An Academy Award winner, Pavel Talankin, encountered an issue at a New York airport when airport security prevented him from carrying his Oscar in his carry-on bag due to concerns about it being used as a weapon. Talankin, known for his documentary ‘Mr Nobody Against Putin,’ had to check his golden statuette before boarding a flight to Germany.
His colleague, Robin Hessman, executive producer of the award-winning BBC documentary, assisted Talankin in communicating with airport security as his English proficiency was limited. Despite having traveled multiple times with his Oscar and Bafta without any previous problems, Talankin was not allowed to bring the Academy Award on the plane this time.
The airport security personnel at John F Kennedy International Airport insisted that the award could pose a security risk and therefore checked it in a cardboard box. However, upon landing in Germany, the Oscar was nowhere to be found.
Expressing disappointment, Talankin’s co-director, David Borenstein, shared the incident on Instagram, questioning whether the treatment would have been the same if Talankin were a famous actor or a fluent English speaker.
Lufthansa airlines, who assisted in packing the award for the flight, stated that they are conducting a thorough search to locate and return the missing Oscar promptly. An Academy Award stands at 13.5 inches tall and weighs 8.5 pounds, with an estimated creation cost of £740.
The documentary ‘Mr Nobody Against Putin’ sheds light on Talankin’s experience documenting his school’s transformation into a war recruitment center, showcasing the impact of war propaganda on Russian schools post the Ukraine invasion. Facing backlash from the Kremlin, Talankin, now in exile, continues to advocate through his film for those affected by the conflict.
In a recent interview, Talankin emphasized that his documentary is for all viewers, including those who might question its purpose. Despite challenges, he remains committed to sharing the untold stories and realities within the education system in Russia.