Andrei Zvyagintsev Calls on Putin to End the "Slaughter"

Cannes – May 23, 2026: Russian filmmaker Andrei Zvyagintsev won the Grand Prize at the 79th Cannes Film Festival with his film Minotaur. In his subsequent acceptance speech, he directly appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin, as he believes only Putin can stop the current war actions in Ukraine. Zvyagintsev said, “Millions of people on both sides of the front are longing for the massacre to end soon. The whole world is waiting for you to end this slaughter.”

Minotaur is Zvyagintsev’s first work in nine years, focusing on the impact of war on private life in Russia. The film centers on a successful businessman who is surrounded by fear, corruption, and the effects of war in society while facing his wife’s infidelity.

Since Russia launched its aggressive war against Ukraine, Zvyagintsev has been exiled in France. At Cannes, he emphasized that he could not return to Russia because he is unwilling to shoot propaganda promoting war and patriotism. “I have nothing left to do there. Making films in such an environment is a betrayal to me,” he explained.

However, the Kremlin rejected this appeal. Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that he would not convey Zvyagintsev’s message to Putin and questioned the director’s legitimacy. He criticized Zvyagintsev for not condemning Ukraine’s attacks on eastern Ukraine and said the director had “no right” to make such demands.

Minotaur is scheduled to be released in French cinemas on October 14, 2026. Despite political tensions, Zvyagintsev hopes the film will also be noticed in Russia—possibly through informal channels bypassing censorship.

Zvyagintsev publicly condemned the war and used an international platform like Cannes to highlight the role of art and cinema as means of resistance and social commentary. His call for peace resonates with the voices of many Russian exiles who emphasize the humanitarian consequences of the conflict worldwide.

The Kremlin’s rejection illustrates the still strained relationship between Russian culture and politics, and the risks faced by artists who openly oppose the federal government. Zvyagintsev’s stance makes an important contribution to the debate on war, freedom, and responsibility, especially in times of political censorship and asylum.