Andrey Zvyagintsev

Andrei Zvyagintsev is a Russian filmmaker and was born on Feb.6, 1964 in the siberian city of Novisibirsk. He graduated from the Novosibirsk Actors School in 1984 and started to act on stage in provincial theatres. In the early 1990s he came to Moscow - the centre of the Russian film industry - with the ambition to star in movies. Moscow was not welcoming to a newcomer in film acting. As Znyagintsev put it later: "I was hungry, in need of work, I auditioned for everything. I even did not have money to buy a bus ticket." From 1992 to 2000 he appeared as 'extra' in numerous TV series' and feature films but with no positive experiences. Suddenly a friend offered him a job as director at REN TV, an independent production company that makes cop shows and day-time soaps. Zvyagintsev directed several episodes for a popular TV series and impressing producers with his skills. He got the offer to direct the feature length film The Return (2003) - a low-budget family drama that turned out to beco