Vassily Vladimirovich Sigarev (russian: Васи́лий Владимирович Си́гарев, born 11 January 1977,
Verkhnyaya Salda
Verkhnyaya Salda (russian: Ве́рхняя Салда) is a town in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Salda River (right tributary of the Tagil), north of Yekaterinburg. Population:
History
It was founded in 1778; town status was g ...
,
Sverdlovsk Oblast
Sverdlovsk Oblast ( rus, Свердловская область, Sverdlovskaya oblast) is a federal subject (an oblast) of Russia located in the Ural Federal District. Its administrative center is the city of Yekaterinburg, formerly known as S ...
,
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
) is a Russian
playwright
A playwright or dramatist is a person who writes plays.
Etymology
The word "play" is from Middle English pleye, from Old English plæġ, pleġa, plæġa ("play, exercise; sport, game; drama, applause"). The word "wright" is an archaic English ...
,
screenwriter
A screenplay writer (also called screenwriter, scriptwriter, scribe or scenarist) is a writer who practices the craft of screenwriting, writing screenplays on which mass media, such as films, television programs and video games, are based.
...
and
film director
A film director controls a film's artistic and dramatic aspects and visualizes the screenplay (or script) while guiding the film crew and actors in the fulfilment of that vision. The director has a key role in choosing the cast members, p ...
. His plays ''Plasticine'', ''Black Milk'' and ''Ladybird'' were first produced in the West by the
Royal Court Theatre
The Royal Court Theatre, at different times known as the Court Theatre, the New Chelsea Theatre, and the Belgravia Theatre, is a non-commercial West End theatre in Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, Englan ...
, in 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively. In 2002, Sigarev was named the winner of the
Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright given out by the
Evening Standard
The ''Evening Standard'', formerly ''The Standard'' (1827–1904), also known as the ''London Evening Standard'', is a local free daily newspaper in London, England, published Monday to Friday in tabloid format.
In October 2009, after be ...
for ''Plasticine''.
Biography
Sigarev was born in 1977, in
Verkhnyaya Salda
Verkhnyaya Salda (russian: Ве́рхняя Салда) is a town in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, located on the Salda River (right tributary of the Tagil), north of Yekaterinburg. Population:
History
It was founded in 1778; town status was g ...
,
Sverdlovsk Oblast
Sverdlovsk Oblast ( rus, Свердловская область, Sverdlovskaya oblast) is a federal subject (an oblast) of Russia located in the Ural Federal District. Its administrative center is the city of Yekaterinburg, formerly known as S ...
, a small town north of
Yekaterinburg
Yekaterinburg ( ; rus, Екатеринбург, p=jɪkətʲɪrʲɪnˈburk), alternatively romanized as Ekaterinburg and formerly known as Sverdlovsk ( rus, Свердло́вск, , svʲɪrˈdlofsk, 1924–1991), is a city and the administra ...
, into a working-class family. He studied at the
Nizhny Tagil
Nizhny Tagil ( rus, Нижний Тагил, p=ˈnʲiʐnʲɪj tɐˈgʲil) is a types of inhabited localities in Russia, city in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia, located east of the boundary between Asia and Europe. Population:
History
The prehistor ...
Pedagogical Institute and graduated from the Yekaterinburg Theatre Institute where he studied under
Nikolay Kolyada.
Theater
The subject matter of Sigarev's plays is the decay of post-Soviet Russia. ''Plasticine'' deals with child rape, ''Black Milk'' features a husband and wife team of con men in an abusive relationship, while the main characters of ''Ladybird'' steal cemetery markers to sell them to raise money for booze.
U.S. Productions
''Ladybird'' had its American premiere at The Bootleg Theatre in Los Angeles in 2007.
Sigarev's work had not been seen in New York until a production of ''Black Milk'' was produced
Off-Broadway
An off-Broadway theatre is any professional theatre venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, inclusive. These theatres are smaller than Broadway theatres, but larger than off-off-Broadway theatres, which seat fewer tha ...
in July 2012, at the 13th Street theater. Directed by
Columbia M.F.A. student Michel Hausmann, the production received mixed reviews. Alexis Soloski of the ''
Village Voice
''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, the ''Voice'' began as a platform for the creat ...
