Biography

Karen Shakhnazarov is a Soviet and Russian director, screenwriter, producer. CEO, Chairman of the Board of the Mosfilm film concern. People's Artist of the Russian Federation.

Karen studied at Moscow School. From an early age he was fond of painting, at one time he wanted to become an artist. But in the end he chose directing. In 1975 he graduated from the directing department of VGIK, Igor Talankin's workshop. Diploma work: the 1975 short film Shire shag, maestro! (1975). Shakhnazarov worked as an assistant for his teacher on the set of the film Vybor tseli (1975).

In 1979, he debuted as a full-length director with the film The Kind-Hearted Ones (1980) based on the play of the same name by Leonid Zorin. Karen Shakhnazarov became widely known as a director and screenwriter after the musical film Jazzman (1983). This film was awarded several international prizes. The comedy melodrama Courier (1986), filmed by Shakhnazarov based on his own story, enjoyed wide success with viewers.

Since April 1998, he has been the Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Mosfilm film concern.
- IMDb mini biography by: Tango Papa

VGIK teacher - head of the feature film directing workshop.