The documentary world is still reverberating from the 96th Academy Awards, where “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” took home the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. Now, director David Borenstein is already charting his next course, a path that includes a new, still-untitled project and a renewed commitment to public broadcasting in the United States. The win, a significant moment for independent filmmaking and investigative journalism, has opened doors for Borenstein and his team, but also presents new considerations as they navigate their future work.
Borenstein, who co-directed “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” with Russian schoolteacher Pavel Talankin, was scheduled to pitch a new project, tentatively titled “Living in Our Heads,” at the CPH:DOX film festival in Copenhagen earlier this week. However, the Oscar win necessitated a change of plans. The film, produced by Helle Faber at Made in Copenhagen, remains shrouded in secrecy, but Borenstein offered a glimpse into the collaborative spirit that will shape its creation.
“One thing I learned from ‘Mr Nobody Against Putin’ is the benefit of having a co-director and opening yourself up to working with someone else, including someone you wouldn’t necessarily think to make a documentary with,” Borenstein told Variety while preparing to return to Copenhagen from Los Angeles. He emphasized the invaluable contribution of Talankin, stating, “If you had told me I would direct a film with a Russian school teacher from a town of 8,000 people, I would not have immediately believed you, but what Pasha gave to this project was everything. He was unbelievable.”
A New Collaborative Approach
The success of the partnership with Talankin has fundamentally altered Borenstein’s approach to filmmaking. He intends to continue prioritizing collaboration, seeking out voices and perspectives that challenge conventional storytelling. “We are going to utilize this collaboration to create an interesting film language,” he explained. “There is going to be a voice that I help write in the middle of the film that is a very unexpected perspective, or I hope it is an unexpected perspective, on a big geopolitical topic.”
Borenstein’s artistic sensibilities are clearly influenced by a wave of recent documentaries that embrace innovative techniques and explore the pervasive nature of imagery in the modern world. He cited Geeta Gandbhir’s “The Perfect Neighbor” and Mstyslav Chernov’s “2000 Meters to Andriivka” as particularly inspiring, noting that these films “all play with the idea of this new era where We find cameras everywhere and the ubiquity of the image.”
The Impact of the Oscar Win
Producer Helle Faber notes that the Oscar win has already begun to shift the landscape for their upcoming projects. “When you have the right project, everyone wants to be a part of it, but, of course, now that You can brag about this little golden man, I think more interest will arrive our way for the next project,” she said. This increased visibility is expected to ease access to key individuals and institutions crucial for their investigations.
“Now that people can see how David, I, and our production company have worked with Pasha, it makes them come forward because we really take care of people in our films,” Faber added. “We make them stand out. It’s more a question about getting access to the people we want and demand for our next project, but I am hoping it will be easier.”
Navigating Anonymity and Public Attention
However, the newfound fame also presents a challenge. Borenstein acknowledges that his previous work thrived on a degree of anonymity, allowing him to gain trust and access within the communities he documented. “I do wonder if the loss of some of that anonymity has to make me think about how to move about that,” he admitted. He’s considering how to balance the benefits of increased recognition with the need to maintain the subtle, immersive approach that characterized “Mr. Nobody Against Putin.”
A Commitment to Public Broadcasting
Alongside “Living in Our Heads,” Borenstein is prioritizing a project with American public broadcaster PBS. He expressed strong support for the network, particularly in light of recent challenges. “We are still financing my next project in Denmark and the public system in Europe has been really good to me, but I think PBS is absolutely crucial for America,” he stated. “I am in dismay about what’s happened to it over the last year… I would like to support PBS however I can now.”
Borenstein’s long-standing collaboration with PBS’s science program Nova will continue, a partnership he values for its educational reach and commitment to democratic values. “I love this work because it informs people in America, reaches schoolchildren, and has democratic values within it.”
Faber is also looking ahead, developing a slate of new projects, including a large-scale documentary series. She emphasized a commitment to quality over quantity, stating, “I told myself that, after ‘Mr Nobody Against Putin,’ I am going to be very picky, because I would rather work on fewer projects and have them be the right ones.”
The future for Borenstein and Faber appears bright, fueled by the success of “Mr. Nobody Against Putin” and a dedication to impactful storytelling. Their next steps will involve finalizing financing for “Living in Our Heads” and continuing to develop their partnership with PBS. The team is expected to provide further updates on their projects in the coming months.
What’s next for Borenstein and Faber remains largely under wraps, but their commitment to collaborative, thought-provoking documentary filmmaking is clear. The industry, and audiences alike, will be watching closely to see what they unveil next.
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