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Sem KlebanovRussian film distributor
Date of Birth: 14.04.1965
Country:  Russia |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Career in Cinema
- Television Program Hosting
- Other Film Projects
- Other Interests
- New Ventures
- Blockchain Technology
- Personal Life
Early Life and Education
Sam Klebanov was born in Leningrad, Russia, in 1965, but grew up and graduated from high school in Moscow. From 1983 to 1985, he served in the Soviet Army's OSNAZ (Radio Intelligence) troops in the German Democratic Republic. In 1990, Klebanov graduated from the Moscow Economic and Statistical Institute with a degree in Applied Mathematics.
Career in Cinema
Film DistributionAfter the August Coup, Klebanov relocated to Europe, where he founded "Maywin Media AB" in Sweden in 1996 to distribute films in Russia and the CIS countries. In the same year, he established the distribution company "Kino bez Granits" ("Cinema without Borders"), specializing in arthouse cinema distribution in Russia. The first film he acquired for Russia was Takeshi Kitano's "Fireworks." Klebanov's company became a leading player in the arthouse film distribution market in Russia, releasing hundreds of films, including works by Kitano, Ruben Östlund, the Dardenne brothers, Michael Haneke, and Alejandro González Iñárritu, among others.
Television Program Hosting
From 2001 to 2008, Klebanov hosted the weekly program "Magic of Cinema" on Russia's Kultura TV channel. In 2012-2014, he also produced and presented "Special View: Cinema of the New Millennium," showcasing films from Kino bez Granits' catalog that represented "contemporary, relevant independent cinema."
Other Film Projects
Klebanov has also collaborated on film productions, including "Hot News" (2009), "Gardens in Autumn" (2006), and "The Eurasian" (2010). He has appeared in several films and music videos.
Other Interests
Klebanov is a former columnist for the Russian version of GQ magazine. He has also promoted the LCHF (Low Carbs, High Fat) diet through his website, LCHF.RU.
New Ventures
In 2015, Klebanov launched a new distribution project, "Arthouse," together with American company Lorem Ipsum Corp. He aimed to expand the reach of independent and auteur films beyond traditional platforms. In 2016, he re-established Kino bez Granits and released the documentary "In the Rays of the Sun" to great success.
Blockchain Technology
In 2017, Klebanov and software developer Pavel Rabetsky co-founded Cinezen Blockchained Entertainment AB in Sweden. The company aims to create a decentralized video-on-demand marketplace using blockchain technology. In 2018, Cinezen announced the first-ever licensing agreements for online film distribution using blockchain, coining the term "BVOD" (Blockchain Video-on-Demand). The beta version of the marketplace became available in 2018, with a full commercial launch planned for 2018.
Personal Life
Sam Klebanov is married to Irina Vinogradova, who worked with him at Kino bez Granits as the chief accountant. They have a daughter, Adel, born in 2014. Klebanov and his family reside in Gothenburg, Sweden.
