Extremist (film)

Extremist
Russian: Экстремист(ка)
Directed byAleksandr Molochnikov
Written byAleksandr Molochnikov, Mikhail Durnenkov
Produced byJean Chapiro
StarringViktoria Miroshnichenko; Tinatin Dalakishvili; Liliyan Malkina
CinematographyMikhail Krichman
Distributed byThe New Yorker (short film acquisition)
Release date
  • September 5, 2025 (2025-09-05) (Telluride)
Running time
17 minutes
CountriesLatvia, United States
LanguageRussian

Extremist (Russian: Экстремистка, romanizedEkstremistka) is a 2025 short drama film written and directed by Russian filmmaker Aleksandr Molochnikov. The 17-minute film dramatizes events inspired by the real-life case of Aleksandra Skochilenko and follows a young artist (portrayed by Viktoriya Miroshnichenko) whose act of protest, in which she replaces supermarket price tags with anti-war messages, leads to her arrest and prosecution.[1][2]

Cast

Production

Extremist was written and directed by Aleksandr Molochnikov as a Columbia University student film project, Jean Chapiro is credited as a producer.

Release

The film premiered on the 2025 festival circuit, including its Telluride Film Festival screening, and subsequently screened at university and regional film festivals. The New Yorker acquired the short for distribution following its festival run.

Accolades

  • BAFTA Student Film Awards (2025) — Live Action Award; Special Jury Award.
  • Jury Prize — New Hampshire Film Festival (2025).[3]
  • National Board of Review — Student Grant[3]
  • Best Film, James Ponsoldt Award for Best Director, and producing awards at the Miloš Forman / Mike Hausman Columbia University Film Festival (2025)[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ "The price of freedom – Director Alexander Molochnikov talks about Extremist, his short film about former political prisoner Sasha Skochilenko". Novaya Gazeta.
  2. ^ "Building a State of Fear in "Extremist"". New Yorker. 5 December 2025.
  3. ^ a b Melanie Goodfellow (11 November 2025). "Ben Stiller & John Lesher Board Oscar Contender Short 'Extremist' By Exiled Russian Director Alexander Molochnikov". Deadline.
  4. ^ Rhea Shukla. "Ben Stiller and John Lesher Join 'Extremist' by Alexander Molochnikov '25 as Executive Producers". Columbia University.