After being compelled to stow his Academy Award during a trans-Atlantic flight, Pavel Talankin, a recent Oscar recipient, encountered the loss of his statuette which was later located by an airline following a two-day search. Talankin, co-director of the acclaimed documentary “Mr. Nobody Against Putin,” was unexpectedly required to check his award for a flight from New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport to Frankfurt, Germany, on Wednesday after a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agent deemed it unsuitable for cabin transport.
David Borenstein, Talankin’s co-director, recounted on Instagram Thursday night that at the airport, a TSA agent blocked Talankin, citing the Oscar’s potential use as a weapon. As Talankin lacked a bag to store the award, the TSA placed the Oscar in a box and dispatched it to the lower section of the plane. Regrettably, the award did not reach its intended destination in Frankfurt.
Following Borenstein’s public announcement which triggered an international response, Lufthansa airline confirmed on Friday that the missing Oscar had been located. In a statement, the airline assured that the Oscar was now secure in Frankfurt and they were in direct communication with Talankin to arrange its prompt return. Lufthansa expressed regret over the inconvenience caused and issued an apology to the owner, mentioning an ongoing internal review of the incident.
In March, “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” clinched the Academy Award for best documentary, with Talankin and Borenstein delivering a poignant acceptance speech that became a highlight of the ceremony. Talankin, portrayed as the titular “Mr. Nobody” in the documentary, previously a teacher in Russia, documented his students supporting Putin’s actions in Ukraine, smuggling the footage to Borenstein in Denmark for collaboration.
During his speech in Russian, translated on stage, Talankin appealed for an end to wars for the sake of future generations and children. The TSA did not respond immediately to inquiries on Friday.