Russian Documentarian Celebrates Oscar Nomination with Hollywood Aspirations

In a surprising turn for international cinema, a documentary exposing Russia’s wartime propaganda has earned an Oscar nomination, bringing global attention to the risks one Russian filmmaker took to reveal the truth.

Pavel Talankin, a 34-year-old self-exiled Russian videographer, expressed both excitement and determination Thursday after learning that “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” had been nominated in the Documentary Feature Film category at the Academy Awards.

“I’ve already dusted off the shelf for it,” Talankin joked during an interview with AFP from Prague, where he now lives in exile. “I’d like to go to Hollywood. I have a visa.”

The 90-minute documentary, directed by David Borenstein and based on footage Talankin smuggled out of Russia, offers a rare glimpse into the aggressive militarization of Russia’s educational system following the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Before fleeing Russia, Talankin worked as an event organizer and videographer at a secondary school in Karabash, an industrial town in the Ural mountains. When he noticed the abrupt shift toward military indoctrination after the invasion began, he partnered with Borenstein to document the disturbing transformation.

His hidden camera captured patriotic lessons, militaristic songs, and morning drills that had suddenly become part of everyday school life. These activities reflected the broader propaganda machine that the Putin regime deployed to bolster support for what it euphemistically calls a “special military operation” in Ukraine.

The stakes for Talankin’s whistleblowing were extraordinarily high. Following the invasion, the Russian government criminalized all criticism of its military actions, with penalties including lengthy prison terms. Many journalists and activists who spoke out against the war have been imprisoned or forced to flee the country.

For Talankin, the decision to expose these practices came at tremendous personal cost. He had to leave his mother, brothers, and sisters behind, and has since become a target of hatred among war supporters in Russia. Despite these hardships, he remains convinced of his choice.

“Of course it was all worth it,” he told AFP, reflecting on the sacrifices he made to bring this story to the world.

When the film was shortlisted for the Oscars in December, director Borenstein described the feeling as “surreal” and expressed shock at the recognition. He emphasized that Talankin “sacrificed so much to make this film and he deserves to make as big of an impact as possible.”

The nomination comes at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and the West, as the war in Ukraine approaches its two-year mark with no resolution in sight. Russian state media has largely ignored the film’s nomination, consistent with the Kremlin’s approach of dismissing or discrediting voices critical of its policies.

“Mr. Nobody Against Putin” joins a growing body of work documenting various aspects of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Other documentaries have focused on battlefield conditions, refugee experiences, and alleged war crimes, but Talankin’s film stands out for its intimate portrayal of how militarism permeates civilian life, specifically targeting young minds through the education system.

The film has already gained recognition at several international film festivals, building momentum ahead of the Oscar nomination. Critics have praised its raw footage and the courage it took to obtain it.

The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 15, where Talankin hopes to claim the prestigious award and bring further attention to the realities of life under Putin’s increasingly authoritarian regime.

As Russia continues to tighten controls over information and press freedom, Talankin’s documentary serves as both a historical record and a warning about the power of state propaganda to reshape societies during wartime.