{
  "id": 7853416,
  "title": "France picks exiled Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev’s ‘Minotaur’ as its international Oscar entry. The Russian-language film previously won Cannes’ Grand Prix.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/france-picks-exiled-russian-director-andrey-zvyagintsevs-minotaur-as",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-16T19:36:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Meduza (English)",
    "slug": "meduza-english",
    "url": "https://meduza.io/en/news/2026/09/16/france-picks-exiled-russian-director-andrey-zvyagintsev-s-minotaur-as-its-international-oscar-entry-the-russian-language-film-previously-won-cannes-grand-prix"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "France has selected the Russian film \"Minotaur\" by director Andrey Zvyagintsev for submission to the Academy Awards in the Best International Feature Film category. The French Oscar committee chose the film after consulting with its producers, sales agents, and distributors. \"Minotaur\" is a co-production of French companies CG Cinéma and MK Productions. The movie follows a company director who faces mass layoffs and is ordered to send 14 employees to war, while also dealing with the news of his wife's affair. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce a 15-film shortlist for the Best International Feature Film category on December 15, with nominees revealed on January 21. The 99th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 14, 2027. \"Minotaur\" is Zvyagintsev's first film in nearly a decade, following his 2017 release \"Nelyubov.\" The filmmaker became ill with COVID-19 during the pandemic and required extensive rehabilitation abroad after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. \"Minotaur\" won the Grand Prix at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in May 2026.",
  "summary": "France has submitted Andrey Zvyagintsev’s film “Minotavr” (“Minotaur”) for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, Variety reports.",
  "key_points": [
    "Co-production of French companies CG Cinéma and MK Productions.",
    "Film won Cannes' Grand Prix in May 2026."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}