Vladimir Alenikov Screenwriter, producer and director Country: USA

Biography of Vladimir Alenikov

Vladimir Alenikov is a Soviet and Russian theater and film director, writer, poet, translator, screenwriter, and producer. He was born to biophysicist Mikhail Vladimirovich Volkenstein (1912-1992) and translator-spanishist Stella Iosifovna Alenikova (1916-1992). He studied at the French department of the Philological Faculty of Leningrad State University from 1966 to 1967, and completed the Higher Courses of Foreign Languages in 1967. He worked as a teacher of French and Russian language and literature at School No. 2 in Moscow.

Alenikov led the Theater Studio, where he carried out his first directorial experiments, including the play "At Your Expense" by Ludwig Ashkenazi. He graduated from the directing department of Leningrad State Institute of Theater, Music, and Cinematography in 1972, and the Arbusov and Alyoshin Studio of Playwrights in 1975. In 1973, he founded the amateur film studio "Litfilm" where he made his first films. He worked as a teacher of literature and French language while also writing and directing plays in the theater.

At the invitation of Alexander Khmelik, chief editor of the film magazine "Eralash," Alenikov began working in the magazine as an author and director. It was there that the characters Petrov and Vasechkin were born, whose adventures the director later portrayed in his famous musical films. After a series of television films, Alenikov managed to make a film that completely changed his destiny - the musical "Bindyuzhnik and the King," which invited him to Hollywood after its success at the Los Angeles International Film Festival in 1990. There, he directed "Time of Darkness" with George Segal and Tamara Tana in the lead roles.

Alenikov's work extends across different genres. He spent several years working in Hollywood. His dramatic thriller "The Gun (from 6 to 7:30 PM)" received numerous prestigious awards and represented the USA at the Montreal World Film Festival in 2003. His recent Russian films include the lyrical comedy "God's Smile, or Pure Odessa Story" (2008), the short drama "Butterfly Flight" (2011), the feature film "War of the Princess" (2013), the short lyrical film "Cinema as an Attempt to Bring Together" (2015), the one-shot feature film "Workshop" (2017), the psychological thriller based on his eponymous novel "Wanderers of Patience" (2018), and the drama dedicated to the famous hockey team "Lokomotiv" called "Heavenly Team" (2021). His latest American film "Hollywood Trash" (2013) was produced by him.

Furthermore, Alenikov constantly works as a writer, writing in various genres for both adults and children. His recent books include "Your Signature in Directing" (2011), a collection of poems and prose "Random Patterns" (2011), children's books "Funny Stories about Petrov and Vasechkin" (2013), "Scarecrow-Meowcrow" (2013), "Bogatyr Story" (2014), "Petrov and Vasechkin in the Country of Ergonia" (2015), "Petrov and Vasechkin in Africa" (2015), "Petrov and Vasechkin in Colombia" (2016), "Petrov and Vasechkin in the Caucasus Mountains" (2017), and "Pantelei, Scarecrow, and the Outstanding Peryshkina" (2018). He has also written novels such as "The Fallen Star" (2010), "Sleeping District" (2011), "Twilight in the Sleeping District" (2012), "Green Zone" (2013), and "Wanderers of Patience" (2013).

In addition to his film and literary work, Alenikov has also directed numerous plays, mainly based on his own plays, in various theaters. In 2022, in collaboration with the "Culture" channel, he directed the film "Gorgon Medusa. Rehearsal with the Orchestra," based on the play "Gorgon Medusa" staged by Alenikov in 2021 at the ANTE Theater.

Alenikov was first married to Inna Alenikova (Mikhailichenko), an actress known for her roles in films such as "The City Accepted," "Where is Nofelet?," "Adventures of Petrov and Vasechkin," "Petrov and Vasechkin's Vacations," and "Goodbye, Moscow Zamoskvoretsky." They divorced in 1983.

He is currently married to Tamara Tana (Alenikova) since 1987, who is an actress, screenwriter, and film director. She has appeared in films such as "Theophania Drawing Death," "God's Smile, or Pure Odessa Story," "Useful People," "Butterfly Flight," "War of the Princess," among others. As a director, she directed the film "Smiley" based on her own screenplay.

Alenikov and his first wife Inna have a son named Philipp Volken (born 1975), who is also a film director and screenwriter. Philipp has worked with his father on films such as "Petrov and Vasechkin's Vacations," "Bindyuzhnik and the King," and "Kings of Russian Detectives." He works in Hollywood and has directed films like "Hollywood Trash" and "Blackmail."

Alenikov and his wife Tamara have a daughter named Anastasia Alen (born 1988), who is a lawyer and holds a doctorate in law. She has appeared in her father's films such as "Bindyuzhnik and the King," "The Gun (from 6 to 7:30 PM)," and "War of the Princess."