There will be Danish participation when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) presents the Oscar statuettes on March 15 in Los Angeles. ‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin’ is in the running for an Oscar.
Tine Fischer, CEO of the Danish Film Institute, says:
“An Oscar nomination for ‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin’ is a clear reminder of why independent documentary filmmaking matters so deeply right now. The film insists on truth and honesty at a time when authoritarian leaders are increasingly seeking to control and distort narratives and perceptions of reality, often with little regard for facts. By telling the story of Pasha’s quiet acts of civil disobedience, the film points to the importance of democratic openness and the resilience that open societies depend on.
That this marks the eighth time since 2010 that a Danish documentary has been nominated in the Best Documentary category is a testament to the exceptional strength of Danish documentary filmmaking. I would like to extend my warm congratulations to the entire filmmaking team – and to all those who continue to fight for democracy and the freedom to speak up.”
In ‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin’, we follow Pasha, an ordinary teacher in a small Russian town. He is known as the school’s funny, creative, and unconventional adult—one whom the students love. But daily life at the school changes drastically when Putin introduces propaganda and war education into the curriculum in the wake of his full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Instead of teaching students to think independently, Pasha is now forced to film and document children reciting meaningless texts and teachers reading incomprehensible slogans to their classes. In protest—and in complete secrecy—Pasha begins smuggling the videos out of Russia. At the same time, he starts filming how propaganda and the war affect the society he lives in. Pasha’s footage reveals the transformation of Russian society, Putin’s iron grip on the population, and the heartbreaking moments when former students are sent to the front.
Through Pasha’s personal story, audiences gain a rare, intimate, and contemporary insight into Putin’s Russia. The film is a reminder that courage can take many forms when everything seems lost.
‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin’ is directed by David Borenstein and co-directed by Pasha Talankin. Helle Faber produced the film for Made in Copenhagen with support from the Danish Film Institute. The film is co-produced by Pink, represented by Alzbeta Karaskova and Radovan Sibrt.
The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2025, where it won the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award, and it had its Danish premiere at CPH:DOX in March. Since its world premiere, the film has screened at numerous international film festivals and won countless awards. International sales are handled by DR Sales.
Sentimental Value
Joachim Trier’s Norwegian–Danish ‘Sentimental Value’ has been nominated in seven categories: Best picture, Best Directing, Best supporting actress (x2), Best Original Screenplay, Best Supporting Actor. Best Film Editing, Best International feature film.
The film features Danish talent in key creative roles: cinematography by Kasper Tuxen, editing by Olivier Bugge Coutté, VFX supervision by Esben Syberg, and co-production by Sisse Graum for Zentropa.
The film is supported by the Danish Film Institute.
The Ugly Stepsister
Danes Thomas Foldberg and Anne Cathrine Sauerberg have been nominated for an Academy Award for Makeup and Hairstyling for their work on the Norwegian–Danish film ‘The Ugly Stepsister’.
The film is a dark twist on the classic Cinderella story. ‘Den stygge stesøsteren’, as the film is titled in Norwegian, is told from the perspective of the stepsister Elvira as she prepares to win the prince’s favor at any cost. In a kingdom where beauty is a brutal competition, Elvira must battle her beautiful and enchanting stepsister to become the queen of the ball. The film is inspired by the Brothers Grimm’s classic version, in which the stepsister cuts off her toes to make her foot fit the shoe.
Maria Ekerhovd produced the film for Norway’s Mer Film in co-production with Denmark’s Motor, represented by Theis Nørgaard. The film is supported by, among others, the Danish Film Institute, Eurimages, DR, and the Nordisk Film & TV Fund.