FILM FESTIVAL "FOLLOW YOUR HEART"
J U R Y NYC 2 0 2 5
ALBERT RUDNITSKY
Albert Rudnitsky is a director, cinematographer, and writer based in New York City. He has directed award-winning short films, plays, music videos, and commercials in Europe and the United States. He worked as Script supervisor and Dialogue consultant on Sean Baker's Anora, winner of 5 Academy Awards including Best Picture.
Rudnitsky graduated from the Moscow Art Theatre University with a degree in Set Design in 2007, and from 2007-2011 worked as a set designer with Pyotr Fomenko, one of the leading theater directors in Europe. In 2016, he graduated from the Academy of Theatre Arts (GITIS) with a degree in theater directing and served as the Artistic Director of the Sound Media Kids School, an acclaimed youth theater and dance program in Saint Petersburg and Moscow. From 2014 to 2018 he was main Director of the International Stanislavsky Foundation Awards. Awardees have included Anthony Hopkins, Ian McKellen, and Ingmar Bergman. He has co-founded two production companies, Rosencrantz Films and Motherfather productions, both based in New York.
Notable short film credits include The Walking Rebel (Tarkovsky Award, Chicago Arthouse BlowUp Fest), Someone Who Doesn't Know You (Athens International Film Festival, Global Music Awards), and Mama (Budapest International Short Film Festival), A Clown Story (The Lower East Side Film Festival, New York Independent Film Festival).
KARINA TERENTYEVA
Karina Terentyeva
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Vocalist | Performer | Graduate of Saint Petersburg University of Humanities and Social Sciences
A creative soul with a deep passion for music, performance, and self-expression. From an early age, I’ve followed the voice of my heart — and it always leads me to art. Music is my element, the stage is my home. I’m open to new projects, constantly evolving, and dreaming of inspiring others with my voice and story.
Saint Petersburg University of Humanities and Social Sciences
Faculty of Socio-Cultural Activitie
Saint Petersburg, Russia
• Since 2013 — vocal training, participation in school and city events
• Musical duet AIARU — performances at weddings, private events, and city stages
• Appeared as an extra in several Kazakhstani film projects
• Debutante at the Opera Ball 2016 in Almaty — waltz performance with a live orchestra
• W.A.F. International Competition 2024 (Skopje, North Macedonia) — 2nd place for performance of “I Will Always Love You” (Whitney Houston)
• Ongoing collaboration with vocal coaches; developing original style and stage persona
• Stage speech and performance delivery
• Experience performing in a duet and solo
• On-set experience in film productions
• Organizing creative performances
• Passion for classical, jazz, and pop music
• Ability to inspire and engage with the audience
• 2nd Prize Winner at the W.A.F. 2024 International Vocal Competition (Skopje)
• Debut at the Opera Ball in Almaty (2016)
• Founder & Performer of the musical duet AIARU
• Film experience as an extra in Kazakhstani productions
“Music is my path, my soul, my freedom. And I truly believe — the most exciting part is still ahead.”
OLEG BLINOV
Oleg Blinov
Oleg Blinov is a Russian-American filmmaker whose work spans acting, writing, producing, and directing. With a passion for storytelling and a relentless drive, he has built his career from the ground up, taking on major roles in a variety of films and television projects. His work has been recognized at international film festivals, including Toronto's YES! Festival, Chicago's Blowup Film Festival, and Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival, among others. Oleg continues to push creative boundaries, bringing bold and compelling stories to the screen.
OLEKSANDR GORBATYI
A multidisciplinary expert in intercultural storytelling, creative business, and comedic performance, Oleksandr Gorbatyi uses humor as a powerful tool for connection, identity, and transformation.
Combining artistic vision, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of cultural nuance, he has built a career that spans Europe, Ukraine, and the United States.
From 1998 to 2005, Oleksandr was a prominent figure in the KVN comedy movement, performing with legendary Ukrainian teams such as Rezus-Factor and Ostatky Roskoshi. His teams won and placed in numerous regional and national leagues, including the KVN Premier League. He also participated in major comedy festivals in Sochi, Jurmala, and Kyiv, collaborating with leading teams from across Eastern Europe.
