DON'T MISS: Peer into the mind and motives of Petr Pavlensky, a Russian dissident artist best known for nailing his scrotum to the pavement in the middle of Red Square (yes, they do show it, but only for a wince-inducing few seconds). Pavlensky - Man and Might is a documentary that follows Pavlensky’s various “actions” as well as his dramatic home life—combining silhouetted, animated re-creations of court testimony, and sweeping cityscapes paired with an ominously tinged score. The result? A riveting (pardon the pun), nuanced depiction of using self-violence as an apparatus of declaring absolute artistic freedom in the face of authoritarian state power. Check out the trailer and more information about where you can see it below.

SIFF happens May 18-June 11. Check out showtimes for Pavlensky - Man and Might here; more recommended SIFF films here; and all SIFF films here.