The new film distributor White Nights started its operations in December 2019. KIT Group of Companies (part of Gazprom-Media Holding) will oversee the operations of White Nights. The company is based in Saint Petersburg.
White Nights will focus on developing the distribution of Russian content and will also be involved in the release of author, experimental, and festival films throughout Russia. The company will also hold creative meetings and public discussions with well-known personalities in the film industry.
The new distributor was presented on November 15 as part of the VIII Saint Petersburg International Cultural Forum. The press briefing was attended by the deputy minister of culture Pavel Stepanov, deputy general manager of Gazprom-Media Denis Sekachev, general manager of KIT Group of Companies Rafael Minasbekyan, and general manager of White Nights film distribution company Irina Ponomareva.
The film Doctor Lisa will be one of the first and main releases of the new company. The film was made by KIT Film Studio (part of Gazprom-Media Holding) and IVAN Production Center, in partnership with NTV channel and with the support of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation. Oksana Karas directed the film. She is known for the films Khoroshiy Malchik (The Good Boy) and U Angela Angina (Ailing Angel). Rafael Minasbekyan, Dzhanik Fayziev, Alexander Bondarev and Timur Weinstein served as the film’s chief producers.