Yakutia's film boom drives a new studio after record box office success
YAKUTIA.INFO In the first three months of 2026, Yakutia-made films grossed over 51.3 million rubles at the box office, drawing more than 114,000 viewers, according to the press service of the Head of Yakutia and the regional government.
Since the start of the year, four films by Yakut filmmakers have premiered:
- "Kuulei" (released February 5) – 26.6 million rubles, 57,981 viewers
- "The Border" (released March 5) – 1.4 million rubles, 3,437 viewers
- "Mëhëlelëchën Bulchut" (released March 19) – 18.8 million rubles, 44,853 viewers
- "Toion Baya's Gold" (released April 9) – 4.5 million rubles, 8,192 viewers
Data from the Unified Automated Information System (UAIS) of the Cinema Fund shows total box office receipts for the period at 51,337,798 rubles, with 114,463 tickets sold.
For comparison, in 2025, Yakut films set a record with 280 million rubles in box office earnings. 2026, declared the Year of Culture, will see the release of nine feature films and one documentary, supported by Sakhafilm. Among the most anticipated projects are the fantasy epic Khaar Kynaat, the superhero blockbuster Sana Bootur, director Sandal Baishev's second film, "Forever Together," and the final installment of the time-travel trilogy, "Bugug-Bybyl 3."
Following a directive from Russian President Vladimir Putin, planning has begun for a full-cycle film studio in Yakutsk. The president emphasized that creative industries are becoming an integral part of the national economy.
"The strategic decree by Yakutia's head,Aisen Nikolayev, on developing the republic's creative economy identifies key sectors:film production, animation, design, video game and software development, jewelry, music, fashion, traditional crafts, and education in creative industries," the press service noted.
