Olesya Bondareva

Olesya Bondareva is a Russian documentary director and television journalist. She graduated from television journalism faculty of Moscow State University and had an extensive career in the Russian television (First Channel – Ostankino). She also made cultural reports and covered the wars in Chechnya and Armenia (Karabakh) as a special reporter.

She has made several independent documentary films on various social themes. These films include: "Undesirables" (2000) in which Olesya was co-producer. The film received the 2001 Student Award American Film Academy, and in 2000 - a student «Emmy». "Generation" (2002) which was nominated in 2003 for TEFI price, the "Russian Emmy". "The man invented the stars" (2004), which was screened at numerous festivals in Russia.  "Holy Warriors" (2006) a short documentary which she co-directed and co-produced together with Marianna Yarovskaya. The film received the Best Documentary award at the European Independent Film Festival in Paris (2007) and the Critics Price at the 54th Belgrade Festival of Documentary and Short Film (2007). "Canceled Love" (2008), a feature documentary which she produced and directed.

During 2007 - 2008 she worked as chief editor of the magazine "Digital Photo" (circulation 100 000).

Together with the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences she created a documentary film studio Mosaic. She worked on an independent long-term project about spiritual teachers in different cultures. In this context she has made several expeditions to India, Altai, Kyrgystan and Kazakhstan.

Kazakhdervish.com