Avdotya Smirnova

Biography

Avdotya Smirnova is a Russian film director, screenwriter, producer, and literary critic born on June 29, 1969, in Moscow to actor parents Natalya Rudnaya and Andrei Smirnov. She began her career in the entertainment industry at a young age, performing in punk-rock bands and contributing to samizdat magazines before becoming a journalist for Kommersant in 1995. Her film credits include writing and directing "The Connection" (2006) and producing several award-winning movies.