France Has Nominated Zvyagintsev's Film For An Oscar

• 17.09.2026, 17:22

"Minotaur" tells the story of Russia against the backdrop of the war against Ukraine.

France has selected the film *The Minotaur* by Russian dissident director Andrey Zvyagintsev to compete for an Oscar. The film won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2026, according to ScreenDaily.

“The Minotaur” tells the story of a wealthy shipping company executive whose family life falls apart against the backdrop of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Suspicions that his wife is cheating on him gradually transform the protagonist’s personal drama into a story of fear, violence, and the destruction of his familiar world.

The film was shot in Russian and produced in collaboration with France, Germany, and Latvia. The lead roles are played by Dmitry Mazurov and Iris Lebedeva.

For Zvyagintsev, this is his third attempt to compete for an American film award. Previously, his films “Leviathan” and “Loveless” received Oscar nominations on behalf of Russia.

The director lives in France and has openly criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.