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Chulpan Khamatova is an internationally acclaimed film and stage actress and well-known philanthropist who left Moscow following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and took permanent residency in Latvia.

She was born Chulpan Nailyevna Khamatova on October 1, 1975, in Kazan, Tatarstan Republic, Russia. She is an ethnic Tatar. Her name means "morning star" in Tatar language. Her mother, Marina Galimullovna Khamatova, was an engineer. Her father Nail Khamatov, was also an engineer and a managing director of a firm in Tatarstan, Russia.

Young Khamatova was a professionally trained figure skater. She suffered from a back trauma after a fall on ice; after that she quit figure skating, but continued roller-skating. She also had a gift for mathematics and studied at the prestigious School of Mathematics in Kazan. Then she studied for one semester at business school of Kazan University, but became bored and decided to change her career and entered the Kazan School of Theatre. From 1995-1998 Khamatova studied acting at the State Institute of Theatrical Arts (GITIS) in Moscow, and graduated from the class of Aleksei Borodin in 1998 as an actress.

Khamatova was a third year student at GITIS when she made her film debut in the role of Katya in Vadim Abdrashitov's film Vremya tantsora (1998). She won critical acclaim in Russia after playing a female lead in Country of the Deaf (1998). Soon she gained international attention after starring as Mamlakat opposite Moritz Bleibtreu in Luna Papa (1999) by director Bakhtyar Khudojnazarov, which became a "quiet masterpiece" in Germany as well as in Russia. Khamatova's effortless style shines in a variety of her film characters ranging from farcical Lara in Good Bye Lenin! (2003), to charming seductress Nelly in 72 metra (2004), to passionate and sophisticated Lara in Doctor Zhivago, a Russian TV-series based on the eponymous book by Boris Pasternak.

Chulpan Khamatova became one of the most celebrated young actresses of Russian theatre and cinema. She was designated Honorable artist of Russia. In 2004 Khamatova was awarded State Prize by Russian president Vladimir Putin for her achievements in acting. From 1998 to 2022, she was a permanent member of Sovremennik Theatre in Moscow under directorship of Galina Volchek and other directors. Her stage and film partners has been such actors as Sergey Shakurov, Dina Korzun, Valentin Gaft, Inna Churikova, Sergey Garmash, Marina Neyolova, Elena Yakovleva and other notable Russian actors. From 2008 to 2022, Khamatova collaborated with the Theatre of Nations in Moscow. From 1995 to 2002 Khamatova was married to her class-mate, a fellow actor Ivan Volkov, their daughter, named Arina, was born in 2002. She was in relationship with a Russian émigré, actor-dancer Aleksei Dubinin with whom she has daughter Alina, born in 2003. Her third daughter, Iya Shein, was born in 2010. Besides her native Russian and Tatar, Chulpan Khamatova is fluent in German and English.

In 2006, Khamatova was a member of the six-person jury at the 63rd Venice Film Festival headed by French actress Catherine Deneuve. Chulpan Khamatova has been one of the leading figures for charitable causes in Russia. Since 2005 Khamatova and her fellow Russian actors started a charitable initiative "Podari Zhizn" for the benefit of children suffering from leukemia.

In March 2022, Chulpan Khamatova with her three daughters left Russia and gave an interview saying that she has gone into exile in Latvia, because of Russian war in Ukraine. Khamatova bought a house and settled in a suburb of Riga, the capital city of Latvia. In March 2022, Chulpan Khamatova became a permanent member of the troupe at the New Riga Theatre upon invitation from Alvis Hermanis, artistic director of the company. She also made appearances on Latvian TV and made public speeches at anti-war protests in Riga, Latvia. Khamatova is learning Latvian, her three daughters are also adjusting to the new life in Europe.

