Andrey Zvyagintsev wins Cannes Grand Prix, urges Putin to end Ukraine war
Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev has won the Grand Prix at the 79th Cannes Film Festival for his latest film, The Bull. The award, second only to the Palme d’Or, marks another major achievement in his career. During his acceptance speech, he directly called on President Vladimir Putin to halt the war in Ukraine.
Zvyagintsev is no stranger to Cannes. His previous films—Loveless, Leviathan, and Elena—have all earned awards at the festival. The Bull stars Iris Lebedeva, Dmitry Mazurov, Yuriy Zavalnyuk, and Varvara Shmykova, further cementing his reputation as a leading filmmaker.
The director has been openly critical of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He resigned from the Russian Cinematographers’ Union and left other industry committees after the country refused to submit a film for the Oscars. Despite his stance, he has not opposed the unauthorised distribution of *The Bull* in Russia. Currently, Zvyagintsev is working to secure an official distribution certificate for the film in his home country. His latest win comes as Cristian Mungiu’s *R.M.N.* took the Palme d’Or, the festival’s top prize.
Zvyagintsev’s Grand Prix victory highlights his continued influence in global cinema. His call for peace and efforts to distribute The Bull in Russia reflect both his artistic and political stance. The film’s recognition at Cannes ensures it will remain a topic of discussion in the months ahead.
