Russian film directors Zvyagintsev, Selyanov, Kott leave Russian Oscar Committee

MOSCOW. Sept 27 (Interfax) - A number of members of the Russian Oscar Committee, including film directors Andrei Zvyagintsev, Sergei Selyanov and Vladimir Kott, have decided to leave the organization, film director Pavel Chukhray, who also earlier decided to step down as committee chairman, told Interfax.

"Nikolai Dostal, Andrei Zvyagintsev, Vera Storozheva, Sergei Selyanov, and Vladimir Kott," Chukhray replied when asked which members of the Russian Oscar Committee had decided to leave.

Earlier, Chukhray said that he was leaving his post due to the decision of the Presidium of the Russian Film Academy not to nominate a Russian film for the Academy Awards. He also said that he had sent a letter to the members of the Russian Oscar Committee in which he described his stance on the decision not to nominate a film from Russia for the Academy Awards.

The previous day, the Russian National Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences decided not to send a film for an Oscar award this year.