Zhenia Kazankina

BIO

Zhenia Kazankina (she/her) is a director, screenwriter, and editor, born in Moscow, Russia, in 1996. She graduated from the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) and is currently based in Rome, Italy.

Her work explores themes of adaptation, attachment, and the search for belonging, often through the lens of feminine characters and perspectives. Unfolding in a collective dimension, her stories are rooted in metaphorical concepts and personal experience, and touched with elements of mystery and fable.

Her short films have screened at international festivals including Cannes Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, Palm Springs ShortFest, ZINEBI, True/False, Curtas Vila do Conde and many others. Her recent short film “City of Owls” premiered at Cannes Film Festival in the Semaine de la Critique program. She is an alumna of Locarno Filmmakers Academy, Spring Academy, and Reykjavík Talent Lab.

WORKSHOPS & LABS

2024 ‘Locarno Filmmakers Academy’ Locarno Film Festival

2023 ‘FOCUS WiP’ Cannes Film Festival (participated with the short film “NEW”)

2023 ‘Spring Academy’ Locarno Film Festival — Workshop “Find a film!” held by Radu Jude

2022 ‘Talent Lab’ Reykjavík International Film Festival

PRESS

✶ Semaine de la Critique: Interview with Zhenia Kazankina, “City of Owls” director, interview (eng/fr)
✶ Le Polyester: Festival de Cannes | Entretien avec Zhenia Kazankina, interview (fr)
✶ Kinoart: Leaving but staying: how Russian directors continue working abroad, interview (rus)
✶ Le Polyester: Semaine de la Critique 2026: focus sur la sélection courts métrages, article (fr)
✶ Italy for movies: “City of Owls”, favola apocalittica sull’oscurità del mondo conteporaneo, article (it)
✶ The Blueprint: “Three Secret Clues of Longing”, online premiere, interview (rus)
✶ Format Court: Zhenia Kazankina: “Je veux explorer le réel”, interview (fr)