Alexander Molochnikov’s short film “Extremistka,” about Russian artist Sasha Skochilenko, could compete for an Oscar in the live-action short category. In 2025, the film won the student BAFTA award for best film as well as the jury prize, and premiered at the Telluride festival. Later, Ben Stiller and Oscar-winning producer John Lesher joined the project as executive producers.
Molochnikov said he deliberately shot the film in Russian with Russian actors. In his view, that was a more honest choice for this story than making it in English, and Columbia University, where the film served as his thesis project, had no issue with it: students there routinely shoot in their own languages and screen subtitled works.
The director said he tried to strike a balance between making the story understandable for American viewers and avoiding simplified stereotypes about Russia. He added that the film is not aimed at one national audience but at people capable of feeling and thinking.
“It has already become American to some extent while we were shooting and releasing it,” Molochnikov said, arguing that fears of punishment for protest activity have also grown in the United States.
The script was first discussed with Skochilenko’s partner, Sonya Subbotina, and was later passed on to Sasha herself. Molochnikov said it was crucial for him to receive her approval. Shortly before filming, he expected to speak only with Sonya, but Skochilenko, who had been freed in a prisoner exchange, joined the call as well.
One detail Skochilenko described did not make the final cut: a fox hat with ears that, according to the recollection, may have helped identify her. Molochnikov said the investigator in her case later put on the hat and mocked her. In the film, that character is played by Artur Smolyaninov.
Molochnikov said the most important part of Skochilenko’s story was not the act of swapping price tags itself, but her refusal to sign a statement declaring the messages false. In his view, that decision revealed her resolve under pressure from investigators.
According to the director, the involvement of Stiller and Lesher should help the film reach a wider audience in the remaining period before voting for the Oscar shortlist. He said that after the film won Columbia University’s festival, one of his teachers showed it to Stiller, who responded quickly, leading to the collaboration later reported by Deadline.