03.05.2026 01:03
The disappearance of a statue belonging to the director of an Oscar-winning documentary after a security checkpoint at one of the world's busiest airports has turned into a crisis attracting international attention. The Oscar won by Pavel Talankin for the documentary 'Mr. Nobody Against Putin' was deemed 'usable as a weapon' at John F. Kennedy Airport in the US, directed to baggage instead of being allowed in the cabin, and vanished after the flight.
The Oscar statuette that Pavel Talankin won for co-directing the documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin was lost after security screening at John F. Kennedy Airport in the USA.
NOT ALLOWED IN CABIN DUE TO “POTENTIAL RISK”
According to Talankin, security officers considered the Oscar statuette a “potentially risky object” that could be used as a weapon and did not permit it in the cabin. Consequently, the award was necessarily sent to baggage handling. Talankin, who stated he had traveled with the same award many times before, said the events this time were surprising.
APPEARED IN FRANKFURT: STATUETTE MISSING
Talankin realized upon arriving in Frankfurt that the Oscar statuette was not delivered to him. The award was planned to be transported in the cargo section during the flight, but it turned out to be missing at the destination.
STATEMENT FROM AIRLINE
Lufthansa, involved in the process, expressed regret over the loss and announced they had launched a comprehensive investigation. Despite the baggage tracking number, no trace of the statuette has been found yet.
BANNED IN RUSSIA
The documentary Mr. Nobody Against Putin, featuring Talankin, was banned in Russia for “promoting negative attitudes towards the government.”
The director drew international attention by calling for an end to wars during his Oscar speech.