If you were here, you’d tell us to stop crying, take a shot of vodka, and get back to work. I’m pouring one out for you, Alexey. Thank you for everything.
The news of Robbie Robertson’s passing hit me deeply. He took a chance on me, when I was just 24, to direct a film about his life. It was a big job, but Robbie saw something in me. Robbie reminded me to take big swings and to dream big. He went all in and left it all on the stage.
After NAVALNY won the Oscar, Robbie wrote to me: “I guess I was right about this kid from Canada.”
Rest easy Robbie, I’ll be listening to your songs until the day I die.
@navalny I wish I could be the one to tell you that our film has been nominated for an Oscar. Stay strong and let this honor be a reminder that the world is with you. You will be free.
@navalnydoc is going back to @sundanceorg for a special encore screening.
Here are a few behind the scenes photos @niki_waltl shot while we were making the film. It was freezing that morning and @navalny joked ‘if the FSB doesn’t kill me, Daniel will for making me run so much in the cold!’
@navalny I hope you’re staying warm in penal colony IK-6. Good people all over the world are rooting for you. Soon you will be free and you’ll get to see the movie. When I’m at Sundance I’ll take a winter run in your honor.
@navalnydoc was nominated for a PGA award, to mark this honor, here’s an update on Navalny’s condition:
@navalny continues to be the loudest anti-war activist in Russia.
Because of this, he was placed in solitary confinement indefinitely. His attorney client privilege was revoked. His wife, @yulia_navalnaya can no longer see him since his visitation rights were taken away.
Then, this week, we learned that Navalny would get a cellmate. The two men are arm's length apart, in a cell intended to be punishingly small for a single individual. His cellmate is unwell, a man who is unable to control his bodily functions or tend to his personal hygiene. This man, who needs urgent medical care, has instead been weaponized by the Russian prison system. The prison authorities seek to create as much misery as possible, for both Navalny and his cellmate. This is a dark and sinister violation of human rights.
Hang in there, Alexey. Russia will be free of Putin. Ukraine will be free of war. You will be free.
