The Wizard of the Kremlin

2025, USA – UK – France, 152 min., Feature, Political Thriller, Drama

Director: Olivier Assayas
Script: Olivier Assayas (based on the novel by Giuliano da Empoli)
Director of Photography: Eric Gautier
Cast: Paul Dano, Alicia Vikander, Jude Law, Tom Glynn-Carney
Producer: Curiosa Films, Gaumont

Based on the bestseller by Giuliano da Empoli, the film follows the rise of Vadim Baranov – a former theater director and TV producer who becomes the “grey eminence” of the Kremlin. Baranov is the man who invents the image of a new leader and constructs a system of political manipulation where theater and reality are indistinguishable. Told through the eyes of an insider, the story reveals the inner workings of power in modern Russia. “The Wizard of the Kremlin” is a gripping political thriller about paranoia, ambition, and the price one pays for being at the center of global events.

Olivier Assayas

Olivier Assayas (born 1955) is a leading figure in contemporary French cinema. A former critic for the legendary Cahiers du Cinéma, he brings his erudition and visual sensitivity to directing, often exploring themes of globalization, technology, and art. With films such as “Carlos”, “Clouds of Sils Maria” and “Personal Shopper” (Best Director at Cannes), Assayas has established himself as a master of psychological depth and sophisticated cinematic style.

FILMOGRAPHY

2025 – The Wizard of the Kremlin (Le Mage du Kremlin)
2024 – Suspended Time (Hors du temps)
2019 – Wasp Network
2018 – Non-Fiction (Doubles vies)
2016 – Personal Shopper
2014 – Clouds of Sils Maria
2012 – Something in the Air (Après mai)
2010 – Carlos

FESTIVALS, AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

2026 – Lumières Award Nomination – Best Director
2026 – César Award Nomination – Best Adapted Screenplay
2025 – European Film Awards (EFA) Nomination – Best European Film
2025 – Golden Lion Nomination – Venice International Film Festival
2025 – Official Selection – Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)