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Controversy over Russian film at Venice Film Festival

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2026-09-09 19:02 UTC → 2026-09-10 16:48 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The inclusion of the Russian film ‘Dau’, directed by Ilya Khrzhanovsky, in the 2026 Venice International Film Festival competition sparked a diplomatic dispute. The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture issued a joint statement condemning the selection, describing it as a “particularly painful” decision that raises “deep concern.” Ukrainian officials argued that the festival was providing a platform to a project linked to Russian influence during its war of aggression, suggesting culture is being used as a tool in a “hybrid war.” La Biennale di Venezia defended its decision, stating it does not exclude participants based on nationality and noting that ‘Dau’ is an international co-production involving Germany, France, and Sweden. During the festival, Khrzhanovsky addressed the controversy by clarifying the film’s financial history. He noted that while the project received initial funding from Russian oligarch Sergei Adoniev between 2008 and 2019, it has since evolved into an international co-production. ~~Khrzhanovsky also~~ Khrzhanovsky, who has renounced his Russian citizenship and lives in exile in Germany, stated that he has supported the Ukrainian government and its efforts to win the war since before the 2022 full-scale invasion. Additional criticism emerged regarding the film’s star, Greek-Russian conductor Teodor Currentzis, who plays physicist Lev Landau. Ukrainian officials cited Currentzis’s decision to continue living and working in Russia without publicly condemning the invasion. In response, Khrzhanovsky defended the conductor as one of the era’s greatest, stating that “each person pays for their own choice” regarding their life and destiny. Currentzis missed the film’s premiere due to a “last-minute emergency.”

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