Andrei Zvyagintsev urges Putin to end the "massacre"

Cannes – 23.05.2026: Russian director Andreï Zviaguintsev received the Grand Prix at the 79th Cannes Film Festival for his film “Minotaur.” In his acceptance speech, he made a direct appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he believes is the only one capable of stopping the current war operations in Ukraine. Zviaguintsev stated: “Millions of people on both sides of the front line ardently wish for the massacres to finally cease. The whole world is waiting for you to put an end to this slaughter.”

“Minotaur” is Zviaguintsev’s first film in nine years and deals with the consequences of war on private life in Russia. At the center of the story is a successful entrepreneur who has to confront his wife’s infidelity, while the society around him is marked by fear, corruption, and the effects of the war.

Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Zviaguintsev has been living in exile in France. In Cannes, he emphasized that it is impossible for him to return to Russia, as he does not want to make propaganda films glorifying the war and patriotism. “I have nothing left to do there. Making films under these circumstances would be a betrayal for me,” he explained.

However, the Kremlin rejected the appeal. Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian president, stated on Monday that he will not forward Zviaguintsev’s message to Putin and questioned the director’s legitimacy. He criticized that Zviaguintsev did not also condemn the Ukrainian attacks in eastern Ukraine and claimed that the director does not have the “right” to make such demands.

“Minotaur” will be released in French cinemas on October 14, 2026. Despite the political tensions, Zviaguintsev hopes the film will also be seen in Russia – possibly through informal channels that avoid censorship.

Zviaguintsev’s public condemnation of the war and the use of an international platform like Cannes highlight the role of art and cinema as tools of resistance and social commentary. His appeal for the promotion of peace is part of a series of voices from Russian exiles around the world drawing attention to the humanitarian consequences of the conflict.

The Kremlin’s refusal demonstrates how tense the relationship between culture and politics remains in Russia and the risks artists face when openly opposing the government. Zviaguintsev’s position represents an important contribution to the debate on war, freedom, and responsibility in times of political censorship and asylum.