'' called it an ..."unnuanced, indifferently acted production", while Frank Scheck of the ''
New York Post
The ''New York Post'' (''NY Post'') is a conservative daily tabloid newspaper published in New York City. The ''Post'' also operates NYPost.com, the celebrity gossip site PageSix.com, and the entertainment site Decider.com.
It was established ...
'' gave the play two out of four stars. He wrote "...the writing doesn't live up to its provocative elements, with long stretches of tedium diffusing the impact." nytheatre.com called it "strong piece of theatre, taking its audience headfirst into a deserted wasteland of fear, confused morals and a profound fall from purity. With resonating performances, impeccable design and a truthful directorial vision"
Cinema
Sigarev has directed three films, ''Volchok'', which was made in 2009 and which he adapted from his own play, ''Zhit'' (''Living'') (2012) and
The Land of Oz (2015). He also wrote the screenplay fo
''Prodayotsya detektor lzhi''(2005), which is based on his plays ''Detektor lzhi'' and ''Fantomnye boli''.
In his 2021 interview with
Yury Dud
Yury Aleksandrovich Dud (russian: Ю́рий Алекса́ндрович Дудь, ; born 11 October 1986) is a Russian journalist known primarily for his informational online videos distributed as a YouTuber. He has additionally been deputy d ...
Sigarev mentioned
Elem Klimov
Elem Germanovich Klimov (russian: link=no, Элем Германович Климов; 9 July 1933 – 26 October 2003) was a Soviet and Russian filmmaker. He studied at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography, and was married to film dire ...
's ''
Come and See
''Come and See'' (russian: Иди и смотри, ''Idi i smotri''; be, Ідзі і глядзі, ''Idzi i hliadzi'') is a 1985 Soviet anti-war film directed by Elem Klimov and starring Aleksei Kravchenko and Olga Mironova. Its screenplay, wr ...
'' as the film that influenced him the most.
Personal life
Sigarev lives in
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
and was married to Russian actress
Yana Troyanova from 2013 to 2020.
Sigarev openly supports
Alexei Navalny
Alexei Anatolievich Navalny ( rus, links=no, Алексей Анатольевич Навальный, , ɐlʲɪkˈsʲej ɐnɐˈtolʲjɪvʲɪtɕ nɐˈvalʲnɨj; born 4 June 1976) is a Opposition to Vladimir Putin in Russia, Russian opposition ...
and was detained at
2021 Russian protests.
Filmography
Selected Plays
*''Plasticine''
*''Black Milk''
*''Ladybird''
Awards and nominations
Winner
* 2002
Evening Standard Theatre Awards
The ''Evening Standard'' Theatre Awards, established in 1955, are the oldest theatrical awards ceremony in the United Kingdom. They are presented annually for outstanding achievements in London Theatre, and are organised by the ''Evening Standa ...
: Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright for ''Plasticine''
* 2009
Kinotavr
Kinotavr (russian: Кинотавр), also known as the Sochi Open Russian Film Festival is an open film festival held in the resort city of Sochi, Russia annually in June since 1991, until it was cancelled in the wake of the 2022 Russian invasio ...
: Best Screenplay for ''
Wolfy Wolfie is an American indie rock band.
Wolfie may alsorefer to:
People
* Martin Adams (born 1956), British darts player
* Wolfie Kodesh (1918–2002), South African communist party activist
* Wolfgang Van Halen (born 1991), American guitarist
Fi ...
''
* 2009
Karlovy Vary International Film Festival
The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival ( cs, Mezinárodní filmový festival Karlovy Vary) is a film festival held annually in July in Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic. The Karlovy Vary Festival is one of the oldest in the world and has become ...
: Don Quijote Award - Special Mention for ''
Wolfy Wolfie is an American indie rock band.
Wolfie may alsorefer to:
People
* Martin Adams (born 1956), British darts player
* Wolfie Kodesh (1918–2002), South African communist party activist
* Wolfgang Van Halen (born 1991), American guitarist
Fi ...
