In mid-August, Russian film director Andrey Zvyagintsev was transferred to Germany for treatment due to a severe case of COVID-19. Doctors are now preparing to bring him out of a medically-induced coma, reports The Bell, citing sources familiar with the situation.
Zvyagintsev was in extremely serious condition, according to The Bell’s sources. He sustained damage to 92 percent of his lungs and was put on extracorporeal life support (ECLS). However, he was recently taken off all life support systems, reportedly in preparation for bringing him out of a medically induced coma. Presumably, he will continue his recovery and rehabilitation abroad.
According to The Bell, the Russian conglomerate AFK Sistema is paying for Zvyagintsev’s medical treatment. The company declined to comment.
Andrey Zvyagintsev is a two-time Oscar nominee known for directing the films “The Return,” “Elena,” “Leviathan,” and “Loveless,” among others. He won the Venice Film Festival’s main prize in 2003 and the Cannes Film Festival’s Jury Prize in 2017.