ybw

Name

ybw

Legal name

Yellow, Black and White

Website

https://ybw-group.ru

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Film Production and Distribution

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (512120), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)

akta.pro primary industry

Scripted Feature Film Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Theatrical Distribution (Domestic) (MPADAJAA), Scripted TV Series Production (Live-Action) (MPADABAB)

Keywords

• Film production
• Theatrical distribution
• Family entertainment
• Franchise filmmaking
• Russian cinema

Headquarters

HQ city

Moscow

HQ country

Russia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Theatrical Film Distribution: Production and distribution of theatrical feature films in Russian cinemas. Revenue generated through box office ticket sales. Key releases include family comedies, fairy tale adaptations, and blockbuster franchises.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Yellow, Black and White produces and distributes Russian-language theatrical feature films, with a current focus on family comedies, fairy-tale adaptations, and blockbuster franchises. Its core catalog is organized around the Cheburashka, Kholop, Last Warrior, and Manyunya franchises, alongside standalone theatrical releases. Films are distributed theatrically in Russian cinemas through partnerships with Atmosfera Kino (50/50 co-owned) and Tsentral Partnership, and via online cinema platforms such as START and TV channels including Russia TV.

Product overview

Yellow, Black and White (YBW) is a Russian film studio and distributor founded in 2007, producing feature films and TV series. From its founding until 2017 the company focused on TV series production (including hits like «Кухня», «Отель Элеон», «Ивановы-Ивановы», «ИП Пирогова»), many of which were sold internationally with remakes in Poland, Greece, Portugal, Slovakia, Croatia, Georgia, and Estonia. Since 2017, YBW has concentrated on film production and distribution, emerging as a cinema industry leader recognized by the Cinema Fund. The studio's core product portfolio is organized around two flagship theatrical film franchises — the «Последний богатырь» (Last Warrior) cinematic universe (including «Последний богатырь», «Последний Богатырь. Корень зла», «Последний Богатырь. Посланник Тьмы», and the upcoming «Последний богатырь. Колобок») and the «Холоп» franchise (including original «Холоп», «Холоп 2», and the upcoming «Холоп 3»), alongside standalone theatrical releases such as the record-breaking family blockbuster «Чебурашка» (highest-grossing Russian film ever at ~6.8 billion rubles), «Вызов», «Поехавшая», «Финист. Первый богатырь», and the «Манюня» franchise. Films are distributed theatrically across Russia through distributors including Atmosfera Kino and Central Partnership, and digitally through the online cinema START. The studio's combined box office exceeds 29 billion rubles with over 100 million admissions. Upcoming releases include «Чебурашка 2» (January 1, 2026), «Колобок» (August 13, 2026), and «Холоп 3» (2026).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kholop 2 (Холоп 2) 2024 theatrical comedy sequel to Kholop, in which Grisha encounters the spoiled Katya and embarks on another time-travel adventure to reform her character. Aimed at broad Russian family audiences; one of the highest-grossing Russian films.
• Cheburashka (Чебурашка) 2022 family comedy blockbuster — the highest-grossing Russian film of all time (6.8 billion rubles at the box office). Features the iconic character Cheburashka finding a home in a Russian seaside town. Aimed at broad family audiences.
• Poehavshaya (Поехавшая) 2023 comedy-drama about a woman who cycles 10,000 km from Moscow to Magadan to reconnect with her estranged mother. Aimed at broad Russian audiences seeking heartfelt entertainment.
• Last Warrior. Messenger of Darkness (Последний Богатырь. Посланник Тьмы) Fairy-tale adventure sequel in the Last Warrior franchise. Ivan and Vasilisa travel to modern Moscow to rescue Vasilisa from the ancient Darkness before their Belogorye wedding. Aimed at family audiences.
• Last Warrior. Root of Evil (Последний Богатырь. Корень зла) 2021 adventure sequel in the Last Warrior franchise revealing the origins of the ancient evil and introducing new corners of fairy-tale Belogorye. Family-audience fantasy with CGI-driven epic battles.
• Hotel Belgrade (Отель Белград) 2020 romantic comedy and travel film about a Serbian hotel owner forced to marry a criminal boss's daughter, who reunites with his Russian love Dasha. Aimed at adult romantic-comedy audiences.
• Kholop (Холоп)