''
* 2009
Russian Guild of Film Critics
The Russian Guild of Film Critics (russian: Гильдия киноведов и кинокритиков России) is a Russian organization of professional film critics, headquartered in Moscow. Beginning in 1998, the guild began conferrin ...
: Best Film and Best Debut for ''
Wolfy Wolfie is an American indie rock band.
Wolfie may alsorefer to:
People
* Martin Adams (born 1956), British darts player
* Wolfie Kodesh (1918–2002), South African communist party activist
* Wolfgang Van Halen (born 1991), American guitarist
Fi ...
''
* 2009
Zurich Film Festival
Zurich Film Festival (ZFF) is an annual film festival that has been held in Zürich, Switzerland, since 2005.
The festival's main focus is to promote emerging filmmakers from all over the world. In three competition categories only first, second ...
: International Feature Film for ''
Wolfy Wolfie is an American indie rock band.
Wolfie may alsorefer to:
People
* Martin Adams (born 1956), British darts player
* Wolfie Kodesh (1918–2002), South African communist party activist
* Wolfgang Van Halen (born 1991), American guitarist
Fi ...
''
* 2012
Kinotavr
Kinotavr (russian: Кинотавр), also known as the Sochi Open Russian Film Festival is an open film festival held in the resort city of Sochi, Russia annually in June since 1991, until it was cancelled in the wake of the 2022 Russian invasio ...
: Best Director for ''
Living
Living or The Living may refer to:
Common meanings
*Life, a condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms
** Living species, one that is not extinct
*Personal life, the course of an individual human's life
* ...
''
* 2012
Thessaloniki Film Festival
The Thessaloniki Film Festival is a Thessaloniki-based cultural institution focusing on cinema. The Institution organizes the Thessaloniki International Film Festival every November and the Thessaloniki Documentary Festival every March, while its y ...
: Special Artistic Achievement for ''
Living
Living or The Living may refer to:
Common meanings
*Life, a condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms
** Living species, one that is not extinct
*Personal life, the course of an individual human's life
* ...
''
* 2012 Wiesbaden
goEast
GoEast, styled goEast, is an international film festival which has been held annually in the Hessian state capital of Wiesbaden, Germany, since its inception in 2001. The festival is primarily for films with an Eastern European background, and i ...
: Golden Lily and FIPRESCI Prize for ''
Living
Living or The Living may refer to:
Common meanings
*Life, a condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms
** Living species, one that is not extinct
*Personal life, the course of an individual human's life
* ...
''
* 2015
Kinotavr
Kinotavr (russian: Кинотавр), also known as the Sochi Open Russian Film Festival is an open film festival held in the resort city of Sochi, Russia annually in June since 1991, until it was cancelled in the wake of the 2022 Russian invasio ...
: Best Screenplay and Prize of the Guild of Russian Film Scholars and Film Critics for ''
The Land of Oz''
* 2016 Festival de l'Europe autour de l'Europe: Prix Luna for ''
The Land of Oz''
Nominations
* 2010
Nika Award
The Nika Award (sometimes styled NIKA Award) is the main annual national film award in Russia, presented by the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Science, and seen as the national equivalent of the Oscars.
History
The award was established i ...
s: Best Film and Discovery of the Year for ''
Wolfy Wolfie is an American indie rock band.
Wolfie may alsorefer to:
People
* Martin Adams (born 1956), British darts player
* Wolfie Kodesh (1918–2002), South African communist party activist
* Wolfgang Van Halen (born 1991), American guitarist
Fi ...
''
* 2010
Nika Award
The Nika Award (sometimes styled NIKA Award) is the main annual national film award in Russia, presented by the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Science, and seen as the national equivalent of the Oscars.
History
The award was established i ...
s: Best Film and Best Director for ''
Living
Living or The Living may refer to:
Common meanings
*Life, a condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms
** Living species, one that is not extinct
*Personal life, the course of an individual human's life
* ...
''
References
External links
*
*
Vassily Sigarev biography at Russian Wikipedia
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sigarev, Vassily
1977 births
Living people
People from Sverdlovsk Oblast
Russian dramatists and playwrights
Russian male dramatists and playwrights
Russian screenwriters
Male screenwriters
Russian film directors