After being compelled to check his Academy Award during a trans-Atlantic flight, Pavel Talankin, a recent Oscar winner, experienced the loss of his prestigious trophy before it was eventually located by an airline two days later. Talankin, who co-directed the acclaimed documentary “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” was unexpectedly required to check his award at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport before boarding a flight to Frankfurt, Germany, on Wednesday due to a Transportation Security Administration agent deeming it unsuitable for carry-on. Talankin’s co-director, David Borenstein, revealed on Instagram that the TSA considered the Oscar a potential weapon, resulting in it being placed in a box and sent to the aircraft’s lower section as Talankin lacked a suitable bag. Unfortunately, the Oscar failed to reach its destination in Frankfurt.
Following Borenstein’s social media announcement, which sparked global concern, Lufthansa airline confirmed on Friday that the missing Oscar had been located and was securely in their possession in Frankfurt. A statement released by the airline conveyed their direct coordination with Talankin for the prompt return of the award, expressing regret for the inconvenience caused and extending apologies to the owner. Lufthansa also disclosed that an internal investigation into the situation was underway.
In March, the documentary “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” a collaborative effort between Talankin and Borenstein, achieved the prestigious honor of winning the Academy Award for best documentary. The duo’s acceptance speech at the event stood out as a poignant moment, with Talankin, known as the “Mr. Nobody” in the film, being a teacher and activities director in a Russian town who documented his students’ pro-Putin sentiments regarding the conflict in Ukraine. Talankin clandestinely shared his footage with Borenstein, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, leading to their acclaimed collaboration. During the ceremony, Talankin, speaking in Russian through an interpreter, passionately urged for an end to wars for the sake of future generations and children.
As of Friday, the TSA had not responded to inquiries regarding the incident.