In 1984, as the USSR heads toward collapse, Boris, a Russian-Jewish stand-up comedian favored by the regime and the public, feels tormented by censorship, external oppression and his own insecurities. Fame, combined with a lack of personal freedom, is driving him crazy. Sick with self-loathing and at odds with his running-out-of-patience family, Boris decides to challenge censorship in what turns out to be a dangerous game. Latvian-born, U.S.-raised writer/director Michael Idov (co-writer of Leto, PSIFF 2019) spent some formative years as the editor-in-chief of GQ Russia, and this smart social satire proves he knows Russian society from the inside out. “His screenplay for The Humorist crackles with sharp-witted dialogue but also reveals the film’s darker elements and the insidiousness of a society moving into unchartered territory beyond mere corruption.” – Jay Weissberg, Variety

Winner: Best Actor, Art Film Festival; Best Film, Baltic Debuts

Director Michael Idov is expected to be in attendance on January 8.