Andrey Zvyagintsev wins Grand Prix at Cannes for Minotaur

Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev has won the Grand Prix at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival for his new film, Minotaur. The film, which is also set to be presented at the Rome Film Fest, will be submitted for Oscar consideration by France.

Set in 2022 during the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Minotaur serves as a political thriller and a portrait of Russian society. The narrative follows Gleb, a successful businessman in a provincial city, whose life and business are disrupted by the war and subsequent mobilization. The story explores how individuals react to the conflict, including those who emigrate and those who enlist.

Zvyagintsev, who previously directed Leviathan and Loveless, returns to filmmaking following a severe bout of Covid-19 and years of exile. He noted that for a contemporary Russian director, it would have been absurd not to address the war occurring in their country.