Danish-produced anti-Putin doc wins Sundance prize

The Danish-produced documentary ‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin’ has been awarded at the Sundance Film Festival, receiving the ‘World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award’. The award is given for exceptional craftsmanship. The Sundance Film Festival, known for focusing on independent films not produced by major studios, is considered by the Danish Film Institute to be one of the most important festivals in North America. The documentary, made by Made in Copenhagen, follows Russian teacher ‘Pasha’ Talankin, who co-produced the film. It documents changes in the Russian education system amidst the country’s invasion of Ukraine, capturing two years of Talankin smuggling footage out of Russia. Directed by American filmmaker David Borenstein, based in Copenhagen, and produced in collaboration with Czech company Pink, Borenstein emphasized the high stakes involved in the project. ‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin’ had its world premiere at Sundance on January 25 and will premiere in Denmark at the CPH:DOX 2025 festival.