Russian Dissident Director Claps Back at Ukraine Controversy at Venice

Ilya Khrzhanovsky showed up to Venice with his competition film DAU ready for smoke. Ukrainian officials had been questioning whether the project had ties to the Russian state, but the dissident director wasn't having it. He came with receipts on his politics.

"My position about the Russia-Ukrainian war has been very clear from the beginning," Khrzhanovsky said, shutting down the chatter. He made it plain: he wants Ukraine's government to hold it down, protect the nation, and win. No ambiguity. No both-sides talk.

For context, Khrzhanovsky has spent years doing his own thing outside the Russian system—the whole dissident label isn't performative. But bringing experimental cinema to a major festival while geopolitical heat is high? That's the reality filmmakers from complicated places navigate now. You can make your work your way, but you still gotta answer for where you're from and what you stand for.

The real story here is how art and politics keep colliding at these festivals. Khrzhanovsky said what he needed to say. Whether that settles it or just shifts the conversation—that's another thing.

Read the full story at Variety → https://variety.com/2026/film/festivals/dau-director-ilya-khrzhanovsky-ukraine-venice-peace-success-1236855538/