Dates & times
All times are local to the venue · America/New York
- From 4:20 PM
My Undesirable Friends: Part II – Exile brings its journalists to Film Forum
Two journalists whose work has examined repression and war will join their filmmaker at Film Forum after the final chapters of My Undesirable Friends: Part II – Exile. The November 1 screening pairs Julia Loktev’s documentary with a Q&A featuring Ksenia Mironova and Elena Kostyuchenko.
A documentary across borders
Exile follows Russian dissident journalists after the shutdown of independent media forces them to leave Moscow. Across four years and multiple countries, Loktev follows their lives abroad and their continued reporting for Russian audiences, including coverage of Russia’s war crimes.
The film is a follow-up to My Undesirable Friends: Part I – Last Air in Moscow. Film Forum says viewers can follow Exile without having seen the earlier film. The dialogue is in Russian with English subtitles.
The journalists in the room
Mironova, an exiled Russian journalist based in New York, reports on political prisoners, human-rights repression in Russia and Ukrainians affected by Russia’s invasion. Kostyuchenko worked for years as an investigative journalist at Novaya Gazeta, covering subjects including corruption, LGBTQ rights, environmental issues and the war in Ukraine.
Their conversation with Loktev brings two of the documentary’s subjects into the discussion alongside its director. Kirsten Johnson, the filmmaker behind Cameraperson and Dick Johnson Is Dead, moderates.
One film, two admissions
Film Forum presents Exile in two separately ticketed sections. The Q&A follows Chapters 4–5; Chapters 1–3 screen earlier on November 1. That earlier section has a recorded introduction by executive producer Meryl Streep, which is not listed as part of the Chapters 4–5 screening.
Further reading: Film Forum · MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART II – EXILE Q&A with Filmmaker Julia Loktev and Subjects Ksenia Mironova & Elena KostyuchenkoFilm Forum on FacebookFilm Forum on TwitterFilm Forum on InstagramFilm Forum on BlueskyFilm Forum on Letterboxd ↗ · Film Forum · MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART II – EXILEFilm Forum on FacebookFilm Forum on TwitterFilm Forum on InstagramFilm Forum on BlueskyFilm Forum on Letterboxd ↗
Screening and Q&A
The event centers on the final two chapters of Exile and a conversation with the director and two of the film’s subjects.
Sunday, November 1, 2026 · Film Forum
- MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART II – EXILE, Chapters 4-5; Q&A with filmmaker Julia Loktev and subjects Ksenia Mironova and Elena Kostyuchenko, moderated by filmmaker Kirsten Johnson.
Planning for the screening
Book the section you want
Chapters 4–5 cost $12 for members or $18 general admission. Chapters 1–3 require a separate ticket.
Film Forum · MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART II – EXILE Q&A with Filmmaker Julia Loktev and Subjects Ksenia Mironova & Elena KostyuchenkoFilm Forum on FacebookFilm Forum on TwitterFilm Forum on InstagramFilm Forum on BlueskyFilm Forum on Letterboxd ↗ · Film Forum · MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART II – EXILEFilm Forum on FacebookFilm Forum on TwitterFilm Forum on InstagramFilm Forum on BlueskyFilm Forum on Letterboxd ↗
Leave room for the conversation
Chapters 4–5 run 164 minutes, followed by the Q&A. Film Forum has not listed an ending time.
Film Forum · MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART II – EXILE Q&A with Filmmaker Julia Loktev and Subjects Ksenia Mironova & Elena KostyuchenkoFilm Forum on FacebookFilm Forum on TwitterFilm Forum on InstagramFilm Forum on BlueskyFilm Forum on Letterboxd ↗ · Film Forum · MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART II – EXILEFilm Forum on FacebookFilm Forum on TwitterFilm Forum on InstagramFilm Forum on BlueskyFilm Forum on Letterboxd ↗
At the theater
Film Forum says its four theaters, lobby and restrooms are wheelchair accessible on the ground level without stairs. Assistive-listening devices are available on request; closed-captioning devices are available for certain titles, so check with the theater about this screening.
Getting to Film Forum
West Houston Street
Film Forum is at 209 West Houston Street, between 6th Avenue and Varick (7th Avenue). Its directions page lists West 4 Street, Spring Street and Houston Street subway stations; check the MTA for current service.
Film Forum also lists the M20 on 7th Avenue/Varick Street, the M5 at 6th Avenue and Houston Street, and the M21 on Houston Street. Bike racks are outside the theater, and the venue notes garages and street parking in the area.
Before you make a plan
Do I need to see Last Air in Moscow first?
No. Film Forum says Exile can be followed without first seeing Part I – Last Air in Moscow.
Can I see the whole of Exile on November 1?
Film Forum lists Chapters 1–3 at 12:30 p.m. and Chapters 4–5 at 4:20 p.m. Each section requires a separate admission.
Film Forum · MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART II – EXILE Q&A with Filmmaker Julia Loktev and Subjects Ksenia Mironova & Elena KostyuchenkoFilm Forum on FacebookFilm Forum on TwitterFilm Forum on InstagramFilm Forum on BlueskyFilm Forum on Letterboxd ↗ · Film Forum · MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART II – EXILEFilm Forum on FacebookFilm Forum on TwitterFilm Forum on InstagramFilm Forum on BlueskyFilm Forum on Letterboxd ↗
Is Meryl Streep introducing the Q&A screening?
The recorded Streep introduction is listed for Chapters 1–3, not the Chapters 4–5 screening.
Film Forum · MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART II – EXILEFilm Forum on FacebookFilm Forum on TwitterFilm Forum on InstagramFilm Forum on BlueskyFilm Forum on Letterboxd ↗ · Film Forum · MY UNDESIRABLE FRIENDS: PART II – EXILE Q&A with Filmmaker Julia Loktev and Subjects Ksenia Mironova & Elena KostyuchenkoFilm Forum on FacebookFilm Forum on TwitterFilm Forum on InstagramFilm Forum on BlueskyFilm Forum on Letterboxd ↗
Does the film have English subtitles?
Yes. The film is in Russian with English subtitles.
Location & Google Maps
Film Forum
209 West Houston Street, New York, NY 10014, between 6th Avenue and Varick (7th Avenue).
Map search by venue and address. Check the organiser’s entrance details before travelling.