Cannes – 23.05.2026: Russian filmmaker Andrei Zvyagintsev received the Grand Prix at the 79th Cannes Film Festival for his film “Minotaur.” In his subsequent thank-you speech, he made a direct appeal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who in his view is the only one who can stop the current military actions in Ukraine. Zvyagintsev said: “Millions of people on both sides of the front line long for these massacres to finally end. The whole world is waiting for you to end this massacre.”
“Minotaur” is Zvyagintsev’s first film in nine years and deals with the consequences of war on private life in Russia. At the center is a successful entrepreneur confronted with his wife’s infidelity, while society around him is shaped by fear, corruption, and the effects of the war.
Since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Zvyagintsev has lived in exile in France. He emphasized in Cannes that returning to Russia is impossible for him, as he does not want to make propaganda films glorifying the war and patriotism. “I have nothing left to do there. Filming under these conditions would be a betrayal for me,” he explained.
The Kremlin, however, rejected the appeal. Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian president, stated on Monday that he would not forward Zvyagintsev’s message to Putin and questioned the filmmaker’s legitimacy. He criticized that Zvyagintsev had not condemned the Ukrainian attacks on Eastern Ukraine and said the filmmaker had “no right” to make such demands.
“Minotaur” is scheduled to premiere in French cinemas on October 14, 2026. Despite political tensions, Zvyagintsev hopes the film will be seen in Russia as well—possibly through informal channels that bypass censorship.
Zvyagintsev’s public condemnation of the war and use of an international platform like Cannes highlight the role of art and film as a means of resistance and social commentary. His call for peace joins a series of voices from Russian exiles worldwide drawing attention to the humanitarian consequences of the conflict.
The Kremlin’s rejection shows how tense the relationship between culture and politics remains in Russia and the risks artists take when openly opposing the government. Zvyagintsev’s stance marks an important contribution to the debate on war, freedom, and responsibility in times of political censorship and asylum.
Sources
- The Moscow Times
- Le Monde