Andrei Kontschalowski

Andrei Konchalovsky (b. 1937, Moscow) embodies a unique blend of auteur and mainstream director, while retaining the ability to experiment with genres and technologies even in his later years. As co-author of Andrei Tarkovsky's first films he incurred the displeasure of communist bigwigs while at the same time earning honors at Venice and Cannes. This strengthened his own film The Story of Asya Klyachina (1966), which was trapped in the censor's vault for 20 years because of its "unrepresentative view" of the Russian countryside. In 1980 Konchalovsky emigrated to the USA where he made films with Nastassja Kinski (Maria's Lovers, 1984) and Sylvester Stallone (Tango & Cash, 1989). Since returning to Russia he has focused on film, opera, and theater direction. A Silver Lion from Venice for The Postman's White Nights (2014) confirms that at age 77 he is in peak form.

50. MFF Karlovy Vary