The documentary
OLEG: The Oleg Vidov Story
Narrated by Brian Cox. Directed by Nadia Tass. 35 people who knew him, on camera, and no re-enactments.
The film
The luckiest man in the country was a prisoner
Oleg Vidov was the Soviet Union's most popular young film actor. The state decided which roles he could take, and in May 1985 he crossed into Austria and did not go back.
The film tells his story with historians and witnesses, family photographs and clips from his films. Costa Ronin reads Oleg's own words. The screenplay by Cory Taylor comes from his autobiography.
Made by
The filmmakers
Nadia Tass
Director
Cory Taylor
Screenplay, from Oleg Vidov's autobiography
Andrea Guerra
Music
Brian Cox
Narrator
Costa Ronin
The voice of Oleg
Sasha Kapustina
The voice of Aunt Nyuta
Sergei Vidov
Executive producer
Joan Borsten Vidov
Interviews
On camera
35 people who knew him
The interviews were filmed from 2018 to 2020, in cities from Moscow and Havana to Los Angeles and Sydney.
- Mikhail BaryshnikovDancer. Executive producer with Joan and Oleg of the animated series Mikhail Baryshnikov's Stories from My Childhood.
- Walter HillDirector of Red Heat.
- Roger DonaldsonDirector of Thirteen Days.
- Gitte HaenningHis Danish co-star in The Red Mantle.
- Milena DravicYugoslav film star. His co-star in The Battle of Neretva.
- Veljko BulajicDirector of The Battle of Neretva.
- Eslinda NunezHis Cuban co-star in The Headless Horseman.
- Alexander MittaDirector of My Friend, Kolka and Moscow, My Love.
- Pavel FinnScreenwriter of The Headless Horseman.
- Irina SkobtsevaActress, widow of the director Sergei Bondarchuk.
- Richard and Francesca HarrisonThe couple who took him in after his escape.
- Mike MedavoyHollywood producer.
- Joan Borsten VidovHis wife.
- Sergei VidovHis younger son.
On the festival circuit
Festivals
The film had its world premiere at the 43rd Moscow International Film Festival. Both screenings sold out, and the audience applauded for 20 minutes.
- Moscow International Film FestivalMoscow, May 2021. World premiere
- Rhode Island International Film FestivalProvidence, August 2021. First Prize
- Cinefest OzBusselton, Western Australia, August 2021
- History Film FestivalRijeka, Croatia, September 2021
- Film Fest 919Chapel Hill, October 2021
- United Nations Association Film FestivalOctober 2021
- Global Peace Film FestivalWinter Park, Florida, November 2021
- Tiburon International Film FestivalTiburon, November 2021
- Newport Beach Film FestivalNovember 2021
- Tallinn Black Nights Film FestivalTallinn, November 2021
- Russia Abroad Film FestivalMoscow, November 2021
- Belgrade International Film Festival FESTBelgrade, November 2021
- Changing Face International Film FestivalSydney, December 2021
- Sarasota Film FestivalSarasota, April 2022
- AmDocs Film and Animation FestivalPalm Springs, April 2022
- Columbus International Film FestivalColumbus, April 2022
- Julien Dubuque International Film FestivalDubuque, April 2022
- Gold Standard Film FestivalNew York, April 2022
- Richmond International Film FestivalRichmond, June 2022
- Cal Cap Doc Film FestivalSacramento, June 2022
- Madrid International Film FestivalMadrid, July 2022
- Festival des AntipodesSaint-Tropez, October 2022
Recognition
Prizes and jury awards
- First PrizeRhode Island International Film Festival, 2021
- Best DocumentaryPrague, 2021
- Best DocumentaryNear Nazareth Festival, 2021
- Best DocumentaryLondon, 2022
- Jury Special MentionLighthouse International Film Festival, 2022