The screening of the film Fairy Tale directed by Alexander Sokurov at the Karo.Art festival in Moscow was cancelled, according to event organizers. The film had been scheduled to be shown on Sunday, October 15 at 19.30.
Sokurov stated that he did not know the reasons behind the decision and was actively seeking explanations. He expressed concern that The Tale might not receive a distribution certificate and suggested there could be an informal ban on screening his works.
He wrote on social media that life sometimes presents big obstacles, reminiscent of Soviet times when many of his works faced bans from public display.
“A historical tale without any insinuations”
During an interview with socialbites.ca, Sokurov confirmed that no explanation was provided after the cancellation of Fairy Tale. He noted that it was hard to imagine a festival canceling a screening with 1,200 tickets sold and a sold-out venue. He suggested the cancellation could reflect directives from state cultural authorities or privately owned institutions, implying involvement by major bodies in the decision.
Sokurov did not speculate on possible motives against screening the movie. He described Fairy Tale as a fairy tale and a historical narrative without insinuations. He warned that provocative narratives could be created about any work of art, but emphasized that censorship runs counter to the openness expected for Russian audiences, since the film had already been shown and was being shown around the world.
The story of Fairy Tale unfolds against the backdrop of World War II. Stalin, Churchill, Hitler, and Mussolini appear in the afterlife and converse in four languages—Georgian, English, German, and Italian—reflecting on their lives, power, and reluctance to relinquish control. No actors appear on screen; archival footage of politicians is integrated into non-traditional animated sequences. The film premiered at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland last August.
Film critic Larisa Malyukova observed that it is difficult to identify specific grounds for the bans, noting that the reasons are not openly articulated. Fairy Tale has been touring major cities around the world, drawing long lines and praise for its bold artistic vision. Critics have described it as more than a film, a powerful statement on totalitarianism. Some believe the tension surrounding the release may concern law enforcement or cultural authorities for reasons that are not readily explained.
Malyukova described Sokurov’s work as aesthetically inventive and best experienced on the big screen, while acknowledging that a wide release may not be feasible in the current climate.
On another front, the Ministry of Culture announced changes involving the series Bezzabashnaya on the Kion streaming platform. While its premiere had been planned for October, the release did not occur and the series page disappeared from the platform. No official statement was issued by the creators or the streaming service.
Bezzabashnaya is a contemporary production that reimagines a familiar premise with local talent, including Ekaterina Varnava, Evgeny Tsyganov, and Yuri Chursin, under the direction of Lana Vladi. Industry sources noted that bypassing a distribution certificate can allow online platforms to host content, but lack of certification is often treated as a cautionary signal by regulators. Roskomnadzor retains authority to request removal of specific films or series when necessary.
From the early days of the regional conflict, Varnava and Tsyganov have publicly voiced anti-war positions on social media, aligning with broader artistic circles that advocate for peaceful resolutions.
The song It Will Pass by the punk group Pornofilmy faced restriction within Russia. The Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office identified certain sites for blocking, and some links to the song’s lyrics and chords were removed from Yandex Music. The track, written amid a period of large-scale protests in 2019, sparked debate about freedom of expression. Earlier, another Pornofilmy release titled Kill the Beggars! was designated as extremist by a court ruling in Volgograd, with limited published information about other group members’ legal outcomes.