Timur Bekmambetov

Birthday: 25 June 1961, Guryev, Kazakh SSR, USSR [now Atyrau, Kazakhstan]

Height: 168 cm

Timur Bekmambetov is a Russian-Kazakh film director known for vampire franchise Nochnoy dozor (2004) and Dnevnoy dozor (2006).He was born Timur Nuruakhitovich Bekmambetov on June 25, 1961, in Guryev, Soviet Union (now Atyrau, Kazakhstan). His father, Nuruakhit Bekmambetov, is a manager at Guryev Energy company; his mother, Mira Bogoslavskaya, was a journalist. Young Bekmambetov was raised along the Ural river in Kazakhstan, Soviet Union.In 1978, aged 17, he moved to Moscow. There from 1978 to 1980 he attended the Moscow Energy Institute, but he was more interested in art and movies. Eventually he dropped out of college, and joined the cultural milieu around such artists as Anatoli Zverev and Oskar Rabin. Then, from 1982 to 1987 he studied painting at Tashkent Theatrical Art Institute, graduating in 1987 as artist of theatre and film. From 1987 to 1988 he served in the Red Army stationed at artillery division near Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan. Then he worked as set designer at "Ilkhom" Drama Theatre in Tashkent, and at Uzbek Film Studio.Since 1989 he has been directing commercials. In 1992 Bekmambetov made his directorial and writing debut with Peshavarskiy vals (1994), a film about the Soviet war in Afghanistan which received awards at several festivals in Europe. From 1992 to 1997 he made 18 commercials for the Russian bank "Imperial" and was named best young director of 1997 by Russian Film Academy. In 1999 he started his own film company, Bazelevs Production.His big break came with the success of the vampire franchise Nochnoy dozor (2004) and Dnevnoy dozor (2006), which he directed during 2003 - 2005. Both films became international blockbusters, and received several awards and nominations. The third installment, Twilight Watch (2009), is slated for release in 2009.Since 2005, Bekmambetov has been working in Hollywood, writing, directing and producing several flicks, such as Wanted (2008), 9 (2009), and The Red Star. Back in Russia, he made another success directing Ironiya sudby. Prodolzhenie (2007), a romantic comedy based on the Soviet era characters and capitalizing on nostalgia among some of the post-Soviet audiences.Timur Bekmambetov established himself as a master of dense narrative. His films often surprise the viewers with eerie details, hectic pace and unusual twists and turns, and remain a challenge even for experienced audiences. Hide

It was like an army operation... We understood from the very beginning that Russia needs big, ambiti Show more It was like an army operation... We understood from the very beginning that Russia needs big, ambitious and brave film-making. Before us, there was only art-house - great, talented movies for European festivals - and very bad, very cheap and creatively weak commercial movies. Hide

[how Hardcore Henry (2015) got made] As usual, we all live on the Internet. I'm spending probably a Show more [how Hardcore Henry (2015) got made] As usual, we all live on the Internet. I'm spending probably a third of my life in front of a screen. I found this music video Ilya [director Ilya Naishuller] made and immediately found him through Facebook just to meet him, to talk to him out of curiosity. I asked him if he wanted to do it as a movie and at first he said he doesn't feel it could be a movie because it's a very specific language. But we kept talking and I asked if he wanted to see it as a story on the big screen and he said absolutely. We discussed what it could be and he found a story. (...) My role was mostly to protect him, to give him freedom to do what he wants. For this specific kind of movie, you do need that freedom. Because I'm a director myself and I understand how important it is to have a chance. I'm learning. To make a movie is an excuse to meet people and find new friends and new partners, the same thing has happened in my life many times. It happened in 2009 with Shane Acker and 9 (2009), it happened last year with Unfriended (2014). It's most exciting for me to deal with young filmmakers and figure out how to make innovative movies. [2016] Hide

[on Hardcore Henry (2015)] There is no way a studio would make this movie. I'm the only crazy person Show more [on Hardcore Henry (2015)] There is no way a studio would make this movie. I'm the only crazy person in the world who can agree to greenlight the project with no script and have the language to make the movie not exist. It's a challenge, but it's why we make movies. (...) My only motivations are challenge and curiosity. If I don't know how to do something, then I'm doing it. [2016] Hide

...but the most powerful special effect is the actor. All the visual style is an extension of charac Show more ...but the most powerful special effect is the actor. All the visual style is an extension of character. Hide

[on producing Hardcore Henry (2015)] Sharlto [Sharlto Copley] was a big part of the plan. He's very Show more [on producing Hardcore Henry (2015)] Sharlto [Sharlto Copley] was a big part of the plan. He's very creative. His first movie, District 9 (2009), was a really good example of collaboration between actor and director. And I knew he was brave. I had invited him to go to Kazakhstan for a small film festival and he jumped on a plane and came. I figured he would be very, very important for Ilya [director Ilya Naishuller]. Producing is about the people you choose. Choosing the right people is about 90% of producing. (...) The sense of humor is really, really important. I understood that Ilya has a very similar sensibility as Sharlto. "District 9" also had this mischievous tone but at the same time was very emotional and heartbreaking. Ilya had the same taste, so that collaboration made this movie. [2016] Hide

Timur Bekmambetov's FILMOGRAPHY

as Director (5)

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Mercy (2026)

Yolki 1914 [Audio: Russian]

Wanted (2008)

Ben-Hur (2016)