Alexei Popogrebsky

Renowned Russian writer/director Alexei Popogrebsky was born in Moscow and studied psychology at Moscow State University and the University of Wisconsin. In 2003 his joint directorial debut feature with Boris Khlebnikov, Koktebel (2003), was a phenomenal international success, screening in official selection at most of the world’s A-list film festivals including Berlin, Cannes and Toronto and Karlovy Vary.

Simple Things (2007), Alexei’s first solo effort as writer/director, also won numerous prestigious international awards, and was named Best Screenplay at Russian Academy Awards. His third feature, How I Ended This Summer (2010), set and shot on a polar station in the Russian Arctic, won two Silver Bears at the Berlin Film Festival, Best Film at the London Film Festival Best Film and Best Screenplay at the Russian Academy Awards and was released around the world.

Experimenting with cinema’s possibilities, Alexei directed a 3D short, Bloodrop (2011), which went on to win multiple awards. Alexei has been a jury member at some of the world’s leading film festivals, including Sundance, Karlovy Vary and Busan. Popogrebsky is the Head of the Directing Department at Moscow Film School, the leading private film school in Russia.