Julia Ivanova is an acclaimed Russian film director with a background in documentary filmmaking. She is best known for her award-winning feature films such as The Habitual (2009) and The Lesson (2013).
Ivanova was born in Moscow in 1978. She studied film and television production at the VGIK, one of the world’s oldest film schools, and graduated in 2001. In 2006, she made her first documentary feature, Island of Lost Souls, which was selected for the Cannes Film Festival and won several awards.
Her first feature film, The Habitual, was released in 2009 and was a critical success. The film follows the story of a young woman who returns to her home village in Russia to find out about her family’s past. It was nominated for several awards, including the European Film Award for Best Film.
In 2010, she directed the documentary short film, The Last Train, which was screened at various film festivals around the world and won the Grand Prix at the Sochi International Film Festival.
Ivanova’s second feature film, The Lesson, was released in 2013 and was also a critical success. The film follows a school teacher in a rural Russian village as she struggles to teach the children of the village despite the hardships they face. It was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and won several awards at international film festivals.
Ivanova has since directed several short films and documentaries, including the feature documentary, My Friend Boris Nemtsov, which was released in 2017. The film follows the life and work of the late Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov.
Ivanova has become one of the most respected and acclaimed directors in the Russian film industry. Her films have won numerous awards and have been praised for their thought-provoking and powerful storytelling. Her work has been described as “poetic and highly sensitive” and has earned her the admiration of many critics and filmmakers.
Ivanova continues to be active in the film industry and has several projects in development. She is an inspiring and talented director who is committed to telling stories that explore the complexities of life in modern Russia.
