Mouse Ears Over Moscow

(From Business Weel -- By Jason Bush)

THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY, the creator of Micky Mouse and Cinderella, is planning to sprinkle its moviemaking fairy dust in the land of DOSTOYEVSKY and TOLSTOY.

By year end, DISNEY expects to start shooting its first film in Russia with Russian-speaking actors, likely based on traditional children's stories.

"We want Russian families to go to the cinema to watch a Disney movie, but this movie need not be produced in Hollywood," says MARINA JIGALOVA-OZKAN, Managing Director of Disney's Russian operation.

This is all part of Disney's new push in Russia.

The entertainment giant opened its Moscow office just over a year ago and now employs more than 50 people.

A new Russian-language Disney TV channel is due to be launched this autumn.

In January the company teamed up with SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT to create a joint venture for distributing Disney films in Russia.

And DISNEY ON ICE, a skating show featuring the likes of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty, came to Russia for the first time in May, selling out shows in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

"Russia is a priority country," says ANDY BIRD, President of Walt Disney International. "We see the potential for growth for several years down the line."

Mouse Ears Over Moscow

Tom Blais, thanks for the post.