Quantifiable outcome

• Cheburashka (2023) - 6.8 billion rubles box office, highest-grossing Russian film ever
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Atmosfera Kino (Атмосфера кино)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 April 2025Strategic partnership agreement signed April 2025. YBW became co-owner of the film distribution company in 50/50 ratio with Atmosfera Kino's founders Vadim Ivanov and Nikolay Borunkov. This partnership provides YBW with direct control over theatrical distribution of its films. Atmosfera Kino ranked #2 among Russian film distributors in 2024 with 6.8B rubles collected and 16% market share.
• START (online cinema)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSTART is a co-production partner for multiple YBW films including Cheburashka 2, Kolobok, and Family Man. START is one of Russia's leading online cinema platforms.
• Russia TV Channel (телеканал Россия)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-production partner for major YBW films including Cheburashka 2 and Kolobok. Russia TV is a major federal television channel.
• Film Fund (Фонд кино)coreOthersYBW has been among the leaders of Russian film production supported by the state Film Fund since 2017. Films like Kolobok received support from Film Fund.
• VGTRKminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the largest Russian media holding companies that YBW cooperates with for content production and distribution.
• STS (СТС)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRussian TV channel partner for content production and distribution.
• First Channel (Первый канал)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRussian federal TV channel partner for content production.
• Soyuzmultfilm (Союзмультфильм)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLegendary Soviet animation studio involved as participant in Cheburashka 2 production.
• SberminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGeneral partner for Cheburashka 2 film. Sber is Russia's largest bank providing marketing and promotional support for the release.
• Ivi (Иви)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnline cinema platform co-producing the film 'Semyanin' with YBW.
• QS FILMSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilm production company co-producing 'Semyanin' with YBW.
• Tsentral Partnership (Централ Партнершип)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor Russian film distributor (part of Gazprom-Media) distributing Cheburashka 2.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• VGTRK: Russia's largest state media holding, operating Russia TV and other federal channels. Directly comparable as a co-production and distribution partner for YBW's major releases and as a vertically integrated Russian content producer.
• Mosfilm: Russia's largest and most historic film studio, state-affiliated, producing a wide slate of feature films and TV series. Comparable as a major Russian film producer, though with a broader catalog and state ownership structure.
• Blumhouse Productions: US-based independent film and television production company built on franchise/repeat-collaboration economics. Comparable as a producer-driven studio model that achieves outsized market share with a small core team and franchise IP strategy.

Direct peers

• Art Pictures Studio: Major Russian film and TV production company behind major theatrical releases. Closely comparable as a leading private Russian producer with both theatrical film and television output.
• Tsentral Partnership (Central Partnership): Major Russian film distributor and producer, part of Gazprom-Media. Directly comparable as a vertically integrated Russian film player and YBW's distribution partner for Cheburashka 2.
• Bazelevs: Independent Russian film production company founded by Timur Bekmambetov, producing theatrical blockbusters and franchise-driven content (Night Watch, Irony of Fate remakes). Directly comparable as a private Russian producer competing in the same theatrical tentpole category.

Emerging players

• Soyuzmultfilm: Legendary Soviet/Russian animation studio co-producing Cheburashka 2 with YBW. Comparable as a Russian content IP owner and animation/film production partner in the family content category.

Regional players

• START (online cinema): One of Russia's leading online cinema platforms and a co-production partner on multiple YBW films (Cheburashka 2, Kolobok, Semyanin). Comparable as a vertically adjacent Russian content player that both funds and distributes YBW's productions.
• Ivi: Major Russian online cinema platform co-producing 'Semyanin' with YBW. Comparable as a Russian OTT platform that funds original productions, similar to YBW's relationships with START and Russia TV.

Others

• A24: US independent film and TV production company known for franchise-building and distinctive IP. Comparable as a privately held, producer-led studio that has scaled from indie to category leader, useful as a capital-structure and growth-model benchmark.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ybw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ybw