Natalya Kadyrova is a Russian film director and screenwriter best known for her award-winning feature film debut, My Step Sister. Born in Moscow in 1977, Kadyrova grew up in a creative family with a passion for cinema. She was exposed to a variety of films and film styles throughout her childhood, which influenced her own unique and personal style.
Kadyrova attended Moscow State University, where she majored in film directing. After earning her degree in 2001, she began her career as an assistant director on several projects. In 2004, Kadyrova wrote and directed her first short film, The Impossibility of Silence, which was well-received at the Moscow International Film Festival.
Kadyrova's feature film debut, My Step Sister, was released in 2008 and earned her numerous accolades, including the Special Jury Prize at the Moscow International Film Festival. The film follows the story of a young woman who discovers that her step-sister is in fact her own mother, and the two must work through their new relationship. The film was praised for its honest and sensitive portrayal of family relationships.
In 2010, Kadyrova released her second feature film, The Sadness of the Human Condition, which was nominated for Best Film at the Moscow International Film Festival. The film follows the story of a woman who returns to her hometown and confronts the memories of her past. Kadyrova’s third feature film, The Sky Above My Head, was released in 2012 and won the Grand Prix at the Moscow International Film Festival.
Kadyrova’s films have earned her a loyal fan base and critical acclaim. She has been praised for her ability to explore complex themes of identity and belonging in her films. Her work has been compared to that of renowned filmmakers such as Andrei Tarkovsky and Ingmar Bergman, and she is considered to be one of the most exciting directors working in contemporary Russian cinema.
In addition to her film work, Kadyrova is also a professor at the Russian State Institute of Cinematography, where she teaches film directing. She is also a member of the Russian Filmmakers’ Union and the European Film Academy.