Evgeny Afineevsky is an Oscar and Emmy-nominated director. In 2023 he released his new headline-breaking documentary "Freedom on Fire: Ukraine's fight for freedom", which premiered at 79th Venice Film Festival, where it was recognized with the Kineo Award, as well at Toronto International Film Festival and many other prestige's festivals. Freedom on Fire also received Brizzolara Family Foundation Award for Films of Conflict & Resolution (Hamptons), the Power of Cinema Award (Mill Valley), as well as SCAD's Inaugural Daring Documentarian Award. Movie been nominated for a Critics Choice Documentary Award in the Best Political Documentary category as well earned 3 Emmy nominations. In February 22-24, 2023 Evgeny presented to the world a newly edited and updated comprehensive version of the movie, outlining all 9 years of the war and one full year of the full-scale invasion. In June 2023 Cinema for Peace Awarded His Holiness Pope Francis, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and filmmaker Evgeny Afineevsky at the Vatican with the special joint award. This is the first time that two global leaders and one filmmaker were honored with a joint award and that the awards are dedicated to someone - the children who lost their lives in the war in Ukraine.

In 2020 Catholics in Media Associates awarded Afineevsky with 2020 CIMA Social Justice Award for his passion for telling stories that matter, his love for humanity and work for justice. Same 2020 despite the pandemic, Afineevsky premiered in person his headline making movie "Francesco" at the Rome International Film Festival, where he immediately been recognized by the prestigious Kineo Award. "Francesco" was his personal journey alongside Pope Francis on his inspirational on-going mission in these dark days for humanity, to unite the people of the world through acts of love and kindness, going beyond religious barriers. This feature film is a "call for action" and a message of hope, humanity, compassion, unity and redemption inside the darkness of our times.

His award-winning documentary, "Cries from Syria", was an Official Selection at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Afineevsky won Best Director and earned nomination for Best Documentary from the Critics' Choice Documentary Awards. He and his film earned IPA Satellite Awards nominations for Best Documentary and Best Song in a Documentary for "Prayers for this world", performed by Cher. The Awards Circuit Community Awards nominated his movie as Best Documentary Feature for 2017. He won International Documentary Association's Courage Under Fire Award, earned a PGA Award nomination, won a Humanitas Prize and Cinema for Peace Awards as Most Valuable Documentary of the Year, won 32nd Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, Documentaries Without Borders Film Festival and 51st Houston WorldFest Film Festival, as well as the Overseas Press Club's Peter Jennings Award. Recently Afineevsky and his movie "Cries from Syria" earned 4 Emmy nominations.

Evgeny built his filmmaking career on providing a first-hand account of conflict, even if it means putting his own life in danger. He earned an Oscar and Emmy nomination in 2016 for "Winter on Fire: Ukraine's fight for freedom", which details the 2013 student uprising that transformed into a violent revolution. "Winter on Fire" was an Official Selection of the Venice and Telluride International film festivals. He won the People's Choice Award for the Best Documentary from the Toronto International Film Festival and received Television Academy Honors Award.

He wrote and directed the 2009 family comedy starring Lainie Kazan, "Oy Vey! My son is gay!!" (2009), for which he won more than 23 international film awards. He also wrote and directed "Divorce: A journey through the kids' eyes"(2014), which provides an educational look at the different situations the children of divorced parents deal with. His work in feature films include producing a modern-day adaptation of Dostoyevsky's classic novel "Crime and Punishment"(2002), which stars Crispin Glover, Vanessa Redgrave, John Hurt, and Margot Kidder; "Open Heart"(2002); and "Death Game"2001), starring Billy Drago and Joe Lara. All three films went on to win accolades from the Houston WorldFest.

From 1994-2000, he produced more than 30 musicals in Israel, including BAT (DIE FLEDERMAUS), GYPSY BARON, VIENNESE BLOOD, NIGHT IN VENICE, SILVA PRINCESS OF CHARDAS, MOZART KONZERTE (with the Prague National Opera Orchestra), among many others. He also directed the Israeli TV series "Day of Love" in 1999.

Afineevsky resides in Los Angeles and is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the Directors Guild of America, European Film Academy and Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. He is also RSA Fellow (The Royal Society for Arts in UK).

Valery Tscheplanowa was born on 7 March 1980 in Kazan, Tatar ASSR, RSFSR, USSR [now Tatarstan, Russia]. She is an actress and writer, known for Speed Racer (2008), Doktor Martin (2007) and Son of Sofia (2017).

