Kantemir Balagov - Film Director with a "Certain" future

Each year as part of the Cannes Film Festival the Un Certain Regard section showcases new cinema to recognize young talent and to encourage innovative and daring works. This years winner for Best Director is Kantemir Balagov for “Beanpole”.

Kantemir Balagov was born in 1991 in Nalchik, capital of the autonomous Russian Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. He undertook studies in Economy then Law and directed several web mini-series shot on a still camera before discovering that Alexandre Sokurov had opened a film school in his home town. At the end of their interview, Sokurov placed him directly in the third year study group. He directed several short films, then armed with his first feature script, he was able to raise the money, with Sokurov’s help, to make Closeness, which premiered in Un Certain Regard 2017, where he won a FIPRESCI prize. His next film is about women who fought as soldiers trying to rejoin civil society after the Second World War.

Beanpole - SYNOPSIS

1945, Leningrad. World War II has devastated the city, demolishing its buildings and leaving its citizens in tatters, physically and mentally. Although the siege – one of the worst in history – is finally over, life and death continue their battle in the wreckage that remains. Two young women, Iya and Masha, search for meaning and hope in the struggle to rebuild their lives amongst the ruins.

For period piece dramatic cinema in particular, Balagov is certainly a name to watch for a long time to come.