Russian Director Says Film Pirates "Killing" Oscar-Nominated Animated Short

Konstantin Bronzit calls on Russians to stop unauthorized distribution of his film "We Can't Live Without Cosmos."

Russian director Konstantin Bronzit, whose film We Can't Live Without Cosmos recently earned an Oscar nomination in the best short animated film category, has complained that online piracy in Russia is “killing” his film, arguing that it was thwarting its festival prospects.

"Today I'm in despair and I'm asking for your help," Bronzit said in an address distributed over social media. "Please, help me to save my new short We Can't Live Without Cosmos. It was stolen from some festival, uploaded to the Internet and ended up on [Russia's largest social network] VKontakte."

According to Bronzit, the fact that the film is available online could disqualify it from participation in international festivals. His attempts to fight piracy have been futile, he saysm arguing that as soon as one user deletes the film at the director's request, another user uploads it.

Bronzit called on Russian users to stop illegitimate distribution of We Can't Live Without Cosmos. "Without festival play, the film will just go into obscurity," the director said. "Save my film and my work of four years."

This is Bronzit's second Oscar nomination. Back in 2009, his animated film Ubornaya istoriya - lyubovnaya istoriya (Lavatory Lovestory) was nominated in the same category. His films have also won awards at many international festivals.