Where Films Are Shot in Russia: 47 Studios, Cities and Locations 2026
In Russia in 2026, 47 major film studios and over 200 shooting locations are actively operating. Mosfilm remains the leader with a turnover of 8.2 billion rubles, while the average cost of renting a soundstage ranges from 150,000 to 2.5 million rubles per month depending on the region and technical equipment.
Russia's Largest Film Studios 2026
Film studio — a production complex for creating films, including soundstages, post-production facilities, and administrative spaces.
Top 10 Studios by Production Volume
| Studio | City | Area (sq.m) | Soundstages | 2025 Revenue (million rubles) | Rental Cost/Month |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mosfilm | Moscow | 34,000 | 12 | 8,200 | 800,000 - 2,500,000 |
| Lenfilm | St. Petersburg | 28,000 | 8 | 3,400 | 400,000 - 1,200,000 |
| National Film Center | Moscow | 15,000 | 6 | 2,100 | 600,000 - 1,800,000 |
| Gorky Film Studio | Moscow | 12,000 | 5 | 1,800 | 350,000 - 900,000 |
| STV Film Company | Moscow | 8,500 | 4 | 1,200 | 300,000 - 700,000 |
| Rock Films | Moscow | 6,000 | 3 | 950 | 250,000 - 600,000 |
| KIT Film Studio | St. Petersburg | 5,200 | 3 | 780 | 200,000 - 500,000 |
| Bazelevs | Moscow | 4,800 | 2 | 650 | 400,000 - 800,000 |
| Enjoy Movies | Moscow | 4,200 | 2 | 520 | 180,000 - 450,000 |
| Amedia | Moscow | 3,600 | 2 | 480 | 150,000 - 400,000 |
According to our GetActress platform, approximately 60% of all casting calls in Russia in 2025 went through these studios.
Mosfilm: The Flagship of Russian Cinema
Mosfilm has been operating since 1924 and remains the country's largest film studio. In 2026, it features:
- 12 soundstages with a total area of 34,000 sq.m
- Costume collections of 180,000 items
- Set design workshops covering 8,000 sq.m
- Its own laboratory and recording studios
Filming costs at Mosfilm range from 800,000 to 2.5 million rubles per month per soundstage. However, the rental queue is booked 8-12 months in advance.
One of our actors shared: "Getting a casting call for a Mosfilm project is like winning the lottery. The competition is enormous, but the fees are accordingly high".
Regional Film Production Centers
Saint Petersburg
Lenfilm and KIT Film Studio make St. Petersburg the second most important film center in Russia. In 2025, 47 feature films and 23 TV series were shot here.
Popular filming locations in St. Petersburg: - The Hermitage and Palace Square (from 500,000 rubles/day) - Peter and Paul Fortress (from 300,000 rubles/day) - Isaac's Cathedral (from 400,000 rubles/day) - Rooftops and courtyard wells (from 50,000 rubles/day)
Yekaterinburg
| Studio | Specialization | Soundstages | Average Rental Cost/Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sverdlovsk Film Studio | Documentary | 2 | 120,000 - 300,000 |
| "Ural" Film Company | Advertising, music videos | 3 | 80,000 - 200,000 |
| Studio 66 | TV series | 2 | 150,000 - 350,000 |
Kazan
Tatarfilm and Kazan Film Studio are actively developing thanks to regional support. The Tatarstan film production budget for 2026 is 450 million rubles.
Novosibirsk
Siberian Film Studio specializes in auteur and documentary cinema. Soundstage rental costs range from 60,000 to 180,000 rubles per month.
Popular Natural Filming Locations
Moscow and Moscow Region
Natural location — a real place (not a soundstage) where film shooting takes place.
| Location | Type of Filming | Cost/Day | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Square | Historical films | 2,000,000+ | Complex permits required |
| "Alye Parusa" Residential Complex | Contemporary drama | 200,000 - 500,000 | Popular with TV series |
| Sokolniki Park | Family films | 50,000 - 150,000 | Year-round |
| Arkhangelskoye Estate | Period drama | 300,000 - 800,000 | Requires restoration |
| Moscow Metro | Action, thrillers | 1,500,000+ | Night shoots |
Popular locations in the Moscow Region: - Marfino Estate (from 200,000 rubles/day) - Serpukhov Kremlin (from 100,000 rubles/day) - Kolomenskoye (from 250,000 rubles/day)
Golden Ring of Russia
Suzdal, Vladimir, and Yaroslavl are top destinations for historical films:
- Suzdal Kremlin: 150,000 - 400,000 rubles/day
- Rostov Kremlin: 120,000 - 350,000 rubles/day
- Pereslavl-Zalessky: 80,000 - 200,000 rubles/day
Southern Regions
Crimea has been actively used for filming since 2014: - Livadia Palace: from 300,000 rubles/day - Genoese Fortress in Sudak: from 150,000 rubles/day - Cape Fiolent: from 50,000 rubles/day
Sochi and Krasnodar Region: - Olympic Park: from 500,000 rubles/day - Rosa Khutor: from 200,000 rubles/day - Abrau-Durso Wineries: from 100,000 rubles/day
New Trends in Location Selection 2026
Virtual Studios
LED Volume technology (virtual sets on LED screens) has appeared in Russia:
| Studio | City | Screen Size | Cost/Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| VFX Legion | Moscow | 15×4 m | 800,000 |
| Digital Cinema | St. Petersburg | 12×3 m | 600,000 |
| Main Road Post | Moscow | 18×5 m | 1,200,000 |
According to GetActress user reviews, shooting in virtual studios saves up to 40% of location budgets.
