Directing

Kantemir Balagov

Born July 28, 1991 · Nalchik, USSR (Russia) (age 35)

Kantemir Arturovich Balagov (Russian: Кантемир Артурович Балагов, Kabardian: Бэлагъы Артурыкъуэ Къантемыр; born 28 July 1991) is a Russian film director of Circassian descent, screenwriter and cinematographer from the Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria, in the North Caucasian region of the Russian Federation. He has directed the films Closeness (2017) and Beanpole (2019). Description above from the W…

Known For

Antigone

Antigone · 2015

MovieDramaHistory

Diploma work of the Kabardino-Balkar State University (Alexander Sokurov's workshop)

Army

Academic work of 4th courses of training of Kabardino-Balkarian State University (Alexander Sokurov's workshop).

Beanpole

Beanpole · 2019

1945, Leningrad. World War II has devastated the city, demolishing its buildings and leaving its citizens in tatters, physically and mentally. Two young women, Iya and Masha, search for meaning and hope in the struggle to rebuild their lives amongst the ruins.

Still Young

Still Young · 2015

The story of Dante, a graduate of the philological faculty who works on the railroad, pins the tracks to the railroad ties with a terrible noise, and then falls in love with a deaf-mute girl.

Butterfly Jam

Butterfly Jam · 2026

16 years old Pyteh splits his time between the wrestling mat and his family’s struggling Circassian diner in Newark. A single impulsive decision by his hustling father changes the course of his life, shaping a tale of pride, legacy, and masculinity.

She Is Waiting

She Is Waiting · 2014

A girl who is serving time in a prison camp is visited by a young man, who is the reason for her being in the camp.

Closeness

Closeness · 2017

1998, Nalchik. A Jewish family is in trouble: the youngest son and his bride do not come home, and in the morning, a ransom note arrives. The ransom is so high that the family is forced not only to sell its small business, but also to seek help from its fellow tribesmen.

First I

First I · 2014

A story of teenager who's trying to find himself

Filmography

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Antigone

Antigone · 2015

MovieDramaHistory

Diploma work of the Kabardino-Balkar State University (Alexander Sokurov's workshop)

Army

Academic work of 4th courses of training of Kabardino-Balkarian State University (Alexander Sokurov's workshop).

Assistant Director of Photography

Beanpole

Beanpole · 2019

1945, Leningrad. World War II has devastated the city, demolishing its buildings and leaving its citizens in tatters, physically and mentally. Two young women, Iya and Masha, search for meaning and hope in the struggle to rebuild their lives amongst the ruins.

Director

Still Young

Still Young · 2015

The story of Dante, a graduate of the philological faculty who works on the railroad, pins the tracks to the railroad ties with a terrible noise, and then falls in love with a deaf-mute girl.

Screenplay

Butterfly Jam

Butterfly Jam · 2026

16 years old Pyteh splits his time between the wrestling mat and his family’s struggling Circassian diner in Newark. A single impulsive decision by his hustling father changes the course of his life, shaping a tale of pride, legacy, and masculinity.

Director

She Is Waiting

She Is Waiting · 2014

A girl who is serving time in a prison camp is visited by a young man, who is the reason for her being in the camp.

Director of Photography

Closeness

Closeness · 2017

1998, Nalchik. A Jewish family is in trouble: the youngest son and his bride do not come home, and in the morning, a ransom note arrives. The ransom is so high that the family is forced not only to sell its small business, but also to seek help from its fellow tribesmen.

Director

First I

First I · 2014

A story of teenager who's trying to find himself

Cinematography

Andryukha

Andryukha · 2015

MovieDocumentary

Portrait of a young man with a difficult fate. Despite the inherent mental illness, the film's hero earns money for his drinking mother and sister.

Director

Sofichka

Sofichka · 2016

Sofichka returns to her native Abkhaz village in Georgia after twenty years of absence. Seeing again home and meeting with villagers take her to memory lane and all Sofichka’s life passes before her eyes: her wedding with Rufus, betrayal of the neighbour Nuri, difficult years of war, exile in Siberia. But in spite of everything, in spite of all the tough experiences, Sofichka continues to believe in people and in life, staying true to the memory of her husband who died young.

Screenplay

Tower of Silence

Tower of Silence · 2015

Tower of Silence

About a young scientist from Syria who moves to Russia with his sister. The scientist suffers from a rare disease - "insensibility."

Assistant Director of Photography

Adiyukh

Adiyukh · 2015

A girl named Adiyah runs from her parents' house to a big city for a better life.

Director of Photography

They abandoned me

They abandoned me · 2014

They abandoned me

A teenage girl from a dysfunctional family, whose parents keep an inexpensive roadside cafe, runs away from home. "It's not I who left them, they left me," - so the girl explains her flight.

Assistant Director of Photography

Slightly Opening The Door

Slightly Opening The Door · 2014

Slightly Opening The Door

Story from the life of a young Chechen family, where the woman lives not “by the rules”.

Colorist

The Life Of My Friend

The Life Of My Friend · 2017

The Life Of My Friend

A young man was born in a small Russian city, but now lives in the Caucasus, in a foreign culture. He works as a mountain guide and enjoys life, but remains a stranger among the people he lives with. He will have to leave his carelessness behind and grow up.

Assistant Director of Photography