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5 clusters · 27 sources · 36 days · First seen · Last updated

France selects ‘Minotaur’ for Academy Award consideration

Overview

France has selected the political thriller ‘Minotaur’ (or ‘Minotaure’) to represent the country in the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards. The film, directed by exiled Russian filmmaker Andrey Zvyagintsev, was chosen by a professional jury chaired by film historian Charles Tesson following an independent selection process involving an 11-member committee appointed by the National Centre for Cinema (CNC).

A winner of the Grand Prix at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, the production is a co-production involving French companies MK Productions and CG Cinéma, alongside German and Latvian entities. Loosely adapted from Claude Chabrol’s 1969 film ‘La Femme infidèle’, the drama is set against the backdrop of the 2022 Russian mobilization following the invasion of Ukraine. The film is also scheduled to be presented at the Rome Film Fest.

The story follows Gleb, a logistics entrepreneur, as he navigates personal infidelity and the moral compromises of military recruitment. The narrative serves as a contemporary tragedy, critiquing the Russian ruling class and exploring how institutional corruption and the systematic use of euphemisms regarding the war impact individual ethics.

Zvyagintsev, who has lived in France since 2021, described the film as an “artistic response to the conflict.” He noted that as a Russian-speaking director born in Russia, he felt compelled to address the most significant event of recent years. Due to its subject matter, the film will not receive an official release in Russia.

Entities

France · Russia · Andrey Zvyagintsev · Cannes Film Festival · Minotaur

Timeline

  1. [CULTURE] 2 sources
    Andrey Zvyagintsev wins Grand Prix at Cannes for Minotaur

    Director Andrey Zvyagintsev won the Grand Prix at Cannes for Minotaur, a political thriller set during the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict.

  2. [CULTURE] 8 sources
    Andrei Zviaguintsev’s Minotaure selected to represent France at the Oscars

    Andrei Zviaguintsev’s ‘Minotaure’, a French co-production set in 2022 Russia, has been chosen to represent France at the Oscars.

  3. [CULTURE] 3 sources
    Andrey Zvyagintsev addresses war in Ukraine with ‘Minotaur’

    Exiled director Andrey Zvyagintsev’s new film ‘Minotaur’ explores military conscription and the war in Ukraine. The Cannes Grand Prix winner is France’s official entry for the 2027 Oscars.

  4. [CULTURE] 5 sources
    Minotaure selected to represent France at the Oscars

    Andrei Zviagintsev’s drama ‘Minotaure’ will represent France in the Best International Feature Film category at the Oscars.

  5. [CULTURE] 9 sources
    France selects ‘Minotaur’ for Academy Award international feature race

    France has chosen Andrey Zvyagintsev’s Cannes Grand Prix winner ‘Minotaur’ as its official entry for the Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards.

Sources

24-ore.com · actu.fr · aftabnews.ir · arabic.euronews.com · benzinemag.net · de.euronews.com · deadline.com · diningandcooking.com · dols.it · editorialedomani.it · emanuellevy.com · es.euronews.com · gamefa.com · hollywoodreporter.com · it.euronews.com · jeunecinema.fr · kyivpost.com · la-croix.com · letemps.ch · linternaute.com · mrwillwong.com · parismatch.com · screendaily.com · srnnews.com · telerama.fr · tr.euronews.com · variety.com

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history