Join us for an exclusive screening of Mr. Nobody Against Putin, followed by a dialogue with Mikhail Fishman, a renowned Russian journalist, and Robert van der Noodra, a (Russian) hybrid warfare and disinformation expert.
Mr. Nobody Against Putin is a primary school teacher’s record of the indoctrination of his pupils to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Pavel ‘Pasha’ Talankin is an unlikely hero. A beloved, humorous teacher and school’s videographer. When Russia invades Ukraine, Pasha is tasked with documenting this new reality. But his footage does not show the desired image of patriotism. Instead, his camera secretly captures the increasing pressure, the loss of freedom, and the visible militarization of a young generation.
“Remarkable…an exemplary work of cinematic modernism, a reflexive film that turns its genesis into its subject and its moral essence.” – The New Yorker
Directed by David Borenstein and co-directed by Pasha Talankin, this uniquely collaborative documentary paints a poignant portrait of state control and the vulnerability of educational institutions under authoritarian conditions. It is as captivating and joyful as it is eye-opening and sobering, showcasing rare footage that reveals the profound everyday impact of Putin’s regime on Russians, particularly its children.
Exclusive post-screening talk
How does a state hijack the minds of a generation? Following the film, we will host a deep-dive conversation unpacking the realities of Russian state propaganda, featuring:
Mikhail Fishman, one of Russia’s leading political journalists. As the former editor-in-chief of The Moscow Times and anchor on TV Rain—Russia’s premier independent channel—he has spent decades chronicling the realities of Putin’s regime before moving to Amsterdam in exile. He is the author of the acclaimed book The Successor, published in English by Pushkin Press in January 2026.
Robert van der Noordaa, a Dutch engineer who lived in Russia and Ukraine for many years. After the Crimean annexation, he specialized in fake news, conspiracies and in particular how Russia spreads disinformation with troll armies. After completing his postgraduate in journalism at Erasmus University, Robert co-founded Trollrensics, a software company tracking disinfo and hybrid warfare campaigns on social media.
