Private company

Russian Central Studio of Documentary Films

Soviet/Russian newsreel and documentary cinematography studio (1927–present)1

Russian Central Studio of Documentary Film (Russian: Российская центральная студия документальных фильмов) was a Russian film studio, founded in 1927. It was the largest Soviet newsreel and documentary cinematography studio. It is headquartered in Moscow.2 It ceased to exist in 2015.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1927Founded1
  • Industryfilm production1
  • HeadquartersMoscow1
  • Websitercsdf.ru
  • Legal formunitary enterprise1
Moscow, Likhov 6 Sep 2008 01
Photo: NVO, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons4

Russian Central Studio of Documentary Film (Russian: Российская центральная студия документальных фильмов) was a Russian film studio, founded in 1927. It was the largest Soviet newsreel and documentary cinematography studio. It is headquartered in Moscow.2

The story

Studio traced its history from 1927, when a special newsreel division of Sovkino was formed. In 1931 it was reorganized as the All-Union Newsreel Factory (Russian: Союзкинохроника, romanized: Soyuzkinochronicle). From 1936 it became known as the Moscow Newsreel Studio, and from 1940 as the Central Newsreel Studio.

From 1944 until 1993, it was known as the Central Studio for Documentary Film or CSDF (Russian: Центральная студия документальных фильмов, ЦСДФ).

In Soviet Union, the CSDF was responsible for newsreel series such as:

News of the Day / "Новости дня"

Foreign Newsreel / "Иностранная кинохроника"

Soviet Sports / "Советский спорт"

Soviet Cinema / "Советское кино"

Pioneria / "Пионерия"

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In 1944–1946 the studio director was Sergei Gerasimov. The studio produced a number of documentary films about the Great Patriotic War, including Moscow Strikes Back, winner of the 1942 Academy Award for Best Documentary.

At the end of 2014, the studio's premises in Kulakov Lane were transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church. In 2015, part of the archive related to the administrative and economic activities of the studio was moved to the premises of Mosfilm's Cinema Museum and the remaining part was transferred to the Russian State Film and Photo Archive. From that moment on, the production activities of the studio were stopped. By order of Rosimushchestvo, the deadline for the liquidation of studio was set at the end of 2015. The final liquidation took place in July 2018.

From Wikipedia’s article on Russian Central Studio of Documentary Films, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Leadership

Who has led Russian Central Studio of Documentary Films, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Board members and other officers (1)

Products and brands

  • documentary film
  • kinojurnal

Listed on Wikidata.1

Timeline

  1. 2015Dissolved Dissolved1
  2. 1927Founded Founded1