Kurt Russell: I Just Wanna Celebrate ... Quentin Tarantino's Protest Not My Problem

Kurt Russell's been around long enough to know how the game's played -- if your movie wins an award, shut up about the director being embroiled in a controversy about police brutality!

We got Kurt -- with Tim Roth and Walton Goggins -- hours after their flick, "Hateful Eight" won the Hollywood Film Award for best ensemble. Quentin Tarantino wrote and directed the movie ... long before he joined a NYC protest against police brutality.

Quentin's vocal stance reportedly got him in hot water with executive producer Harvey Weinstein, who probably doesn't want controversy affecting the box office.

As Kurt and the cast left Mr Chow Saturday night, they were obviously trying to keep it light. Translation: Just win, baby.