Navalny / FIlm School Radio interview with Director Daniel Roher

Director Daniel Roher explores the life and work of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who, after years of campaigning against corruption, has developed powerful enemies – including President Vladimir Putin. In August 2020, Navalny was secretly poisoned with a military-grade chemical nerve agent in a shockingly brazen attempt on his life. Beyond his staff and his loyal family, Navalny ends up being secretly surrounded by a small group of investigative journalists including Bulgarian Christo Grozev with Bellingcat and Russian Maria Pevchikh with the Anti-Corruption Foundation who knew that the state would not investigate the poisoning. What to do with their findings culminates with Navalny's highly publicized return to Moscow on January 17, 2021. After being transferred to Germany for medical attention, a recovering Navalny worked closely with international news organizations Bellingcat and CNN to investigate the crime, ultimately linking the poison to Russian security services, despite denials from the Kremlin. Eye-opening and revelatory, NAVALNY chronicles the politician and activist’s brave stand against the government that tried to silence him – and his never-ending fight for democracy. Director Daniel Roher (Once We Were Brothers) stops by to talk about the 2023 Oscar nomination for Best Documentary Feature, what he did and did not know about Navalny, Vladimir Putin, Russian politics, gaining the trust of Alexei’s inner circle, and his personal reaction to some of the mind-boggling events that unfolded in front of his camera. For news and updates go to: dogwoof.com/navalny