Russian World Studios was founded in 1984 by Yuri Sapronov and Andrei Smirnov, and is one of the largest film and television production companies in the Russian market.

[1] At the end of 2007 RWS joined JSFC "Sistema", the largest diversified holding company in Russia.

This new partnership has allowed RWS to focus on three main areas of growth: studio facilities, including the expansion of the new St. Petersburg studio; production, including the expansion and efficient use of the content library; and distribution of content across current and emerging media platforms.

[2] In 2012, after being located on the premises of former automotive giant ZIL for decades, RWS decided to open another studio in St.

[3] Film Television Film The Spirit (co-produced with Studio Eight) Television Atlantis The RWS Distribution Department was formed in 2005 to distribute in-house projects throughout all operating and emerging platforms.