No other domestic distributor had expressed any interest in the films.

Mr. Killgore said he still hoped to find a domestic distributor, even though the film made the festival rounds back in 1992.

It is a measure of the distribution crisis in Russia that "Brother" cannot find a domestic distributor and will go straight to video.

MRC has distributed its films through every major domestic and international distributor in the industry.

The company, which is based in Chaska, Minn., is the sole domestic distributor.

Neither film had a domestic distributor as of Saturday night, but buyers were said to be actively pursuing both.

Miramax Films was the domestic distributor, but failed to release it in theaters.

China, as of 2007, has around 3,000 to 6,000 domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers and around 14,000 domestic pharmaceutical distributors.

"We don't at this moment have a domestic distributor," Ms. Livingston said.

Kyosho's domestic distributor paid handsomely for the privilege.