The debut of Russian rock ’n’ roll saga “Tsoi,” based on the life of the iconic rebel singer-songwriter Viktor Tsoi, who died in 1990, has triggered a rights dispute with the performer’s heirs over the use of his name and image.
The Warsaw Film Festival is scheduled to screen “Tsoi” in its international competition on Oct. 15, but Sophia Mikulinski, who represents the heirs and family of Viktor Tsoi, says a screening would be in “direct violation of the [copyright] law applicable on the territory of the European Union.”
An Oct. 1 letter seen by Variety, addressed to the Warsaw Film Festival from Alexander Tsoi, the rock star’s son and heir, demanded that the fest cancel its screening, stating the film was “created without obtaining legally binding consents to use the name and image of the famous musician.”
Warsaw plans to screen the film regardless of the dispute, says fest director Stefan Laudyn.
The Warsaw Film Festival is scheduled to screen “Tsoi” in its international competition on Oct. 15, but Sophia Mikulinski, who represents the heirs and family of Viktor Tsoi, says a screening would be in “direct violation of the [copyright] law applicable on the territory of the European Union.”
An Oct. 1 letter seen by Variety, addressed to the Warsaw Film Festival from Alexander Tsoi, the rock star’s son and heir, demanded that the fest cancel its screening, stating the film was “created without obtaining legally binding consents to use the name and image of the famous musician.”
Warsaw plans to screen the film regardless of the dispute, says fest director Stefan Laudyn.
- 10/9/2020
- by Will Tizard
- Variety Film + TV
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