🎥 Filmmaking Is Getting Expensive
TV series production in Russia is becoming rapidly more expensive. According to data from the Internet Development Institute (IRI), over the past year, fees for key specialists have increased by an average of 20–30%.
Analysts compared budgets for similar eight-episode projects from 2024 and 2025 and identified clear leaders in income growth.
Who is earning more:
- cinematographers: +29%
- sound engineers: +27%
- actors: +25%
- screenwriters: +20%
Interestingly, fees for directors and lighting technicians grew only slightly—by just 4–5%. Experts attribute this disparity to a shortage of skilled professionals and the overall rise in the cost of living.
Analysts believe the government is responding adequately to inflation: state support for the film industry increased by a quarter in 2025, reaching nearly 40 billion rubles. At the same time, online platforms note that after a sharp surge, growth dynamics are beginning to slow.
Nevertheless, the market remains uneven: while technical specialists are increasingly able to dictate their terms on set, creative talent often continues to be undervalued.
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