- On March 1, 2026, a Russian law went into effect prohibiting the distribution and screening of films deemed to discredit "traditional Russian spiritual and moral values."
- The Ministry of Culture has the authority to deny distribution licenses for any domestic or foreign film that promotes the rejection of these values.
- The legislation applies to physical screenings, streaming services, and social media platforms.
Scope of the Law
- The government defines "traditional values" to include patriotism, civic-mindedness, service to the fatherland, high moral ideals, strong family units, productive labor, and the priority of the spiritual over the material.
- Authorities are specifically targeting content interpreted as promoting "non-traditional relationships" or undermining traditional family structures.
Denied Distributions
- Nuremberg (2025): A historical drama about Nazi trials; the Ministry of Culture refused a license citing "other cases defined by federal laws."
- Splitsville: A comedy regarding open relationships and midlife crises, denied for allegedly discrediting moral values.
- It Was Just an Accident: A Cannes-winning film by Jafar Panahi, rejected for alleged promotion of violence, extremism, and non-traditional sexual relationships.
- Parents Are Here: A documentary by Lyubov Arkus; the first known documentary to be denied a license, leaving the director unable to show her work publicly.
- The Threesome: A romantic comedy cancelled due to the characters' "chaotic lifestyle," which officials categorized as contrary to traditional morals.
Pre-existing Restrictions
- Prior to the law, authorities had already restricted other films, including Armando Iannucci’s The Death of Stalin, Gaspar Noé’s Love, entries from the DAU project, Paul Verhoeven’s Benedetta, and Alexander Sokurov’s Fairytale.