MOSCOW, December 26. /TASS/. A US distribution company has bought the screening rights to a new film by Karen Shakhnazarov, "Khitrovka. The Sign of Four," which was released in Russia in May 2023, the film director told reporters.

"Of course, almost all contact has been lost. By the way, the Americans have bought [the screening rights to the] Khitrovka [film], though. An American company, from California. Perhaps, for screening it in cinemas, not on the Internet," Shakhnazarov, who is also director general of the Mosfilm film studios, said, without disclosing the name of the US company.

Promoting Russian films abroad is difficult in the current environment, Shakhnazarov lamented. However, he said, a certain window of opportunity is still available in the United States. "But, this is absolutely out of the question in the countries of Eastern Europe," he added.

While the mystery film "Khitrovka. The Sign of Four" was based mainly on works by Vladimir Gilyarovsky, the filmmakers were also inspired by characters from the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.