Politico - November 18, 2009  - Article and photos by Kiki Ryan

Celebs and Pols Unite

Link to Politco article

Imprisoned oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once the richest man in Russia, is the subject of the new documentary “Vlast" (translated as "Power") – and though the film is unfinished, it was screened Tuesday night by The Creative Coalition, Spotlight Initiative and The Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice. The screening and reception at the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center drew plenty of members of Congress and Hollywood.

The documentary by Cathryn Collins looks at the imprisonment and human rights case of Khodorkovsky. The event was timed to extend a wave of recent press about the former head of YUKOS oil. Recent visits to Russia by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.K. politician David Miliband, neither of whom commented on Khodorkovsky standing yet another trial in Moscow, created a demand for renewed attention.

The last-minute nature of the screening, though, was all to the good for the filmmaker. "Christmas comes early to Cathryn Collins," she told POLITICO at the reception. She added that even her brother who is "well-connected" in Washington was shocked to receive an invite to his sister's film, which he thought was not completed.

Organizers criticized America's increasingly "hands-off" approach to Russia and pled for Internet grassroots activism by college-age kids through social networking. Actors Alfre Woodard, Richard Schiff, and Wendie Malick drew press and members of Congress. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) – who has co-sponsored a Senate resolution on Khodorkovsky – Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Rep. Paul Hodes (D-N.H.), who's running for the Senate, show that the case has not been forgotten by the U.S. government. Also on hand family members of the late Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), a Holocaust survivor who championed Khodorkovsky's cause.

No one in attendance could be closer to the case than Pavel Khodorkovsky, the 24-year-old son of Khodorkovsky, who hasn't seen his father nor has been able to travel to Russia in six years.

Following the screening, the event's VIPs attended a private dinner at Bistro Bis in the Hotel George where the conversation about the case continued. The younger Khodorkovsky shared that he was recently married and his wife is pregnant, but these milestones would have to be shared with without his dad.

How it ranked (1-5 stars, with 5 being the highest):

Venue — 3 

The reception held off the theatre wasn't designed for events, but was a decent makeshift space to start the evening. The new movie theaters in the Center look state-of-art with their steep stadium seats, but as Collins informed us, can’t show HD movies. 

Food — 3.5 

At the reception, the hot buffet featured: grilled sliced potatoes; Asian-style beef skewers; chicken with rosemary kabobs; chorizo sausage with peppers; bruschetta on mini toasts; three types of Middle Eastern dips with pita; marinated red bell peppers; cold scallop seafood pasta; mushrooms tartlets; cheese plate; prosciutto; and raw veggies.

Booze — 2 

Red and white wine; cranberry and grapefruit juice.

Star power — 3.5

The Creative Coalition’s Robin Bronk; “Vlast” filmmaker Cathryn Collins; actors and members of the Coalition Alfre Woodard, Richard Schiff, and Wendie Malick; Lawmakers Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Rep. Paul Hodes (D-N.H.); members of the family of the late Rep. Tom Lantos (D-Calif.), his wife Annette Lantos and daughter Katrina Swett; former Rep. and Vice President of APCO Don Bonker; NBC's Betsy Fischer; CNN's Linda Roth; son of Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Pavel; filmmakers Michael Simpson and Judy Cairo; and Mike Simpson, an old pal of Bill and Hillary Clinton. 

Fun factor — 4 

The reception, screening and dinner were informative, yet fun. All three portions of the evening played an effective role in championing support in the case of Khodorkovsky. 

Total: 16 stars (out of 25)