Русский
Elena Vakhnik
Documentary Filmmaker
About
Elena Vakhnik is a journalist and filmmaker dedicated to documentary and social impact storytelling. Her work explores underrepresented voices and global human rights issues, and has been featured by leading international platforms including The Associated Press, Zoomin.tv, CGTN, and Yahoo News. Elena is a hands-on filmmaker who researches, shoots, and edits her own short films. Her latest film, Holding a Breath (2024) was named a semi-finalist at the Women, Life, Freedom Film Festival, which celebrates women-led narratives and activism through cinema. She is committed to creating cinematic work that drives awareness and contributes to meaningful change.

Vereja

As a boy, Igor Andreev was banned from joining the local all-female crochet club. Now his sustainable crochet brand is famous across the world.
Official selection of Amsterdam, Chicago and Milano Fashion Film Festivals
Reggae from the North
Reggae music and rasta culture is developing and growing in cold Russia. How this sunny culture has been cultivated there? The issues of reggae style, its future and the transformation into dancehall and ragga-jungle are the topics of discussion between Russian musicians, dancers and journalists. Jamaican reggae star Lee "Scratch" Perry takes part in the movie being caught this winter in Moscow between his performances.
Officially selected for East Silver Market of Ji.hlava IDFF
The Beauty Of Guqin
Anastasiya Novoselova is a guqin player and Chinese music teacher from Russia. In Moscow, she performs and teaches her students the art of playing the guqin. From cozy clubs to big concert halls, music lovers gather to hear the distinctive sound of the Chinese zither.
Filmed for CGTN, Moscow

Saving a bird is like an opportunity to fly

After coming across many birds in need, Vera decided to create her own wild bird rehabilitation center.
Filmed for Zoomin TV

Shaolin Family in Moscow

Master Shi Yanbin is a 34th-generation warrior monk who has been immersed in the Shaolin martial arts since the tender age of four. Having taught and performed across various countries, he was chosen by the Abbot of the Shaolin Monastery to extend his expertise to Russia.
Filmed for CGTN

Want to escape the city? Check out this nomadic community

One man is building a sustainable co-living community in the middle of the Georgian forest.
Filmed for Zoomin TV

Saving wild cats from from their biggest threat... people

Lynxes have a long history of being traded online as pets and used in the fur industry but this center aims to rescue lynxes and release them back into the wild.
Filmed for Zoomin TV

Hopping from Page to Stage

Russia’s Pskov Academic Drama Theatre brings Mo Yan’s “Frog” to the stage
Filmed for CGTN

Discovering Russian tea history

Russian tea culture is closely connected to the history of trade with China. Since the 18th century, Russian people have been drinking Chinese tea with Samovar and pastry - you can still see this type of tea ceremony throughout the country. But, in recent decades traditional Chinese tea ceremonies are gaining popularity.
Filmed for CGTN

Wild Artists: Nails designs as you never saw them before

This Russian guy makes crazy manicure designs, inspired by his troubled past.
Filmed for Zoomin TV

These girls are masters of self-defense

She created a studio to teach other women how to fight off violence.
Filmed for Zoomin TV
Made on
Tilda