Mr. Nobody Against Putin directed by David Borenstein and Pavel Talankin will open the DMZ International Documentary Film Festival which will take place from September 11 – 17, 2025 in Gyeonggi and Paju.

Mr. Nobody Against Putin by David Borenstein and Pavel Talankin – Denmark, Czech Republic | 2025 – 90 minutes | Asian Premiere

As Russia launches its invasion of Ukraine, Russian elementary schools become stages for state propaganda in the Urals, teacher Pavel Talankin is ordered to film patriotic ceremonies but secretly documents the militarization of his students. Over two years, he captures the state’s brainwashing apparatus and his own moral conflict, smuggling the footage out. Weaving together covert recordings and intimate reflections, the film reveals how surveillance, loyalty, fear, and resistance intersect under an authoritarian regime. It is an insider’s confrontation with the true weight of courage and choice. (DMZ Docs 2025)

Screening Dates:
September 11, 2025 | Thursday | 7:00 pm | Imjingak Pyeonghwa-Nuri Open-air Stage
September 13, 2025 | Saturday | 10:00 am | HANMAC Theater(MEGABOX Kintex 7)
September 13, 2025 | Saturday | 11:00 am | Gyeonggi Indie Cinema
September 15, 2025 | Monday | 1:00 pm | CGV Paju Yadang 4

Trailer:

About the directors:
David BORENSTEIN – Born in USA, 1984. David Borenstein is a documentary filmmaker based in Copenhagen, Denmark. His directed films including Dream Empire (2016) and Can’t Feel Nothing (2024). He co-directed Mr. Nobody Against Putin with Pavel Talankin.

Pavel TALANKIN – Born in Russia, 1992. Pavel Talankin is a former teacher-organizer and documentary filmmaker. Mr. Nobody Against Putin, co-directed with David Borenstein, marks his directorial debut as well as his first appearance as a main subject.

For more information, please visit: https://dmzdocs.com/eng/