Margarita Kasymova Belarusian and Tajik film actress, film director and screenwriter Date of Birth: 10.04.1938 Country: Belarus

1. Early Life and Education
2. Early Career at Tajikfilm
3. Later Career and Civil War
4. Prestigious Teaching and Awards
5. Legacy and Passing

Early Life and Education

Born in Belarus, Marjona Kasimova went on to become an accomplished actress, filmmaker, and writer in Tajikistan. In 1961, she graduated from the renowned Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in Moscow, where she studied under renowned directors Alexander Dovzhenko and Mikhail Chiaureli. Notably, she was a classmate of Victor Turov, Otar Ioseliani, and Larisa Shepitko.

Early Career at Tajikfilm

Kasimova began her career at the Tajikfilm studio in Dushanbe, initially working on documentaries, newsreels, and feature films as an assistant director. In 1967, she directed her debut feature film, "Summer 1943." She also directed several films at Turkmenfilm in Ashgabat.

Later Career and Civil War

With the outbreak of the Tajikistani Civil War, Kasimova relocated to Minsk, Belarus, where she joined Belarusfilm as an editor. Despite holding Russian citizenship, she remained deeply connected to Belarus.

Prestigious Teaching and Awards

In 2010, Kasimova became a professor at the Belarusian State Academy of Arts (BGAI), teaching filmmaking. In 2015, she graduated a class of directors, including Andrei Grinko and Dmitry Dedok. That same year, she was honored with the Order of Francisk Skorina.

Legacy and Passing

Known as a "Deserving Artist of the Tajik SSR," Kasimova's filmography spans over 40 films. She was a respected figure both in Tajikistan and Belarus. On June 4, 2024, she passed away in Minsk at the age of 86.