Max Karpman, director of documentary, “Did You Forget Mr. Fogel?” speaks about his experience creating the film with Laura Crago, Alter Eagle podcast host before a screening of the film at the Penn Theater in downtown Butler, Thursday, July 25. Holly Mead/ Special to the Eagle

Former ambassador to Bulgaria and president of the American Foreign Service Association Eric Rubin will join a panel of experts from the University of Pittsburgh on Sept. 7 from 1 to 5 p.m. to discuss the case of Marc Fogel, a Butler native and international teacher imprisoned in Russia.

The event, hosted at the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium by Pitt’s Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies, centers on hostage diplomacy and also will feature artwork from artist activists, as well as a screening of a documentary titled, “Did You Forget Mr. Fogel?”

The documentary, directed by Max Karpman, was screened earlier this summer at Penn Theater in Butler, and includes interviews with former students and family members of Fogel, including his mother, Malphine Fogel, 95, who continues to advocate for his release.

Fogel, who turned 63 in July, taught in international schools around the world and was in his final year of teaching at the Anglo-American School of Moscow when he was arrested at Sheremetyevo International Airport three years ago for possessing less than an ounce of medical marijuana. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison. His case has drawn comparisons to WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was arrested under the same statutes and released in December 2022 after 10 months in captivity.