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Lenfilm to be preserved, to remain state-owned - Sukurov

Speaking about the amount of funds that might be required to restore Lenfilm Sokurov confirmed that, in his estimation, it could be two billion rubles

ST. PETERSBURG, October 18 (Itar-Tass) —— The Lenfilm film studios will be preserved and remain state-owned, film director Alexander Sokurov said after a meeting with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Tuesday. The two men discussed the future of one of Russia’s oldest film studios.

"All proposals were of interest to the prime minister, and all ideas, I'm sure, will be acted on. At least, all the options that we reject were rejected," Sokurov told reporters.

"In my opinion, there will be no association with anyone else, the studio will be independent. It will remain state-owned," said the film director. The question whether the studios would be a federal asset or transferred to the authorities of St. Petersburg is still to be resolved.

Responding to a question whether among the owners of the studios there would be some private investors, Sokurov said: "There will be no private owners." The studio will also retain its current location in downtown St. Petersburg.

At the same time the prime minister’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, interviewed by reporters, did not confirm a final decision had been made regarding Lenfilm. "The film studios will be saved. But at this point no solution has been adopted. The main thing is the studio has been preserved as a symbol of the city," Peskov said.

Speaking about the amount of funds that might be required to restore Lenfilm Sokurov confirmed that, in his estimation, it could be two billion rubles.

"We have just talked about money. We must consider all the details and submit a plan for the renovation of the studios. There is a need for complete overhaul, for new equipment," said the film director. "Now the estimates are tentative. As the situation has remained unresolved up to now, nobody has made any calculations in earnest,” he added. At the same time Sokurov said that he might be unable to do work on the restoration studios himself.

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