Meet Nadin Tsarinova of Los Angeles

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nadin Tsarinova.

Hi Nadin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey as a woman director began in Kyiv, where I was born. From a very young age, I knew exactly what I loved most—creating and telling stories. I always felt that a story, told well and at the right time, could change something in the world. It could inspire, bring joy, stop someone in their tracks, or make them reflect.

By the age of eight, I was already writing books, and at ten I convinced my mother to buy me my first VHS camera—a gift I never let go of. From that moment on, I began telling my stories through other people, always managing to bring them into my projects and make them believe in their importance. Since it was a tape camera, I could only edit in-camera—by stopping and restarting the recording at just the right moment to create a seamless cut between scenes.

At thirteen, I discovered digital filmmaking and editing, which completely fueled my inspiration. From then on, every gathering with friends ended with a short film, a music video, or a parody of popular shows. At fifteen, I graduated high school early and entered university to study film and television directing. I was the youngest in my class, but also the most active, because I was genuinely passionate about what I was learning. By the end of each semester, I had already directed and edited my own film while also helping every one of my classmates with theirs. For me, stories needed to be told at any cost—whether they were mine or someone else’s.

In my fourth year, I was invited to help establish a film school together with two working directors at the time—Oganes Khachatryan and Serhii Zherekhov. Together, we created the Ukrainian Cinema Village, and soon many others joined us. We ran three major programs and gained wide recognition across Kyiv in 2015.

By the end of university, my biggest dream was to build my own production company dedicated to creating films, music videos, and commercials.

I earned my Master’s degree in directing after a fifth year at film school. After some time I realized that my dream of building a production company did not belong in Ukraine — it belonged in Los Angeles.

So I went. I went alone, with no friends there, no English, no job, no help, and no family. I was twenty-five, in the middle of COVID, and I could no longer wait for the world to return to normal. I took nothing with me — except my camera, everything I had — and, like a newborn thrown into deep water, I simply plunged in. Blind, desperate, and strangely determined, I didn’t know if I would sink or swim, but I threw myself into the unknown because I wanted, more than anything, to live and work in Los Angeles and start my production company here.

In short, the first year was incredibly hard. I wouldn’t recommend anyone do what I did. By the end of that year in Los Angeles, I suffered a heart attack and was barely revived.

After that, I realized that it’s possible not only to work yourself to exhaustion, but also to balance your work, your dreams, and to allow yourself rest and self-care. From that point on, I began to find a little balance between my love for my craft and my love for myself

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Even during one of the toughest financial periods, especially after my heart attack, when I wasn’t allowed to work, move much, or exercise, I lost a lot of money. In that incredibly difficult moment, instead of seeking a job or stability, I felt an urgent desire to make a 48-hour film. I realized I needed a team.

Up until then, I had been working entirely on my own—jumping from one shoot to another with just my camera. I didn’t speak English well and feared it would be impossible to direct and gather a team. Yet, in that moment, I felt an undeniable need to do it: to assemble my first team in Los Angeles, to overcome the fear that my English wouldn’t be enough. And the moment I committed to finding a cinematographer first, something extraordinary happened.

At the very moment I spoke to my friend about my intention to find a cinematographer for my first 48-hour film project, a young man followed me on Instagram. His profile said he was a cinematographer, and without checking anything, I was so excited that I messaged him with a link to the 48-hour project, asking if he wanted to shoot it with me.

He replied immediately: “Yes, of course, let’s do it.” No greetings, no introductions — just straight to the point. He did suggest we talk on the phone first to understand who I was and what this project was about. After that call, within a week, we shot our first 48-hour film together. I recruited a few more people, and with a total team of seven, we completed the project.

A month later, we got married. From that moment, we became a Filmmaker Couple Nadin Tsarinova and Serge Doronin, united by a shared dream of opening a production company in Los Angeles.

And here comes the twist: that dream became reality. We launched our very own production company, Flame World Production specializing in films, music videos and commercials. We have been successfully working together ever since, with him as my cinematographer. Shooting our fourth 48-hour film has become a family tradition.

Together, we also created a deeply meaningful metaphorical film, the psychological thriller The Cake, exploring the influence of propaganda on the human mind and the importance of critical thinking.

Serge also worked as a producer on our last 48-Hours Film of 2025, where we created “Time Crush” with Don Miroradoff and Monalisa Labrador. The film finally made it into the Best Of category and received a nomination for Woman Filmmaker of the Year, a nomination for Best Cinematography, a Runner-Up for Production Design, and a nomination for the Audience Award. It was an amazing project, and we’re excited to start submitting it to festivals now that it’s just been completed.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
After moving to Los Angeles, I faced extreme isolation, no English, no job, no network, and no family support. The first year was physically and emotionally grueling—it even led to a heart attack. On top of that, the war in Ukraine began, which was a huge emotional shock. I had only my mother, so I brought her to live with me, even though I was barely back on my feet after my heart attack. I had to find a way to care for both of us and keep us afloat financially.

It might sound glamorous to say I overcame language barriers, financial hardship, and lack of connections—but the emotional strain of having no home to return to, supporting my mother while still recovering myself, was even more intense. Yet, through all of this, I am immensely grateful and happy that Los Angeles—and America—gave me the chance to survive creatively and physically . I don’t know any other country or city in the world where I could have done this, relying solely on what I had at that moment. Only in Los Angeles did it feel possible to create, survive, and build something meaningful with just my skills, my knowledge, and my camera in hand.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What sets me apart is my deep commitment to changing the world through my films. Even through short projects, I strive to create experiences that impact not only audiences but also the actors and crew who participate, helping them grow and see things differently. I truly witness the importance of these moments and carry that energy into every project. Of course, my next step is to translate this vision into feature films, continuing to tell stories that inspire reflection, provoke thought, and leave a mark

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/directornadin
• Website: directornadin.com