate movies,” Klebanov said. “Our plan is to create the best online library of auteur cinema from the last few decades from around the world, which will be unique in its scale and diversity.”

In addition to plans to collaborate with radio and cable TV channels, Arthouse also runs its own website Arthouse.ru, which screens all the films it distributes as well as independent films from other leading Russian distributors. The website, already live, is only accessible in Russia and the CIS.

Among Arthouse’s first releases in Russia will be Taxi by Jafar Panahi, winner of the Golden Bear at this year’s Berlinale film festival, A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence by Venice film festival Golden Lion winner Roy Andersson and Majeure (Turist) by Swedish director Ruben Ostlund.