‘The Master and Margarita’ Heads to Court as Producers Block U.S. Release of Russian Blockbuster (EXCLUSIVE)

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In a heated legal dispute, filmmaker Michael Lockshin, known for his work on “The Master and Margarita” film, is fighting against two producers over his successful Russian-language adaptation of the renowned Soviet novel. The director alleges that these producers are hindering his attempts to exhibit his movie in American cinemas.

In a lawsuit brought forth by sales agency Luminosity Pictures, it’s claimed that producers Svetlana Migunova-Dali and Grace Loh, intending to create an English language version of the book, have failed to provide proof of legitimate ownership rights for the novel they wish to adapt. This claim has been communicated to EbMaster.

The argument put forth additionally claims that “The Master and Margarita,” initially published in the 1960s, falls under the public domain. This means that neither this organization nor any other entity can prevent the movie’s premiere, as stated by Lockshin.

Given the director anticipates a court hearing within the next few weeks, producers Migunova-Dali and Loh are countering by asserting that the case is baseless. Their legal representative has stated emphatically that “Luminosity should abandon its unfounded claim immediately, to prevent this situation from escalating and potentially causing harm to them.”

In this version, I’ve tried to use simpler language and restructured the sentence a bit for clarity while maintaining the original meaning.

In my latest movie review, I’m diving into Lockshin’s grand adaptation of the timeless novel penned by Mikhail Bulgakov, a Kyiv-born Soviet literary giant whose work was published posthumously in the ’60s and has since been hailed as one of the 20th century’s masterpieces. This movie presents an unexpected turn in its plotline, keeping viewers on their toes and immersed in this epic tale.

Many attempts to bring “The Master and Margarita” to screen have been unsuccessful over time due to its perceived curse or difficulty in adapting. As Lockshin, a US citizen raised in the Soviet Union, explained to EbMaster, he was well aware that Bulgakov’s novel has a reputation as being challenging to adapt. Notable directors like Roman Polansky, Federico Fellini, Terry Gilliam, and Baz Luhrmann are among those who have reportedly taken on the task but ultimately failed.

However, after wrapping up production in 2021 and Universal Pictures agreeing to distribute our film, Lockshin confidently felt that “we had finally shattered the curse.

That, however, is when the director says the “real battle” began.

After Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and Lockshin’s vocal opposition to the conflict, the movie found itself in a standstill, coincidentally reflecting the predicament that Bulgakov and the main character from my movie experienced – they were both subjected to censorship and persecution by the Soviet regime, as the filmmaker points out.

The film has been stuck in a holding pattern since Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine due to Lockshin’s public criticism of the war. This situation ironically echoes the fate of Bulgakov and the central character in my movie, who suffered censorship and persecution under the Soviet regime, as the filmmaker notes.

After its premiere in Russia in January, “The Master and Margarita” swiftly climbed to the number one spot at the box office, earning over 600 million rubles ($6.7 million) within its first week in cinemas. It eventually garnered approximately $28 million in Russia and neighboring countries – but not without facing a malicious smear campaign orchestrated by pro-war propagandists, internet trolls, and associates of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The director’s name was erased from the film’s credits amidst these attacks, which also targeted him and his family on a personal level.

Despite facing controversy and achieving box-office success, the film piqued the curiosity of Western distributors. However, for most of a year, the rights to the movie were held in Russia, preventing the director from sharing his film – a powerful criticism of authoritarianism – with global viewers.

The stalemate seemed to be resolved towards the end of 2024, with the U.S. firm Luminosity Pictures joining as the sales representative. This development, according to Lockshin, marked what appeared to be the conclusion of a protracted and challenging phase.

At this point, Migunova-Dali and Loh intervened, asserting they had secured the rights for an English version of the story, thus preventing Lockshin’s movie from being distributed in the U.S. This move instigated a potential legal dispute among the filmmakers.

The legal action brought forth by Luminosity against Migunova-Dali and Loh in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California has raised questions about their ownership of the book’s rights, rekindling a long-standing dispute that is said to have hindered Baz Luhrmann’s plans to adapt the novel last year, as EbMaster had earlier reported.

Based on a court case filed by those claiming to be Bulgakov’s heirs, it was determined that the initial publication of the book violated U.S. copyright regulations, making it available for public use. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union and establishment of the Russian Federation, new international copyright laws were put into place, leading to the restoration of copyright to the work. Eventually, ownership of the work was transferred to Sergey Shilovsky and his sister Daria Shilovskaya.

The Shilovskys, although not biological heirs of Bulgakov, assert they obtained the book through their grandmother, who was his third wife. Regardless, this pair has vigorously guarded Bulgakov’s literary legacy. In 2014, they initiated a lawsuit in New York regarding an English translation of the book that was published during its copyright-free period. (The court acknowledged the Shilovskys’ ownership rights but ruled in favor of the publisher.) Additionally, reports suggest that a completed 1994 Russian version by Yuri Kara was stalled due to the rights dispute.

Regardless of any doubts, Lockshin firmly believes that following thorough legal investigation, Luminosity can demonstrate that “The Master and Margarita” falls into the public domain. This, in turn, invalidates any claims Migunova-Dali and Loh may have on the rights, according to him.

George G. Braunstein from Braunstein & Braunstein, who represents Migunova-Dali and Loh, has expressed disagreement with the idea that the novel is shielded by all aspects of U.S. copyright law. He communicated this view to EbMaster, stating that Luminosity’s lawsuit is founded on untruths, fabrications, and a desperate ploy to assert rights that Luminosity does not legitimately possess.

Braunstein states firmly that our clients won’t be intimidated, and we won’t tolerate the fraudulent actions of Luminosity. We’re determined to take action and will use every legal means at our disposal to uncover and dismantle their baseless lawsuit. This includes asking for sanctions against Luminosity and their law firm for knowingly submitting false claims in a U.S. District Court.

After their disagreement, the movie creators intend to resolve it through legal means. Meanwhile, the fight for distributing the film in English-speaking regions continues to intensify. However, “The Master and Margarita” has already found distribution deals in Italy (BeWater), Germany, and Austria (Capelight). The film is scheduled for a theatrical release in these countries starting from May.

Lockshin continues to be optimistic, asserting that the supposed “curse” has been lifted, implying that his highly successful Russian film will eventually be shown to American viewers for the first time.

He expresses optimism that this will result in justice and the movie’s release in English-speaking regions by the end of the year. This represents the last challenge in a long, grueling battle, yet we remain resolute and committed to seeing it through.

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2025-03-21 17:48