Biography

Born in Olonets, Karelia, Russia. Independent motion-picture producer whose diverse movies ranged from dramas, including internationally awarded war drama Cuckoo ( 2002), Oscar nominees historical picture Mongol (2007) and romance Compartment N6 (2021) to sci-fi and fantasy adventures, notably Salut-7 (2017), Upon the Magic Roads (2021) - enjoyed both popularity and critical success.

Early work

Sergey Selyanov developed an interest in filmmaking as a student, in 1975-1978 he studied at the Polytechnical University of Tula, where he founded an amateur film studio. In 1980 he graduated from the Screenwriting Faculty of the Russian State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK). In 1989 he completed Higher Courses of Screenwriters and Directors in Moscow (Rolan Bykov's workshop). His debut feature film The Day of the Angel was made in co-production with Nick Makarov in 1980 (the film was released in 1988).

The 1990s

In 1992 Sergey Selyanov founded his own independent film production studio named CTB Film Company. He worked closely with one of the brightest and most talented Russian film directors Alexey Balabanov producing social dramas Brother (1997), Of Freaks and Men (1998).

"Selyanov has managed to take the most valuable things from the Soviet cinematography - depth and approach. As producer, he always does his best to keep the balance between commercial cinema and art. He never lets his movies go below a high professional level", - marks the Snob magazine.

In 1999 Sergey Selyanov won an Award from the American Motion Picture Association.

The 2000s

In 2003 Sergey Selyanov received the National Award of the Russian Federation in cinematography for war drama Cuckoo, which was also warmly accepted and highly praised by numerous international film festivals. He kept working with Alexey Balabanov procuring his late masterpieces " It does not hurt" (2006), "Cargo 200" (2007), "Me too" (2012). The economics magazine "Expert" described Sergey Selyanov as «the only Russian film producer whose name has become a brand in the sphere of film production».

Sergey Selyanov became co-founder of the biggest Russian independent animation studio Melnitsa. Within 20 years the studio created 25 animated movies and about 1000 episodes of popular animated series and received more than 60 international awards. Four animation films of "Prince Ivan and Grey Wolf" and ten animated adventures of "The Three Heroes" franchise by Melnitsa have been leading theatre box-office in Russia and CIS since 2004.

Melnitsa animation studio is also paying a lot of attention to short animation. Melnitsa's short animated films "Love Story", "We Can't Live without Cosmos", "He Can't LIve without Cosmos" "BoxBallet'' were nominated for Oscar Academy awards. In 2009 Sergey Selyanov became the Chairman of the Board of the Film and Television Producers' Association.

The 2010s and beyond

In 2015 Sergey Selyanov became the winner of the Russian Federation National Award in literature and the arts for making a valuable contribution to the development of domestic animated cinematography by producing films for children and youth. CTB Film Company under his leadership produced an impressive portfolio of more than 170 feature films, TV shows, animated movies, series and documentaries.

CTB Film Company is a real flagship in active exploration of new technologies in cinema, including digital cinema, VR (Agent Emerson (2019)) and Interactive in order to bring out the best quality in its productions. One of the latest movies by Selyanov, fantasy adventure Upon Magic Roads(2021) produced as a mix of live-action and 3D CGI animation has become an absolute hit of domestic box-office and was successfully sold to 60 countries.

In 2021 FIAPF announced Sergey Selyanov recipient of the FIAPF Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film in the Asia Pacific region. "Sergey Selyanov is a true story maker whose work illustrates the pivotal role of the producer in the creative process of making a film. He is a committed person caring for his film community and dedicating time and efforts for the development of the Russian film and TV sector at home and abroad", said President of FIAPF Mr Scalellasaid.

In accepting the award Sergey Selyanov said "Throughout my lifetime in the industry I have tried my best to serve the film community and encourage the full creative freedom of filmmakers in Russia".

Filmography as a director:

The Russian Idea (1995), The Time of Sorrow Has Not Come Yet (1995), The Angel Day (1988), The Day of the Spirit (1990)

Selected filmography as a producer:

My Sweet Monster (2022), Upon the Magic Roads (2021), Compartment Number (2021)", Secret Magic Control Agency" (2020), Fantastic Return to OZ (2019), Sheep and Wolves: pig deal (2019), Breakaway (2019), Let's get divorced (2019), Spaceball (2019), The Mystery of the Dragon Seal (2019), The Story of an Appointment (2018), The Core of the World (2018), The Sonata (2018), The Three Heroes. The heiress to the throne (2018), Sadko (2018), What Men Talk About 2 (2018), Fantastic Journey to OZ (2017), Arrhythmia (2017), Salyut 7: The Story of One Heroic Deed (2017), I won't Come Back (2014), Dialogues (2013), Prince Ivan and the Gray Wolf 2 (2013), Prince Ivan and the Firebird (2013), Kicking Off (2013), Cannibal (2013), Marussia (2013), Wrong Cops (2013), Ku! Kin-dza-dza (2012), Three Heroes on Distant Shores (2012), Me too (2012), The Jungle (2012), Kokoko (2012), Prince Ivan and the Gray Wolf (2011), Hunter (2011), Bablo (2011), How Not to Rescue a Princess (2010), A Yakuza's Daughter Never Cries (2010), The Weather Station (2010), Kochegar (2010), Native Dancer / Baksy (2009), Rockhead (2009), Morphia (2008), Nirvana (2008), The Tale of Fedot the Strelets (2008), Ilya Muromets and Sparrow the Robber (2007), Mongol (2007), Hard-hearted (2007), Cargo 200 (2007), The Sword Bearer (2006), Heaven on Earth (2006), Dobrynya and the Dragon (2006), It Doesn't Hurt (2006), Dead Man's Bluff (2005), Alosha (2004), Schizo (2004), War (2002), The Cuckoo (2002), The Sisters (2001), Brother-2 (2000), The Peculiarities of National Fishing (1998), Of Freaks and Men (1998), Brother (1997).
- IMDb mini biography by: CTB