St. Petersburg Cinemas Refuse to Screen Alexander Sokurov’s Films Amid Festival Honor
Several cinemas in St. Petersburg, including the historic Aurora and Rodina theaters, have refused to host a major retrospective of films by acclaimed director Alexander Sokurov. The refusal comes just as preparations are underway to honor Sokurov on his upcoming 75th birthday. Filmmaker Lyubov Arkus announced the decision on April 14, 2026, revealing that Sokurov has effectively been blacklisted, with no distribution certificates granted for his work in the past four years. Arkus noted that while local venues reject his films, Nikita Mikhalkov has invited Sokurov to receive an award for his contribution to world cinema at the 48th Moscow International Film Festival. This contradiction highlights the complex cultural landscape in Russia, where state-aligned institutions may honor artists while local venues face pressure to exclude them. Sokurov previously declared his career over after his film depicting Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, and Churchill meeting in hell was banned in 2023. He expressed frustration at being forced out of his professional life in his home country despite holding a Russian passport.
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St. Petersburg Cinemas Refuse to Screen Alexander Sokurov’s Films Amid Festival Honor
Several cinemas in St. Petersburg, including the historic Aurora and Rodina theaters, have refused to host a major retrospective of films by acclaimed director Alexander Sokurov. The refusal comes just as preparations are underway to honor Sokurov on his upcoming 75th birthday. Filmmaker Lyubov Arkus announced the decision on April 14, 2026, revealing that Sokurov has effectively been blacklisted, with no distribution certificates granted for his work in the past four years. Arkus noted that while local venues reject his films, Nikita Mikhalkov has invited Sokurov to receive an award for his contribution to world cinema at the 48th Moscow International Film Festival. This contradiction highlights the complex cultural landscape in Russia, where state-aligned institutions may honor artists while local venues face pressure to exclude them. Sokurov previously declared his career over after his film depicting Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, and Churchill meeting in hell was banned in 2023. He expressed frustration at being forced out of his professional life in his home country despite holding a Russian passport.
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