Russia may have its first best foreign-language film nominee in years, but local television viewers again won't get to see the Academy Awards live this year as Channel One said they will only show the ceremony the following evening.
"We will show a 90-minute version," said the channel, state news agency RIA Novosti reported.
This means that viewers won't be able to support Andrei Zvyagintsev's "Leviathan" as it vies for victory in the best foreign-language film category. The movie, about a man's fight against a cruel and heartless town mayor, has been showered with awards abroad but at home has been slammed by culture minister Vladimir Medinsky.
The ceremony takes place early morning Moscow time but in 2013 it was shown live. Last year the channel said that with the huge number of stories coming out of Ukraine, the channel could not devote five hours to the ceremony.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