From 2011 to 2014, Oleksandr founded and served as creative producer of the International KVN Television Cup "Black Sea" in Chornomorsk (formerly Illichivsk), Ukraine. The festival brought together more than 100 teams from countries including Ukraine, Belarus, Armenia, Ossetia, and Russia, providing a rare platform for emerging comedic talent. He oversaw all aspects of the project — from concept development to team training and season narrative design.
In 2015–2016, he launched the Southern Palmyra KVN League under the auspices of the International KVN Union, once again demonstrating his ability to build sustainable ecosystems for creative growth. From 2013 to 2017, Oleksandr served as a respected jury member for leagues across Ukraine and mentored emerging writers, performers, and comedy collectives.
Since moving to the United States in 2024, Oleksandr has expanded his work into creative consulting and business storytelling. As the face and creative partner of AG MOTORS, a company in the automotive and marketing sector, he applies his narrative expertise to brand development, team training, and B2B communications. He also designs and leads educational programs based on his "Semiotic Comedy" method, helping immigrants and multicultural creatives adapt to the American cultural landscape while discovering their unique voice — on stage and in society.
Oleksandr Gorbatyi offers a rare blend of creative execution, intellectual depth, and international perspective.
He is uniquely positioned to:
• Develop original comedic formats tailored for American and global audiences
• Launch intercultural training programs for writers and performers
• Create innovative writing systems for multilingual and immigrant communities
• Advise brands on narrative development, storytelling, and marketing strategy
From stage to strategy, Oleksandr builds bridges across cultures — one story at a time.
YANA LIPKAN
Yana Lipkan
Photographer, journalist and media educator
Yana Lipkan is a photojournalist and visual storyteller with over 10 years of experience in the media. She holds a degree in international journalism and taught photojournalism at the National University "Odesa Law Academy".
She has collaborated with such major Ukrainian publications as "Third Digital", "Reporter", PokuPay magazine and "Nashe Radio", and was also the editor-in-chief of ProActive and executive editor at "Prosto Radio".
Yana is the winner of the international social advertising competition "Another View" in the "Visual Communication" category. In 2025, she was also included in the LensCulture Critic's Choice competition, which highlights new voices in contemporary photography. She has spoken at international conferences and panel discussions on journalism education, visual communication, hate speech and the effectiveness of visual media. As a media literacy trainer, she trained local communities in the Odessa region and developed a course called “Basic Marketing” that was attended by over 50 people. She also served as a speaker in the women’s empowerment project “A Woman’s Voice Has Power.”
Yana is a long-standing partner of the Illuminate Gala charity event of the NoMore Foundation, which supports the fight against human trafficking, the fight against poverty, and educational activities through media and storytelling.
Yana currently lives in the United States and continues to explore issues of identity, sustainability, and human connection through photography. As a jury member for the Follow Your Heart 2025 competition, she offers a socially engaged and thoughtful approach based on journalism, education, and visual storytelling. https://www.lipkanphoto.com/
https://www.instagram.com/
lipkan_photo/
https://www.facebook.com/lipkanphoto
IHOR TIMANKOV
Ihor Timankov
Photographer, Visual Storytelling Expert
Ihor Timankov is an internationally recognized photographer and the creator of the “Framed Storytelling in Photography” method — an innovative approach that transforms each photo into a compelling visual narrative. With over 16 years of experience, he has worked with global brands, luxury hotels, wineries, and cultural institutions, turning images into stories that resonate.
His signature method blends psychology, artistic vision, and technical mastery to create emotionally impactful visuals. A researcher and author, Timankov has published studies on the influence of visual narratives on public perception and holds the prestigious Order of Ivan Mazepa for his contribution to the arts. He is also an honorary member of the Association of Art and Conceptual Photographers .'MYPH" , further reinforcing his status as a leading expert in visual storytelling.
Currently based in the U.S., he continues to shape the future of visual communication through photography, education, and international collaboration.
