TWO TULIPS

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After a brief conversation on the Grindr app, two men are
meeting for a BDSM hook up, which goes beyond their
expectations, blending fantasy and reality.








DIRECTOR STATEMENT



"Two Tulips" emerged from my personal journey, reflecting my experiences in BDSM relationships over the past decade and the coinciding path of self-discovery through therapy. This film delves into themes of self-examination, healing, and the process of embracing the parts of myself I once cast away.

When I first began exploring my desires and fantasies, I carried an overwhelming sense of shame, shaped by my background as a gay
person raised in Russia. In BDSM relationships, I was free to explore these complex emotions. Unlike before, I was no longer shamed for my desires or traumas—instead, I had a chance to confront these internal struggles.

"Two Tulips" reflects my desire to understand what lies beyond trauma, inviting viewers to engage with the complexities of identity and acceptance. This film is not only a personal exploration but also
a broader invitation to embrace the multifaceted nature of ourselves.




8:05am LATE FALL

DIRECTOR
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EDITOR






Upon waking up Matt discovers that his heart is not beating,
although he is still "alive", that prompts him to embark on a
journey of discovery that brings him back to "life".








DIRECTOR STATEMENT





In the middle of 2019, I faced a family tragedy that made me question my mortality and the purpose of life. What does it mean to live? What does it mean to be a human being?  My desire to grapple with these questions led me to 8:05 AM Late Fall. Interestingly, the main premise for the film came to me in a dream—perhaps my subconscious was attempting to answer all those questions.

The film explores Matt's “dream” journey, from his mind (monochromatic, singular perspective) to his heart (a complex, colorful, and sensual space), and eventually to a more transcendent realm, where he reconnects with the ironic and joyful parts of himself.




VISITOR

DIRECTOR
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PRODUCER
EDITOR







After receiving an emotional e-mail from his estranged father,
an Eastern European gay immigrant cruises the internet in hopes
of finding solace in a casual BDSM hookup, just to find way
more than he initially expected.








DIRECTOR STATEMENT





The heart of Visitor stems from my own life. At the time I was creating the film, my relationship with my father was strained. This led me to ask: What if I could receive my father’s unconditional love? What would that look like? To explore these questions, I fictionalized myself and wrote Visitor.

The primary creative inspiration came from the classic story of the prodigal son, a symbol of a father’s unconditional love. I made that the centerpiece, though this film flips the parable: the father returns to ask for his son’s love back, to show love that’s unconditional. I also took Rembrandt’s painting, “The Return of the Prodigal Son,” as a thematic and visual anchor for the film. From the picture, we developed the color pallet, lighting, and wardrobe.

Creating Visitor was an incredible experience, despite its origins in a painful place. Though my blood family isn’t here with me, this project reminded me that I’ve built a second family—one that supports me both in filmmaking and in life.





GOLDEN LOCKS

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A woman gets sexually assaulted by her husband and then
decides to move forward in her life.











DIRECTOR STATEMENT





Golden Locks marks my directorial debut. The story centers around a woman who experiences sexual assault at the hands of her husband and decides to move forward with her life, rebuilding herself piece by piece. This theme of someone who has been shattered and slowly puts themselves back together is deeply personal to me. Initially, the idea emerged through dream work, a way to process internal struggles, and eventually, it took the shape of the film you see today.

Visually, I was inspired by the works of Gaspar Noé, and we aimed to explore a similar aesthetic, immersing the audience in a raw, unflinching experience. Shooting from the point of view of the main character was integral to telling this story of self-help ( you could see it in the film). By capturing her journey of healing, we reflect the full circle of transformation—from victim to victor—portraying the painful but empowering path toward reclaiming her life.




A LOVE STUDY

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CINEMATOGRAPHER








A Love Study "Writer & Mechanic"








DIRECTOR STATEMENT





After watching Abdellatif Kechiche’s Blue Is the Warmest Color (which blew me away), I was inspired to create something in a similar style. A Love Study emerged from that desire. I reached out to my friends, and together, we shot the entire film in just one day. The editing process took a few months, during which I experimented with both the editing and the camera operation, which I handled personally. What I admire about Blue Is the Warmest Color is its improvisational, airy feel. There’s a raw, almost documentary-like quality to it, where everything feels deeply real and unfiltered. This is exactly what I wanted to recreate in A Love Study—capturing moments that resonate with authenticity and spontaneity.