Spy thriller Black Silk deepens cross-border film ties with Russia

On the outskirts of Moscow, the set of the spy thriller Black Silk is more than a filming location — it offers a glimpse into a growing cinematic partnership between China and Russia.

During a recent visit to the set, Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova described such large-scale international cooperation as "unimaginable" a decade ago. She noted that the task now is to employ modern cinematic language to create emotional resonance for audiences in both countries.

The collaboration is underpinned by a strategic action plan signed in May 2025, in which film authorities from China and Russia committed to a long-term road map for cooperation through 2030. The plan prioritizes joint productions and cross-border film exchanges to deepen cultural ties through cinema.

At the production site, actors from China, Russia, Serbia, Japan and Germany are preparing for their roles. Costumes from different eras and regions coexist, while scripts annotated in multiple languages reflect the multilingual nature of the set.

Black Silk follows the success of its predecessor, Red Silk, a flagship project under the China-Russia Years of Culture framework. With earnings of $1.8 million, Red Silk topped the rankings of the highest-grossing Russian films of 2025 at the foreign box office.