Paneltalk: Russia, Fake News, War and Disinformation Theatre

The war against Ukraine is also a war over information, narratives, and truth. Russia has become a central focus in international debates around state propaganda, disinformation, and hybrid forms of influence.While the Russian invasion of Ukraine since 2022 has profoundly reshaped Europe’s security landscape, increasing repression within the country has forced many artists, intellectuals, and cultural figures into exile. New realities are emerging between places such as Tbilisi, Paris, Berlin, and Hamburg – shaped by questions of identity, belonging, and the role of culture in times of political upheaval.Following the reading “Charlottenburg” by Marina Davydova, representatives of Russian civil society and the cultural scene will discuss life in exile, changing identities, the impact of propaganda and disinformation, and the ways in which art and culture can create spaces for dialogue and critical reflection in times of political uncertainty.Kirill SerebrennikovKirill Serebrennikov is one of the most internationally renowned Russian directors and artists. From 2012 to 2021, he was the artistic director of Moscow’s renowned Gogol Center. In 2017, he was placed under house arrest and remained restricted in his movements until 2019. He later left Russia and now lives in exile. Serebrennikov is well known to Hamburg audiences through his numerous productions at the Thalia Theater. Alongside his work in theatre, he is also an acclaimed filmmaker whose works have been presented at major international film festivals. His latest film “The Disappearance of Josef Mengele” received the German Film Award for August Diehl’s leading performance and was nominated in seven additional categories.Tatiana Vladimirovna FelgenhauerTatiana Vladimirovna Felgenhauer is a Russian journalist, correspondent and presenter. She was deputy editor-in-chief of the radio station Echo of Moscow, one of Russia’s best-known independent media outlets, which was shut down in 2022. In her journalistic work, Felgenhauer focuses on political developments in Russia, social debates and the role of independent media.Masha BorzunovaMasha Borzunova is a Russian journalist living in exile in Latvia. In her work, she analyses and examines Russian news programmes, talk shows and state-controlled media formats.She hosts the programme “Masha on Russia” for the European cultural broadcaster ARTE, where she explores political narratives, media strategies and social developments in Russia.Marina DavydovaMarina Davydova is a festival director, theatre maker, theatre critic and historian. Together with Roman Dolzhansky, she led the international NET Festival in Moscow until 2022. From 2016 to 2022, she was responsible for the theatre programme of the Vienna Festival (Wiener Festwochen) and curated the theatre programme of the Salzburg Festival in 2024. Following the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Davydova left Russia in 2022 and has lived in exile since. Her work explores contemporary theatre, social developments and the conditions of artistic freedom.