TOMIRIS YBRAKHAN
Actress and digital creator Tomiris Ybrakhan sees cinema as a way to connect cultures and express identity with depth and honesty.
She began her journey in Kazakhstan, quickly standing out in the industry for her emotional authenticity, natural charisma, and powerful on-screen presence. While she holds a degree in economics and a red diploma from the Almaty State Business College, it was the world of creative expression that became her true calling.
As an actress, Tomiris focuses on emotional truth, cultural storytelling, and visual impact. Her screen credits include leading roles in several popular Kazakh TV series such as TikTok House (Seasons 1 & 2), Kagaz Keme, Zholdastar, and Lovanters. She also starred in the music videos “Qaitadan” by Ninety One and “Monster” by Turar & Tasbay.
Relocating to New York City became a turning point, allowing Tomiris to expand her creative reach and step confidently into the global media space. Alongside her acting work, she built a strong presence as a digital creator — with over 147,000 followers on Instagram — and has collaborated with leading international brands including L’Oréal, Orbit, Fanta, Panasonic, Innisfree, Redmi, and Yandex.
Each of her projects is a personal act of cultural representation. Tomiris operates at the intersection of film, fashion, and new media, proudly sharing the voice of modern Central Asian women with the world. She is part of a generation that creates without borders — bold, honest, and globally relevant.
@el.sh
DENYS SOKORIEV
Denys Sokoriev is a creative producer and content operations lead who sees children’s media not only as entertainment - but as a tool to educate, inspire, and emotionally connect with young audiences.
He began his journey in digital production as a freelancer in Dubai, eventually joining the global childrens YouTube phenomenon Vlad & Niki - one of the world’s largest YouTube channels for kids. Over the years, Denys rose from line producer to content and operations manager, overseeing every stage of production from idea to publication and global distribution - including localization in 18 languages.
In his work, Denys combines storytelling, data-driven decision-making, and deep respect for the developmental needs of children. His leadership style is grounded in creativity, strategic coordination, and the ability to unify diverse teams around shared visual goals.
Now based in the United States, Denys leads the production of Vlad, a fast-growing spin-off channel, while continuing to push the boundaries of what meaningful, high-quality kids’ content can be on YouTube.
@denys_sokorev_dxb
YANA LIASHENKO
Yana Liashenko is a photographer and videographer with more than 10 years of professional experience. She is the creator of the international visual project “First Breath” (launched in 2015), which captures the emotional first moments of a newborn baby's life through photography and video.
After moving to the US in 2022, Yana has expanded her work to major cities, including New York, where her photography exhibitions in 2023 received critical and mainstream audience acclaim. That same year, she also acted as the creator of a music video shot in New York City.
Yana's work has been published in international media and viewed by tens of thousands of people across multiple platforms. As an educator, she has trained hundreds of students in her online professional photography courses.
www.instagram.com/firstbreath.of.life/
#festival #filmfestival #festival #filmfest
RUSANA PLONSAK
Master of adaptive men's haircuts, Rusana Plonsak, views barbering as an art and a way to reveal a person's character through style.
She began her journey with self-education, inspired by the British school of barbering, and then completed training at the Anastasia Karpenko School of Barbering, attending master classes from renowned industry experts. Rusana is a two-time winner of national barbering competitions - the only professional events of this scale in the country.
In her work, she emphasizes an individual approach, taking into account the facial features, head shape and hair texture of each client. For her, there is no "standard" haircut - each haircut is an adaptive expression of the client's individuality.
Rusana is a licensed specialist in two US states and a proud member of the Barbers Association. Her experience is based on technical mastery, a deep understanding of trichology and a desire to help people feel confident and sincere in their image. Invited to the jury of the festival in the nominations "Best Makeup Artist" and "Best Artist".
@just_rs_
MARIANNA FEDCHUK
Marianna Fedchuk is a model and art researcher. A student of the Faculty of International Economic Relations, she has built a career combining fashion, travel and fine art. In 2024, she became the face of the winter issue of Playboy, embodying a vision of natural beauty and authenticity.
