Mr. Nobody Against Putin
February 15, 2026
February 15, 2026 | 12:30pm | SIFF Film Center
Presented by Grand Illusion Cinema
As captivating and joyful as it is eye-opening and sobering, Mr. Nobody Against Putin is a uniquely collaborative film that showcases rare footage revealing the profound impact of Putin’s regime on the lives of everyday Russians, particularly its children. BAFTA and Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature. Winner of the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
SIFF year-round passes and vouchers are not valid for this screening.
Pasha Talankin is an unlikely hero—a beloved Russian primary school teacher, known as a mentor and prankster who offers students a safe haven in his office. After Russia invades Ukraine, Pasha’s role in the school changes dramatically as he is reluctantly drawn into Putin’s propaganda machine. Forced to promote state-sanctioned messages and horrified by the transformation of his school and community, he struggles with guilt and a sense of powerlessness, leading him to become an international whistleblower.
As the school’s videographer, Pasha documents intimate and revealing footage of Putin’s regime, capturing the rise of militarized children’s groups, repressive laws, fervent nationalism, and the recruitment of graduating students to fight in the war. When he learns his own life may be at risk, Pasha is forced to plan a dangerous escape from Russia.
“…a striking work of rebel cinema.” — Nick Schager, The Daily Beast
- Director: David Borenstein, Pavel Talankin
- Principal Cast: Pasha Talankin
- Country: Denmark, Czech Republic, Germany
- Year: 2025
- Running Time: 90 min.
- Awards: 2026 BAFTA and Academy Award nominee for Best Documentary Feature. Winner of the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.
- Language: Russian with English subtitles
- Has Subtitles: Yes