Russia's association of cinema owners leaves Europe's UNIC

MOSCOW. June 8 (Interfax) - The Russian Association of Cinema Owners has decided to leave Europe's International Union of Cinemas (UNIC) amid the current sanctions and mass exodus of Hollywood film companies from Russia, Roman Isaev, a member of the Russian Association and general director of the Russian representative office of Comscore corporation, told Interfax.

"A statement on the Association's withdrawal from the UNIC was sent. It was the result of negotiations on how to proceed properly and diplomatically in the situation amid the departure of Hollywood studios from Russia, amid the current sanctions against the Russian Federation as a whole, and amid the prevailing rhetoric regarding Russia, including in the entertainment sector," Isaev said.

The parties had also discussed the option of the UNIC forcibly excluding the Russian Association upon its own initiative, though the constructive negotiations resulted in the Association taking the decision to leave on its own accord.

The UNIC is an international trade association representing cinema operators and their national associations across 39 European territories. The UNIC promotes cultural, social and economic values in the dynamically developing European film business, and it ensures the active participation of distributors in the joint resolution of common issues.

The Russian Association of Cinema Owners joined the UNIC as a member in 2019.