May 02, (THEWILL) — An Oscar statuette belonging to Russian filmmaker Pavel Talankin has been found after going missing on a flight from New York to Germany, Lufthansa confirmed.”
Talankin, co-director of the documentary “Mr Nobody Against Putin”, was stopped at John F. Kennedy Airport by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents who said the 8.5-pound award could be used as a weapon. He was required to place it in checked luggage.
The statuette did not arrive with him in Germany, but Lufthansa said on May 1 that it had been located in Frankfurt and was “safely in our care.” The airline is arranging its return.
A Lufthansa spokesperson said, “We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused and have apologized to the owner.
The careful and secure handling of our guests’ belongings is of the utmost importance to us. An internal review of the circumstances is ongoing.”
Talankin, 35, often travels with his awards for screenings and events. On this trip, he showed the Oscar to students during a Q&A after a screening of his documentary.
Co-director David Borenstein described the airport incident as a “big kerfuffle,” noting that Talankin had previously flown with both the Oscar and his Bafta without problems.
The documentary, which highlights war propaganda in a Russian school after the invasion of Ukraine, has been banned in Russia.
Talankin now lives in exile in Europe.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
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