Russian Director Condemns War Against Ukraine and Cannes Ban of Russian Journalists, Cinema
thewrap.comIndieWire. “I had to say, ‘F— the war, I hate you [Russian president Vladimir Putin], bye.’ You can’t be silent about this war.”Serebrennikov himself had been in hot water with Russian authorities back in 2017, when he was convicted of embezzlement through his theater company and banned from leaving the country — a decision which outraged human rights groups who denounced the charge as falsified.
His sentence was later lifted, and Serebrennikov immigrated to Germany, spurred to relocate as a result of the war despite having to leave behind his 90-year-old father.However, the director added that he couldn’t condone Cannes’ ban on Russian journalists, delegations and “anyone linked to the Russian government.” Several previously accredited reporters, who were not linked with the state, were denied access to the festival.
The filmmaker is the only Russian creative at the festival, and his film was permitted entry since production on it predated the war in Ukraine.
While Serebrennikov’s film itself was not government-funded, he sees no issue with allowing space for them.“If it’s not a propaganda film, no,” he said. “Propaganda is always about the ideas of the government.
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