Cannes Grand Prix winner Zvyagintsev gives first major interview after award

Russian director Andrei Zvyagintsev, winner of the Cannes Grand Prix for his film 'Minotaur', gave his first major interview to critic Anton Dolin following the award. The film is his first in nearly a decade and depicts Russia during the so-called 'special military operation'. At the Cannes ceremony, Zvyagintsev called on Vladimir Putin to end 'the slaughter' in Ukraine.

Russian filmmaker Andrei Zvyagintsev, who won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival for his new film 'Minotaur', has given his first extended interview since receiving the prestigious award. The conversation was conducted by prominent film critic Anton Dolin, who spoke with the director about both the film and his remarkable speech on the Cannes stage.

'Minotaur' marks Zvyagintsev's return to cinema after nearly a decade away from directing. The film depicts life in Russia during the era of what the Kremlin calls the 'special military operation', a deeply political subject that has made it one of the most talked-about works at this year's festival.

At the award ceremony in Cannes, Zvyagintsev used his platform to deliver a pointed political message, calling on Vladimir Putin to end what he described as «the slaughter», referring to the ongoing war against Ukraine. The speech drew widespread international attention and prompted immediate media interest in a follow-up interview.

In his conversation with Dolin, Zvyagintsev addressed the moral weight behind his public statement. «Millions of people want the war to stop. They did not want it to begin. It all comes down to one person,» the director said, making clear that he holds Putin personally responsible for the conflict.

The interview offers an unusually candid look at one of Russia's most celebrated directors, who has long been known for morally complex, visually arresting films. 'Minotaur' appears to represent his most overtly political work to date, and its Cannes recognition signals that international audiences and juries remain deeply engaged with artistic responses to the war in Ukraine.