Born in 1984 in Kazan Russia, Eugenia Volodina is a top fashion model with an infinite amount of enviable campaigns and editorial work to her credit. A flawless beauty with refined features, her grace and delicacy has earned her much popularity in the fashion industry indefinitely congealing her name on top fashion houses and designers lists.

Eugenia's modeling career began when she was only 15 years old. Attending an open call at one of Russia's most prestigious agencies quickly won her amiability which would land her modeling jobs. Her big break however came in 2002 when notable photographer Steven Meisel shot her for Italian Vogue. Shortly thereafter, Eugenia scored a vital and monumental Gucci ad campaign alongside her comrade, Natalia Vodianova.

Rarely giving interviews, little is known about this wonder from the icy banks of the Volga, and there's certainly no telling how far she will go.

Aida Garifullina was born on 30 September 1987 in Kazan, Tatar ASSR, RSFSR, USSR [now Tatarstan, Russia]. She is an actress, known for Florence Foster Jenkins (2016), L'elisir d'amore (2018) and Roméo et Juliette (2018).

Yana Guryanova was born on 21 October 1987 in Kazan, Tatar ASSR, RSFSR, USSR [now Tatarstan, Russia]. She is an actress, known for Bansu, Mesto! (2019) and Dominika (2018).

Era Garafovna Ziganshina was born on February 1, 1944, in Kazan, Tatarstan, USSR. From 1960-1963 she studied acting at Shchukin Theatre School in Moscow, then she studied acting with Georgi Tovstonogov at the Leningrad Institute of Theatre, Music, and Cinematography and graduated as an actress in 1965.

Since 1965 Ziganshina has been a permanent member of the troupe at Lenkom Theatre in Leningrad, now Theatre Baltiysky Dom in St. Petersburg, Russia. During the 1990's she enjoyed successful performances at the Theatre of Roman Viktyuk in Moscow, and also played on stage at various theatres in Moscow and St. Petersburg and toured about Russia. Her stage partners were such actors as Roman Gromadskiy, Igor Dmitriev, Tatyana Piletskaya, Alla Balter, Irina Konopatskaya, Klavdiya Belova, Nadezhda Maltseva, Regina Lialeikite, Natalya Popova, Nataliya Nesterova, Yulian Panich, Emmanuil Vitorgan, Aleksandr Slastin, Igor Tikhonenko, Vladimir Tykke, Petr Shelokhonov, and other notable Russian actors.

Era Ziganshina was designated the title of People's Artist of Russia. She was awarded the Stanislavsky State Prize of Russia in 1997. Era Ziganshina teaches an acting class in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Ruben Dishdishyan is a prominent Russian filmmaker and founder of the Central Partnership and Mars Media companies, which are industry leaders in movie and TV production. His filmography consists of more than 260 works, including the films T-34, Mermaid, Taras Bulba, The Brest Fortress, Shadowboxing, Two Days, The House, Star, Earthquake, Arrhythmia, Light Up, as well as the TV shows Liquidation, Doctor Zhivago, Apostol, The Brothers Karamazov, The Hotel Rossija, Grigory R, Velikaya, and The Golden Horde. Mr. Dishdishyan has been producing for more than 20 years. In 1995 he founded the production company Central Partnership, and remained its general director for 16 years. Under his management, the company became one of the five largest Russian distributors. In November 2011 he created Mars Media Entertainment, which produces and distributes movies and TV shows in various genres and formats. Over the past 9 years, the company has produced more than 140 movie and TV projects.

Valeri Gatayev was born on 16 September 1938 in Kazan, Tatar ASSR, RSFSR, USSR [now Republic of Tatarstan, Russia]. He was an actor, known for Posledniy gaiduk (1973), Half a Chance (1998) and Tumannost Andromedy (1967). He died on 24 June 2011 in Moscow, Russia.

