Every actor, director and producer dreams of a career in Hollywood. Unfortunately, achieving such lofty heights remains elusive for the vast majority. In this light, the achievements of Kazakh director and producer Timur Bekmambetov seem truly impressive.
Early life
The story of Timur Bekmambetov is a story of unwavering passion and accidental discovery. Born on June 25, 1961, in the bustling city of Guryev (now Atyrau), Kazakhstan, he was destined for a life behind the lens.
Young Timur's passion for photography blossomed in the cozy walls of a newspaper darkroom, where the “unforgettable smell of the developer” and the “magic” of the emerging images ignited his creative spark.
“It was in the Caspian commune that I learned to take photographs, that is, I took the first step towards cinema,” he recalls, and his eyes sparkle with the wonder of those formative moments.
Education
Despite his father’s persuasion to take up engineering, Timur’s heart strove for art. In 1982, he found his true calling at the Tashkent Theater and Art Institute, where he honed his skills as a theater and film artist, graduating in 1987.
Timur's life took an unexpected turn when he joined the Soviet army, but this interlude only strengthened his resolve. Upon his return, he traveled to Moscow where he showcased his talents in the world of music videos and advertising, winning prestigious awards such as the Golden Apple at the Moscow International Advertising Festival.
The turning point came in 1994 with the release of his debut film, a war drama The Peshawar Waltz. This project, which received many awards, including the main prize at the Sanremo International Film Festival, became the basis for Timur’s own production company "Bazelevs".
Work in Hollywood USA
In 2005, director Timur Bekmambetov received a brilliant invitation to bring his cinematic talent to Hollywood. This turning point marked the beginning of his journey into the heart of the American film industry.
Bekmambetov's Hollywood debut took place in 2008 with a bold adaptation of the acclaimed comic book by Mark Millar "Extremely dangerous". Having assembled a star-studded cast that included James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie, as well as rising stars such as Chris Pratt and Konstantin Khabensky, the film resonated with audiences around the world, setting a new annual box office record Universal Studios at 341 million dollars. The critical acclaim continued as the film received two prestigious nominations for "Oscar", cementing Bekmambetov's reputation as a visionary storyteller.
The director's Hollywood journey continued with the 2012 release of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and a remake of the classic "Ben-Gur" in 2016. Bekmambetov also acted as a producer, applying his experience in projects such as Apollo 18, "Hardworker" Ilya Naishuller and "Current Events War" featuring Benedict Cumberbatch.
Personal life of Timur Bekmambetov
Timur Bekmambetov has a busy personal life. He was married three times and has a daughter from his first marriage.
The name of his first wife is unknown, but they had a daughter named Jeanne, a professional cartoonist.
Bekmambetov’s second wife was Varvara Avdyushko, to whom he was married from 1999 to 2019. Varvara is a costume designer and film producer, the daughter of actor Viktor Avdyushko and makeup artist Larisa Avdyushko.
In 2019, Bekmambetov married his third wife, Natalya Fishman. Previously, Natalya was an assistant to the President of Tatarstan and an adviser to the head of the Moscow Department of Culture.
Awards of Timur Bekmambetov
Timur Bekmambetov's brilliant career has been woven with numerous prestigious awards, each of which is a shining testament to his visionary artistry and innovative flair.
In 1994, his creative genius first took the industry by storm when he won the IV Moscow Advertising Festival, receiving the coveted Grand Prix and the Image Advertising Prize for his powerful Alfa Bank campaign. That same year, his remarkable advert "World History, Reichsbank" brought him further international recognition, winning the award for best image advert at the New Europe festival in Slovenia. The famous International Cypress Festival in Yalta also honored Bekmambetov’s cinematic prowess by presenting him with the prestigious Golden Cypress Award in the Image category for his short film Alexander the Great.
In 2004, the Club of Patrons of Kazakhstan awarded him the independent national award “Platinum Tarlan” for his enormous contribution. His blockbuster “Day Watch” brought him the prestigious Blockbuster Award in 2006 as the highest-grossing Russian film.
In 2011, the Kazakh government recognized Bekmambetov's lasting influence on the country's cinematic landscape by awarding him the Order of Friendship. Two years later, he received the American CinemaCon Award, presented by the legendary Tim Burton, as the best foreign director working in Hollywood.
Most recently, in 2018, Bekmambetov's groundbreaking detective thriller "Profile" captivated audiences at the South by Southwest festival, earning him the Audience Award.
Every award in Bekmambetov's illustrious career is a testament to his unwavering passion, innovative spirit and his ability to captivate and inspire audiences around the world.
Evil, like bookmakers, like cryptocurrency exchanges, like drugs, like quick money. Of course, all this is evil and...