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Documentary Exposes Putin's Propaganda: Oscar Nomination Achieved

1/23/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The documentary "Mr. Nobody Against Putin" is nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 98th Academy Awards.
Directed by David Borenstein and Pavel Talankin, the film follows Russian teacher Pavel Talankin who documented state-sponsored pro-war indoctrination in schools after Russia's 2022 invasion.
Talankin's footage smuggled out of Russia highlights his resistance to propaganda.
The film premiered at Sundance in 2025, having garnered multiple awards, illustrating distribution challenges for independent documentaries.

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Story summary

The documentary "Mr. Nobody Against Putin" is nominated for Best Documentary Feature at the 98th Academy Awards.
Directed by David Borenstein and Pavel Talankin, the film follows Russian teacher Pavel Talankin who documented state-sponsored pro-war indoctrination in schools after Russia's 2022 invasion.
Talankin's footage smuggled out of Russia highlights his resistance to propaganda.
The film premiered at Sundance in 2025, having garnered multiple awards, illustrating distribution challenges for independent documentaries.