Studying at Sotheby’s and Christie’s, Marianna is preparing for a career in art dealership, actively participating in the international art scene. Collaboration with the famous photographer Peracna and the Guess brand became an important milestone in her creative path.
https://www.instagram.com/marianna.fedchuk?igsh=dHRpamk4Ym94Zm41
ALEXEY CHERNIKOV
Alexey Chernikov.
Blogger. Channel "Fyodor, Bond and Chuk" (https://t.me/FBChu/).
• Information partner of the Golden Apricot Film Festival (Yerevan) since 2022;
• Information partner of the One Sixth Film Festival since 2022;
• Information partner and jury member of the Unknown Film Festival since 2024;
• Information partner and jury member of the ORIGINAL+ Doc Film Festival since 2024;
• Information partner and jury member of the Lampa Film Festival since 2024;
• Information partner of the Art Film Festival since 2024;
• Information partner of the Khomyakon festival since 2024;
• Information partner of the Message to Man festival since 2025;
• Information partner of the Geek & Music festival since 2025
MARTY RUSH
Konstantin Karpeev (Marty Rush)
Konstantin Karpeev is an award-winning cinematographer and founder of the Los Angeles–based production company Marty Rush LLC. Known for his refined visual style and intuitive storytelling, he has shot campaigns and editorials for global brands and media outlets including GQ, Vogue, Prada, Netflix, and others.
His work spans fashion films, music videos, and high-end commercial content, often blending cinematic precision with raw, spontaneous energy. Over the past few years, Marty has collaborated with renowned talents such as Jessica Alba, Milla Jovovich, Zoe Saldana, Priyanka Chopra, Miranda Kerr, and many others.
Marty’s signature lies in creating visuals that feel both emotionally grounded and visually elevated — a balance that has earned him recognition at international film festivals and on global platforms.
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ALEKSANDR KARPOV
Aleksandr Karpov is a film and commercial editor whose work has screened at Clermont-Ferrand,Kinotavr, and Los Angeles CineFest. Winner of Best Editing & Sound at Cinescape, he brings over 10 years of experience across narrative, branded, and short-form content. Currently based in Florida, USA.
OLEH ZBOROVSKYI
Oleh Zborovskyi, an award-winning film and television director with extensive international experience creating feature films, series, and travel shows. He has directed and produced such acclaimed projects as "The Beauty of Poverty," the 90-minute films "The Big Journey" and "Impressions," as well as popular series including "Vorozhka," "Vorozhka 2," "Yurchyshyn," "Believe It or Not!", "Heads and Tails," and "Cossacks. An Absolutely Unreal Story."
He has received major industry grants, including grants from NETFLIX (2022), the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine (2018 and 2021), and the State Film Agency of Ukraine (2021). Experienced in pre-production, script development, directing, and post-production for both television and feature films.
Master of Arts, Kyiv National University of Film, Theatre, and Television; completed the intensive directing program at the New York Film Academy (Burbank, California).
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OLEKSII ZARZHYTSKYI
Oleksii Zarzhytskyi is a renowned Ukrainian producer whose projects are successfully distributed on leading international platforms, including Netflix. With extensive experience in developing and promoting content on the global market, he combines creative vision with deep production expertise. His portfolio includes numerous high-profile projects in film and television, collaborating with leading European and American companies. He is known for his ability to discover new talent and bring bold ideas to life on the international stage.
He has worked on numerous large-scale projects, contributing to some of the most notable Ukrainian series and films in recent years. His credits include "Kozaky. Absolutely Fake History", "Krepostnaya", "Budynochok na shchastya", "Vstyhnuty do 30", "Romeo i Dzhelyeta z Cherkas" and "Lyatopol".
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MAX SCHERR
Max Scherr is a Harvard-educated filmmaker known for his bold, poignant approach to filmmaking. His short films "Summerville" and "Hodge-Podge" went to win awards at film festivals in the U.S. and Europe; his music videos climbed to millions of views, and his debut feature film "BORIS 4 FREEDOM" is a pure testament to his resilience in a challenging film industry landscape.
Production website: https://bigscreen.ventures
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