printContemporary Russian Cinema as Perceived by Students
Levchenko N.V.
Cand. Sci. (Sociol.), Senior Researcher, Institute of Sociology of FCTAS RAS, Moscow, Russia natalya_levchenk@mail.ru
Rogovaya А.V.
Cand. Sci. (Sociol.), Senior Researcher, Institute of Sociology of FCTAS RAS, Moscow, Russia rogovayanastya@mail.ru
Levchenko N.V., Rogovaya А.V. Contemporary Russian Cinema as Perceived by Students. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2026. No 5. P. 115-128
The current twenties of the 21st century have become a turning point for Russian cinema: increased attention to national cultural policy and restrictions on the distribution of foreign films are reorienting Russia’s film industry. There is a noted increase in the number of films released, expanding geography of all-Russian film festivals, and a strengthening of regional cinema’s positions. In these conditions, young audiences, whose preferences are dynamic, accumulate cinematic experience and form attitudes within a changed socio-cultural environment. The authors of the article explore how today’s students perceive Russian cinema. Based on data from focus groups conducted at universities in Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Tyumen, and Ufa, a dualism in attitudes and film choices is stated. On the one hand, foreign cinema products remain popular among young people. On the other hand, Russian films, owing to their active promotion in distribution and on streaming platforms, are increasingly capturing the youth audience. Within the broader stream of Russian films, a distinct category stands out – films produced by regional studios. The authors investigated what makes regional cinema that often includes ethnic themes, appealing to young viewers. Regional films feature nontrivial plots and characters connected to folklore traditions. As it turns out, students’ viewing of regional, including ethnic, films alters their perception of Russia’s cinema, which ceases to be the sole cinematic discourse possible for a multi-ethnic country.
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