Art festivals, choirs and film companies have suspended their operations in Russia in protest of Russia’s military action against Ukraine.
As Russian military operations against Ukraine intensify since February 24, major countries, including the United States and European countries, have imposed sanctions on Moscow, international organizations have suspended their work and launched boycott campaigns condemning the war. The most important and recent participants in the pressure campaigns announced that entertainment producers and the world’s leading film production companies would stop showing their expected work in Russia.
Following the invasion the Ukrainian Film Academy called for a boycott of the Russian cinema and film industry, and created an online petition to support its call. Within days, several major production companies, art festivals and bands responded. Support for Ukraine and condemnation of the war.
Cinema does not support war
Walt Disney, the world’s largest entertainment company, has made the first decision to suspend showing its films in Russia, and the film “Turning Red” is scheduled for release on March 10.
“We will make future decisions based on the growing situation. In the meantime, we are working with our NGO partners to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to refugees, given the magnitude of the growing refugee crisis,” a Disney spokesman said in a statement.
Film production company Warner Bros., following in the footsteps of Disney, has announced that it will stop showing its “The Batman” movie in Russia, one of the most anticipated films of the year, and decided just days before its launch. In theaters there, tickets to the movie have already sold for $ 200,000, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The company issued a statement saying, “In light of the humanitarian crisis facing Ukraine, the company has stopped releasing its” Batman “movie in Russia.” The report added that the company “will continue to closely monitor the situation and its condition.” We hope for improvements and a speedy and peaceful solution to this problem. “
Sony soon took the same approach, and announced that it would suspend its cinematic releases in Russia, including the “Morpheus” movie scheduled for release in early April. In a statement, the company expressed hope that the crisis would be resolved soon.
In the same vein, Paramount Pictures has temporarily banned publications from Russia, including “The Lost City” and “Sonic the Hedgehog 2”.
“We stand by all those affected by the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, Russia and our international markets, and will continue to monitor the situation and its latest developments,” the studio said in a statement.
The studios “Universal Pictures” have joined the boycott campaign and decided to stop showing its films in Russian theaters, including “Ambulance” and “The Bad Guys” scheduled for release in April, according to a statement. Next, the answer to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
Festivals and concerts
The issue does not end with a ban on film screenings, but international festivals have joined the boycott campaign, especially as the organizers of the Cannes Film Festival have announced that the international festival next May will “not welcome the official Russian language.” Delegates, and will not accept anyone’s visit. “It simply came to our notice then.
The statement emphasized that the decision was not a signal of a formal antitrust inquiry into the allegations, but rather a signal of a formal antitrust inquiry into Russia.
The Venice Film Festival also made a decision in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and announced the organization of free screenings of the film “Reflection” showing the conflict in the Donbass region in eastern Ukraine. Next week in Rome, Milan and Venice.
The European Broadcasting Union (EU) has said it will not allow Russia to enter the song contest this year, and said in a statement that it would “disregard Russia’s participation in the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine.”
The group “Image Dragons” announced on Instagram that all of its concerts in Russia and Ukraine had been canceled “until further notice” and added in the post that “our prayers are for Ukraine and all those affected by this unnecessary war.”
British singer-songwriter Louis Tomlinson issued a similar statement canceling concerts in Moscow and Kiev, saying “fan safety is my number one priority.”
