CultureUkraine condemns Venice Festival inclusion of controversial Russian film

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry condemned the selection of Russian filmmaker Illya Khrzhanovsky’s controversial film “Dau” for the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, where it will compete for the Golden Lion. The ministry said the project is connected to the Russian state and its influence networks, and urged the festival to recognize how Russia uses culture as an instrument of hybrid warfare rather than treating such projects as politically neutral.

UkraineVenice Film FestivalRussian filmcultural warfare

TThe Kyiv Independent★★★☆☆2026-08-17 17:37Original