AceShowbiz - The Oligarch and the Art Dealer is a gripping three-part documentary series that dives deep into a sensational 21st-century art scandal involving money, power, and betrayal. The series, currently screening at the CPH:DOX Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival and previously premiered at Sundance, offers a rare glimpse into an exclusive world where art, wealth, and deception collide.

Produced by Christoph Jörg and directed by Andreas Dalsgaard, who co-wrote the series with Kevin Lincoln, the documentary unravels a decade-long conflict over billions of dollars between two prominent figures: Russian oligarch Dmitry Rybolovlev and Swiss art dealer Yves Bouvier. These two men, initially partners and possibly friends, find their relationship shattered by fraud allegations and a tangled web of lies.

The CPH:DOX festival, now in its 23rd year, has been highly selective about its lineup, making The Oligarch and the Art Dealer a standout as the only series featured this year. The festival’s website highlights the documentary’s “cast of colorful characters that one could hardly invent even in the wildest imagination,” underscoring the extraordinary nature of this real-life drama.

Set against the backdrop of the secretive and opaque market of high-end art investments, the series reveals how Bouvier evolved from a discreet adviser to a global power broker managing Rybolovlev’s art investments. This realm is described as “one of the world’s most closed and enigmatic markets,” where art values are decided by a narrow elite of ultra-rich connoisseurs and tycoons. Yet, beneath the surface of sophistication lurks fierce rivalry and betrayal.

The synopsis of the series notes that when the friendship between Bouvier and Rybolovlev suddenly implodes, “a web of lies is revealed,” leaving audiences to question who is truly at fault. The documentary does not seek to provide easy answers but invites viewers to peer behind the curtain of this hidden world.

Alongside Jörg and Dalsgaard, producers Miriam Norgaard, Ines Bensalem, Philippe Coeytaux, Lea Fels, Lucy Sexton, and Isidoor Roebers contributed to the project. The production companies involved include Elk Film, Vestigo Films, Scenery, Akka Films, and Words + Pictures, illustrating the broad collaborative effort behind this ambitious docuseries.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter on the sidelines of CPH:DOX, the creators shared their intention to expose the mechanics of a secretive and rarely seen universe. “We wanted to understand how this secretive world that these two people live in works,” Jörg explained. He noted the classic human dynamics at play: “They had the same goal. But then what always happens in this kind of relationship is that greed shows up, ego shows up, human behavior shows up, and then things go wrong and explode.”

Dalsgaard reflected on the cinematic quality of the story, likening it to popular shows and films. “What partly drew me to this is that we are in a universe that resembles what we see in series like Succession or Billions,” he said. “It’s almost like a James Bond universe, or Tenet. We see that stuff in fiction, but we never see it in a documentary. That’s because it’s so secretive and it’s so hard to get access.”

The filmmakers were granted unprecedented access to thousands of documents, including emails and court records, which provided the foundation for the series. Dalsgaard compared the revelatory nature of these materials to “the shock that’s happening right now around the world with the release of the Epstein files,” highlighting the insight into secret networks and the complex dealings among the ultra-wealthy.

Among the documentary’s revelations are the workings of private auctions, where billionaires compete fiercely over rare masterpieces. “An auction house puts these billionaires together, and then they are sitting there and fighting over a Klimt or whatever,” Jörg said, emphasizing the high stakes and intense rivalries behind the scenes.

The series also features a look inside a Geneva freeport, described by Dalsgaard as “the largest art museum that you will never get into.” He likened it to the iconic scene in Indiana Jones where The Ark of the Covenant is stored in a massive, hidden warehouse. These freeports serve as secretive storage spaces for priceless artworks, shielded from public view and often beyond regulatory scrutiny.

Given the intricate legal and factual complexities involved, the creators emphasized the extensive fact-checking and legal review process required to produce the series. The nature of the story demanded careful handling to ensure accuracy and to navigate the sensitive issues surrounding the scandal.

Despite its cinematic qualities and global appeal, no U.S. distribution deal for The Oligarch and the Art Dealer had been confirmed at the time of the interview. The filmmakers remain open to opportunities but have not finalized arrangements for American audiences.

Jörg reflected on the timeless themes embedded in the series, drawing a parallel to Shakespearean drama. “It has some of those ingredients that also make Shakespeare universal,” he said. “He wrote stories about kings and dukes and princes, and oftentimes they end up getting in trouble due to the faults that they have as human beings — their greed, their ego, their jealousy. And that ends up eating them from the inside. I think we see something very similar in this story.”

Dalsgaard concluded by underscoring the broader significance of the narrative. “This story is, of course, about art. But it’s really a story about how money and power wield their influence in the world, which is a timely [theme]. And art plays a big role in that.” He noted the singularity of the insight the series offers: “There’s almost no other situation where we’ve ever had this kind of insight into the circles of money and power.”

The Oligarch and the Art Dealer stands as a rare documentary that combines the intrigue of a high-stakes thriller with the real-world drama of wealth, influence, and betrayal, inviting viewers to enter a world typically hidden from public view but crucial in shaping global art and financial markets.