Short Films

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THE WIZARD OF THE KREMLIN
LE MAGE DU KREMLIN

• Director: Olivier Assayas
• FRANCE / 2025 / DCP / Colour / 156' / English; Turkish s.t.

• Screenplay: Olivier Assayas, Emmanuel Carrère
• Original Work: "Le Mage du Kremlin", Giuliano da Empoli
• Director of Photography: Yorick Le Saux
• Editing: Marion Monnier
• Cast: Paul Dano, Jude Law, Alicia Vikander, Tom Sturridge, Will Keen, Jeffrey Wright
• Producer: Olivier Delbosc, Sidonie Dumas
• Production Co.: Curiosa Films, Gaumont, France 2 Cinéma
• World Sales: Gaumont
• Turkish Rights: Mars Film

The Wizard of the Kremlin is a dark portrayal of Vladimir Putin, an intriguing behind-closed-doors history of post–Cold War Russia that ‘showed the consequences of political evil, but also tried to portray its nature,’ according to director Olivier Assayas, and Jude Law plays Vladimir Putin. World premiering in competition at Venice, the film is set in the early 1990s in Russia, and follows a brilliant young man, Vadim Baranov, an artist-turned-tv producer, as he ends up becoming the spin doctor to a rising KGB agent: Vladimir Putin. At the heart of power, Baranov shapes the new Russia, blurring the boundaries between truth and lies, belief and manipulation.

This film was a Meetings on the Bridge participant.