Aleksandra Medianikova is a german cinematographer, born in Leningrad in 1987, and has been based in Berlin since 2014. She pursued her education at the Film University Konrad Wolf from 2014 to 2019, earning both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Fine Arts with a focus on Cinematography. During her studies Aleksandra not only worked on numerous short films but also had the opportunity to contribute her skills to major projects, such as «Frozen Planet II» for the BBC Historical Unit. Her graduation short film, «Rå,» filmed in Sweden, won the German Film Award LOLA, the Studio Hamburg Young Talent Award, and received a nomination for the Michael Ballhaus Award at FIRST STEPS. With a documentary film «BEYOND THE WHITE» which was also shot in this period of time Aleksandra was nominated for the German Cinematography Award.
Since 2020 Aleksandra has been focusing exclusively on narrative projects. As a DP she took charge of seven episodes of the crime series «SOKO KÖLN» for German television. By the end of 2021 Aleksandra shot her first feature film called «ABOUT A BIRD» directed by Christian Werner and produced by Kurhaus Produktion. This film, starring renowned actors such as Hans Löw and Michael Wittenborn premiered in German cinemas in the fall of 2023.
Her second feature film «MILK TEETH» adapted from the eponymous novel by German author Helena Bukowski is an international cooperation project between Switzerland and Germany starring Susanne Wolff, Ulrich Matthes and directed by Sophia Bösch. This Film will have a world premiere at the International Film Festival Rotterdam in 2024.
Aleksandra is an esteemed member of the German Society of Cinematographers (BVK) and an active participator in CINEMATOGRAPHINNEN, the Women Cinematographers Network. Additionally, she is a participant in the ASC Vision Mentorship Program and is selected for Berlinale Talents in 2024.
AWARDS:
BEYOND THE WHITE
• Nomination for GERMAN CINEMATOGRAPHY AWARD, Germany, 2022
• «Special Mention» ART DOC FEST, Riga, Latvia, 2022
Rå
• Nomination for MICHAELL BALLHAUS PREIS, First Steps Awards, Germany, 2018
• «BEST SHORT FICTION FILM», Deutscher Kurzflmpreis, Germany, 2018
• «BEST SHORT FILM», Studio Hamburg Nachwuchspreis, Germany, 2018
• «BEST SHORT FILM», Sehsuchte Film Festival, Germany, 2018
• «BEST SHORT FILM», «AUDIENCE AWARD», Wendland Shorts Kurzflmfestival, Germany, 2018
• «Silver for BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY"BEST ACTRESS», «BEST DIRECTOR», «Silver for BEST FILM», Mittellang.com, Germany, 2019
Brüche
•"Best Short Film" Los Angeles Crime and Horror Film Festival, USA, 2021
•"BEST GENRE FILM", Sehsücht Film Festival, Germany, 2020
•"BEST HORROR", Voghera Film Festival, Italy, 2021
My home video
• «Production Grant», GoEast Filmfestival, Germany, 2017
• «Silver Castle», OFF CINEMA Film Festival, Poland, 2018
• «INTER GENERATIONS Award», Filmreif!, Bundesfestival junger Film, Germany, 2019
• «CONQUER THE FILM Award», Munzenberg Forum Berlin, Germany, 2019
Day after day
• «BEST SHORT DOCUMENTARY» DOKer Moscow International Documentary Film Festival, Russia, 2017
Chud
• «BEST CHILDREN ACTOR», SWET MIRU International Festival, Russia, 2016
• «Prise ROSKINO», SAINT ANNA Moscow, Russia, 2012
• «BEST FILM» in Russian competition of short films, INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF FILMS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, Russia, 2016
• This film presented Russia at 65th Festival de Cannes as part of «Global Russians», France, 2012
Privacy
• Short film corner, CANNES FILM FESTIVAL, France, 2016
• Opening film, INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM WEEK, Germany, 2016
• Opening film, DOK. fest Munich, Germany, 2016
EDUCATION:
2017−2019 Master of Fine Arts in Cinematography, the Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf, Germany
2014−2017 Bachelor of Fine Arts in Cinematography, the Film University Babelsberg Konrad Wolf, Germany