Aida Vedishcheva was born on 10 June 1941 in Kazan, Tatar ASSR, RSFSR, USSR [now Tatarstan, Russia]. She is an actress, known for Kidnapping, Caucasian Style (1967), The Diamond Arm (1969) and Okh, uzh eta Nastya! (1972).

Irek Mukhamedov was born on 8 March 1960 in Kazan, Tatar ASSR, RSFSR, USSR [now Tatarstan, Russia]. He is an actor, known for The Nutcracker (1989), The Nutcracker (1994) and Spartacus (1991).

Marina Maksimova was born on 10 June 1984 in Kazan, Tatar ASSR, RSFSR, USSR [now Tatarstan, Russia]. She was previously married to Aleksey Lugovtsov.

Rimma Latypova was born on 29 August 1964 in Kazan, Tatar ASSR, RSFSR, USSR [now Tatarstan, Russia]. She is an actress, known for Three Days (1991), Nautilus (1990) and Chyortovy kukly (1993).

Valery Vasilyevich Gerasimov is a Russian army general serving as the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces and First Deputy Defence Minister, replacing Nikolay Makarov. He was appointed by president Vladimir Putin on 9 November 2012. Gerasimov was born in Kazan, Tatar ASSR on 8 September 1955. He graduated from the Kazan Suvorov Military School (1971-1973), the Kazan Higher Tank Command School, the Malinovsky Military Armored Forces Academy (1984-1987), and the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia (1995-1997).

Vasili Aksyonov was a medical doctor turned writer during the dramatic changes and transformations of Russia and Russian society under the Soviet-communist regime.

He was born Vasili Pavlovich Aksyonov on August 20, 1932 in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia; where his father lived before his imprisonment. Aksyonov's parents spent many years in prisons and exile under the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin. Aksyonov spent part of his childhood in Siberian exile in Magadan with his mother Yevgeniya Ginsburg, an exiled dissident. Aksyonov spent several years of his boyhood in a state home. He graduated from the 1st Leningrad Medical Institute in 1956 and worked as a doctor in residency at the Quarantine Station of Leningrad Sea Port. From 1957-1958 he worked as a Medical Doctor in the village of Voznesenie, Onega, Northern Russia. From 1958-1960 he worked as a Medical Doctor in Moscow.

The "Thaw", that was initiated by Nikita Khrushchev, allowed Aksyonov to have his first short stories published in the magazine 'Yunost' (Youth) in 1956, under then editor-in-chief Valentin Kataev. His 'Kollegi' (Colleagues 1960) and 'Zvezdny Bilet' (Star Ticket 1961) became extremely popular and were made into eponymous films. 'Pora, moy drug, pora' (It's Time, My Friend, It's Time 1963), 'Apelsiny is Marokko' (Oranges from Marocco 1964), and 'Zatovarennaya Bochkotara' (Surplussed Barrelware 1965) became part of the language of youth. Aksyonov's generation was labeled by Soviet propaganda as "Stilyagi" (Fashionable ones) for their festive and stylish way of life; the opposite of the officially controlled Soviet gloom. Literary critic Stanislav Rassadin coined the term "Shestidesyatniki" (People of the 1960's) which embraced such writers as Bella Akhmadulina, Joseph Brodsky, Yevgeniy Yevtushenko, Andrei Voznesensky, Bulat Okudzhava, and others, who emerged during the "Thaw" of 1956-1964.

The dismissal of Nikita Khrushchev was followed by restrictions in all aspects of Soviet life, where KGB, censorship, and official critics were acting as one. Aksyonov fell under suspicion and surveillance by the KGB. His last official publication was 'V Poiskah Zhanra' (In Search of a Genre 1972). His novels 'Ozhog' (The Burn 1976) and 'Ostrov Krym' (The Island of Crimea 1979) were banned. Aksyonov received a personal warning in a face-to-face meeting with two secret service agents. In 1979 Aksyonov organized and published an almanac of prose and poetry titled 'Metropol' which was immediately banned. 'Metropol' included works by Bella Akhmadulina, Fazil Iskander, and other dissident writers of the 60's generation. Official repressions and threats against Aksyonov forced his expatriation in 1980.

