Pavel Talankin’s missing Oscar found in Frankfurt
The Oscar statuette belonging to Pavel Talankin, co-director of the documentary “Mr Nobody Against Putin”, has been found after going missing during air travel from New York.
The award disappeared after officials from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) at John F Kennedy International Airport refused to allow Talankin to carry the statuette on board his flight to Germany. They reportedly said the trophy could be used as a weapon.
Talankin was travelling on a flight operated by Lufthansa. He said he had previously carried the Oscar on several flights without any issues.
According to the filmmaker, TSA officers insisted that the award be checked into the aircraft hold. Without a proper suitcase, he placed the statuette in a cardboard box provided by the airline. The box was wrapped and tagged before being taken for transport.
However, upon arrival in Frankfurt, the Oscar could not be found. Talankin reported the item missing, prompting concern from the film’s team.
An airline spokesperson later confirmed that the statuette had been located. “It has been found and is safely in our care in Frankfurt,” the airline said. “We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused and have apologised to the owner.”
The airline added that it is arranging the return of the award as quickly as possible and has launched an internal review.
Talankin had earlier expressed confusion over the incident. “It’s completely baffling how they consider an Oscar a weapon,” he said.
The documentary, co-directed with David Borenstein, explores state propaganda in Russian schools. It received international recognition and won an Academy Award earlier this year.
Talankin, who now lives in exile in Europe, used his acceptance speech to call for peace. “In the name of our future, in the name of all of our children, stop all of these wars now,” he said.
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