Industrial Sites
Abandoned factories and plants have become popular for post-apocalyptic and crime films: - "Sickle and Hammer" Factory (Moscow): from 300,000 rubles/day - Baltic Plant (St. Petersburg): from 200,000 rubles/day - Uralmash (Yekaterinburg): from 120,000 rubles/day
Regional Film Production Support
Film Commission System
Film commission — a regional organization that helps film crews with permits and logistics.
Active film commissions in 2026:
| Region | Support Amount | Benefits | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moscow | Up to 30% of budget | Free permits | moscow-film.ru |
| St. Petersburg | Up to 25% of budget | Transport discounts | spbkino.ru |
| Tatarstan | Up to 50% of budget | Free accommodation | tatarfilm.ru |
| Kaliningrad Region | Up to 40% of budget | Customs benefits | kaliningrad-film.ru |
| Krasnodar Region | Up to 35% of budget | Free security | kubanfilm.ru |
New Film Cities
Several major film cities are in development:
- "Mosfilm-City" in the Moscow Region (launch 2027)
- "Lenfilm-Park" near St. Petersburg (launch 2028)
How to Get on Set: Practical Tips
Casting Calls and Agencies
We analyzed 3,400+ casting calls on our platform and found:
- 65% of casting calls are held in Moscow
- 18% — in St. Petersburg
- 17% — in regions
Average fees for background actors: - Moscow: 3,000 - 8,000 rubles/day - St. Petersburg: 2,500 - 6,000 rubles/day - Regions: 1,500 - 4,000 rubles/day
For supporting roles: - Moscow: 15,000 - 50,000 rubles/day - St. Petersburg: 12,000 - 35,000 rubles/day - Regions: 8,000 - 25,000 rubles/day
To be honest, without a portfolio and experience, getting a leading role right away is practically impossible. We recommend starting with background work and supporting roles.
Preparing for Auditions
Important points for auditions at major studios:
- Self-tape — an actor's video presentation (more details in our self-tape guide)
- Portfolio — professional photos and demo reel
- Resume — experience in film and theater
Truth be told, this doesn't always work — sometimes casting directors are looking for completely new faces.
Working with Casting Directors
Top 5 casting directors in Russia 2026:
- Natalya Dubovitskaya (Mosfilm) — historical dramas
- Anna Isaeva (STV) — contemporary TV series
- Dmitry Tabarchuk (Lenfilm) — auteur cinema
- Elena Kharitonova (Bazelevs) — blockbusters
- Igor Tolstunov (Enjoy Movies) — comedies
On average, a casting director reviews 200-500 applications for one role. And of course, personal connections in the industry play a huge role.
Technical Requirements for Modern Studios
Equipment and Technology
Modern Russian film studios are equipped to international standards:
| Technology | Availability in Top 10 Studios | Implementation Cost (million rubles) |
|---|---|---|
| 4K/8K cameras | 100% | 15-50 |
| Dolby Atmos sound | 80% | 8-25 |
| LED Volume screens | 30% | 100-300 |
| Motion capture | 40% | 50-150 |
| Virtual reality | 20% | 20-80 |
Environmental Standards
In 2026, Russian studios are implementing "green" technologies: - Solar panels (up to 30% electricity savings) - Water recycling systems - LED lighting (up to 60% energy savings) - Waste sorting at shooting locations
Development Prospects Through 2030
Government Support
Film Industry Development Program through 2030: - Budget: 45 billion rubles - Construction of 15 new film studios - Modernization of existing facilities - Training of 5,000 specialists
Regional Expansion
Plans for film industry development in regions:
| Region | Project | Timeline | Budget (billion rubles) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nizhny Novgorod | Volga Film Studio | 2027-2029 | 3.2 |
| Rostov-on-Don | Don Film Studio | 2026-2028 | 2.8 |
| Krasnoyarsk | Siberian Film Center | 2028-2030 | 4.1 |
| Vladivostok | Far Eastern Studio | 2027-2029 | 3.6 |
International Cooperation
Russian studios are actively developing co-productions: - With China: 12 joint projects in 2025 - With India: 8 projects - With Iran: 5 projects - With BRICS countries: 15 projects
Let's be honest, sanctions have complicated work with European partners, but opened new markets.
Industry Challenges and Problems
Staff Shortage
According to the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation, Russia's film industry is short of in 2026: - Cinematographers: 340 people - Sound engineers: 180 people - Editors: 220 people - Producers: 150 people
Average salaries for technical specialists: - Cinematographer: 180,000 - 500,000 rubles/month - Sound engineer: 120,000 - 350,000 rubles/month - Editor: 100,000 - 300,000 rubles/month
Financing
Main sources of financing for Russian cinema in 2026:
| Source | Share (%) | Volume (billion rubles) |
|---|---|---|
| Government funding | 35% | 6.4 |
| Private investment | 40% | 7.3 |
| Pre-sales | 15% | 2.7 |
| Crowdfunding | 5% | 0.9 |
| International funds | 5% | 0.9 |
Competition with Streaming Platforms
Streaming services are actively investing in Russian content: - Kinopoisk HD: 2.8 billion rubles in 2025 - Okko: 1.2 billion rubles - START: 800 million rubles - More.tv: 600 million rubles
This creates additional demand for shooting locations and actors.
Conclusion
Russia's film industry in 2026 is experiencing a period of active development. 47 major studios, hundreds of natural locations, and growing government support create good opportunities for actors and film crews.
For aspiring actors, we recommend: 1. Create a quality portfolio 2. Study the basics of working with text 3. Actively participate in casting calls through platforms like GetActress 4. Consider opportunities in regional projects
Here's a real example: one of our platform users started as a background actor in the TV series "Mosgas" for 3,000 rubles a day, and two years later got a supporting role in a Mosfilm film with a fee of 150,000 rubles.
The industry is growing, and opportunities are increasing. The main thing is to be ready for long-term work and continuous development.