During 80s, 90s, and 2000s, Aksyonov continued writing and his works were published in both English and Russian in the USA. He also was a professor of literature in Washington D.C. for 24 years until his retirement. His script about Soviet life under Joseph Stalin was made into a TV series Moscovskaya saga (2004 TV). He was awarded the Open Russia Booker Prize for 2004. His new novel 'Moskva-kva-kva' (2006) was published in the Moscow magazine 'Oktyabr'.

Outside of his writing profession Aksyonov was a co-founder of jazz festivals in Moscow, Russia and in Kazan, Tatarstan. He returned to Russia in the 1990s, and was living in his Moscow apartment with his wife, Maya Zmeul, and had a second home in Biarritz, France. He died of a heart failure on 6 July 2009, in Moscow, Russia.

Marina Razbezhkina was born on 17 July 1948 in Kazan, Tatar ASSR, RSFSR, USSR [now Republic of Tatarstan, Russia]. She is a producer and director, known for Vremya zhatvy (2004), Kanikuly (2006) and The Hollow (2007).

Evgeniy Ivanov was born on 5 January 1967 in Kazan, Tatar ASSR, RSFSR, USSR [now Tatarstan, Russia]. He is an actor, known for Vykhod (2000), Streets of Broken Lights (1998) and Agent natsionalnoy bezopasnosti (1999).

Igor Zektser started his career in a ballroom dancing studio in Israel. He was studying ballroom dancing between the years of 1994 and 1999. In 1999 he became the manager for the group. He was responsible for organizing a numerous amount of performances on TV and worldwide competitions, as the organizer and a performer. When in 1999 he was working on the production of the Israeli TV series "Days of Love", he received an offer to work for Octava, one of the major production company's in Israel, where he was working till summer of 2003. During his period in Octava, he had worked on the stage musical releases (done by Octava) and two major movie projects done by the New Cannon, Inc. (an American based company, closely working in partnership with Octava). He performed his excellent work on the post-production of the feature film "Crime & Punishment" and "The Return From India". After the successful work on those projects, in 2003 he was offered to move to the American based company and work for the New Generation Films. Currently Mr. Zektser is working on the feature comedy "Oy Vey! My son is gay!" and a big animation project entitled "Gunga Din", which is a Hollywood - Bollywood first animation co-production! He is the member of the Israeli Film and Television Academy, Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Los Angeles Film Teachers Assosiation and a Russian Union of Cinematography.

Denis Osokin was born on 14 August 1977 in Kazan, Tatar ASSR, RSFSR, USSR [now Republic of Tatarstan, Russia]. He is a writer and actor, known for Silent Souls (2010), Celestial Wives of the Meadow Mari (2012) and Angels of Revolution (2014).

Gennadiy Banshchikov was born on 9 November 1943 in Kazan, Tatar ASSR, RSFSR, USSR [now Tatarstan, Russia]. He was a composer, known for Power Elite (2002), Ubegayushchiy avgust (1989) and Menya zhdut na zemle (1977). He died on 7 March 2025 in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Sardar Tagirovsky was born on 15 January 1985 in Kazan, Tatar ASSR, RSFSR, USSR [now Tatarstan, Russia]. He is an actor, known for Inferno (2016), The Raven (2012) and Höség (2011).

Olesya Smirnova-Martsinkevich was born on 23 January 1981 in Kazan, Tatar ASSR, RSFSR, USSR [now Tatarstan, Russia]. She is an actress, known for Ya umeyu vyazat (2016), Mozhno poprosit' Ninu? (2016) and Takaya rabota (2015).

Maksim Shvachko was born on 28 December 1968 in Kazan, Tatar ASSR, RSFSR, USSR [now Tatarstan, Russia]. He is a producer, known for Den khomyachka (2003) and Zdravstvuyte, my vasha krysha (2006).

Tatiana Kovylina was born in Kazan, Tatar ASSR, RSFSR, USSR [now Tatarstan, Russia]. She is known for Duran Duran: Falling Down (2007), The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (2005) and The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show (2009).