PARIS, March 12 — Two years ago he was a videographer at a small-town Russian school, filming patriotic lessons and morning drills in the wake of Moscow’s invasion of...
An APM/LRT system for JB’s metro line is the way to go as city counts down to RTS, says international public transport expert At Joy Ho Kopitiam in Melaka, a big breakfast means curry ‘mee’, ‘char kway teow’ and a slice of pumpkin cake Pavel Talankin will walk into Hollywood’ s biggest night as the co-director of an Oscar-nominated documentary exposing the propaganda and indoctrination of children in Russian schools.
— AFP picand enjoy FREE RM10 & when you sign up using code VERSAMM10 with min. cash of RM100 today! T&Cs apply.PARIS, March 12 — Two years ago he was a videographer at a small-town Russian school, filming patriotic lessons and morning drills in the wake of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. This weekend, Pavel Talankin will walk into Hollywood’s biggest night as the co-director of an Oscar-nominated documentary exposing the propaganda and indoctrination of children in Russian schools. Such vertiginous twists of fate should be “illegal”, Talankin joked, speaking to AFP from Los Angeles. “If you had told me two years ago that things would be like this, I would have laughed in your face,” said Talankin, who previously worked at a secondary school in the industrial town of Karabash in the Urals.nominated in the Documentary Feature Film category, is based on hours of footage Talankin smuggled out of Russia after teaming up with US filmmaker David Borenstein. After the invasion of Ukraine, Russia outlawed all criticism of the military, and cooperating with foreigners could lead to treason charges. Talankin fled the country in the summer of 2024 with the hard drives containing what would become a 90-minute documentary, leaving behind his mother, brothers and sisters.The film won a BAFTA award in London last month for best documentary, one of the last major ceremonies before the Oscars. Monica Bellucci read out the winning title, while Prince William watched from the front row.“I liked how I looked in it. I kind of felt like I belonged with them,” he said, laughing. He expressed regret that he did not get a chance to speak with the future king, but he has had plenty of opportunities to rub shoulders with Hollywood royalty during the traditional pre-Oscar events. Last month’s Academy Award nominees’ luncheon and “class photo”, where Talankin is pictured in the centre next to Benicio Del Toro, was a bit of a shock. “I went out for a smoke. And walking toward me was Leonardo DiCaprio,” he recounted. “I was a bit stunned, because never in my life had I imagined a scenario where I’d go to the smoking room and Leonardo DiCaprio would be coming straight at me.” But apart from celebrity lunches and selfies with the likes of Timothee Chalamet, life continues as usual, said Talankin, who has been learning English as he shuttles between the United States and Europe to promote the film. “Of course, it’s nice that people are watching the film, coming to screenings, and asking questions—that people aren’t indifferent,” he said. “But I wouldn’t go so far as to say that my star has risen.”While the documentary received positive reviews in the West, Russian propaganda has launched a smear campaign against him.“But Pasha seems to be handling it fine so far. With ease and nobleness,” he said, using the videographer’s informal first name.Some have criticised its raw, unpolished feel, while others have argued that children were filmed without parental consent. “Sometimes filming this way is the only way to get information,” Talankin said. “Especially in a country like Russia, where absolutely everything is closed off.”“For us Russians this is a crucial document of our era—one that compels us to look closely at what is happening to the country, to its people, and to the young generation,” said Leonid Parfenov, one of Russia’s best?known journalists and documentary filmmakers. Prominent documentary director Vitaly Mansky said that by using plain language, Talankin’s film lays bare the intensity of propaganda. “It shows at the very grassroots level—and not with the help of political scientists or experts—how this whole fog of deception is manufactured,” Mansky told AFP. Talankin said he sometimes feels nostalgic about his old job and still sees the Karabash school in his dreams.Sibrt, the producer, said a theatre play and a book might be in the pipeline. “There are already some options coming up,” though it would be up to Talankin to choose, he said. “He might surprise us again.” — AFP
Oscar-Nominated Documentary Russian School Indoctrination BAFTA Award Karabash Urals Hollywood' S Biggest Night
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
From the Court to the Oscars: Kobe Bryant's Unprecedented AchievementKobe Bryant's remarkable journey: Winning Olympic gold medals in basketball and then an Oscar award for his animated short film 'Dear Basketball'. This placed him in the Guinness World Records as the first person to achieve both.
Read more »
Timothée Chalamet pulls up in Beijing, gets dubbed ‘sweet tea’ by Chinese fansBEIJING, March 11 — Oscar nominee Timothee Chalamet answered to “sweet tea” and praised a table tennis champion as he wooed Chinese fans yesterday in Beijing, days before the...
Read more »
Chasing an Oscar dream, China film student turns to AI to bring his first movie to lifeLOS ANGELES, March 11 — Studying at the film school where Oscar-nominated Sinners director Ryan Coogler honed his craft, SiJia Zheng dreams of winning an Academy Award.Now with...
Read more »
Kremlin alleges UK involvement in Ukraine’s missile strike on Bryansk, warns it will ‘take it into account’MOSCOW, March 11 — The Kremlin today accused British specialists of involvement in a deadly Ukrainian strike on the Russian city of Bryansk that used British Storm Shadow...
Read more »
From spa treatments to vacations: A look at the lavish gift bags Oscar nominees receiveLOS ANGELES, March 11 — About US$350,000 (RM1.3 million) worth of luxury products are being packaged this year to be gifted to the top acting and directing Oscar nominees — a...
Read more »
IPC Investigates German Protest at Paralympics Medal Ceremony Over Russian ParticipationThe International Paralympic Committee (IPC) is looking into a protest by German cross-country skiers during the medal ceremony for the women's sprint classic vision-impaired event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympics. Germany's silver medallists turned their backs on the winning Russian athletes, raising questions about the fairness of Russian athlete participation following the invasion of Ukraine.
Read more »