Rising Stars: Meet Vlad Klimchuk

Today we’d like to introduce you to Vlad Klimchuk.

Hi Vlad, 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 backstories with our readers.
I was born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine. While I was an MS student in Biomedical engineering, my friends and I created a comedy studio that later became one of the biggest studios producing comedy content for TV in the country.

In 2010, we started doing comedy all over Ukraine, working for Zelenskiy’s studio as freelancers, writing for some TV channels, and making YouTube videos that raked in millions of views. In 2013, I was offered the opportunity to create a sitcom for a newly-launched TV channel by a producer/director friend, who later became my partner in crime on a lot of great projects. I basically became a showrunner and was offered to become a co-director of the show. From the very first day on set, I was hooked. Man! You write something crazy, share your vision, and inspire all these creative, awesome people who are now bringing it to life, and they put all their passion into making it even better than you ever could have imagined. That adventure took me on the ride and never let me go.

I was learning the practice by breaking down scripts for my favorite shows, watching cinematography tutorials on the internet, and attending masterclasses and workshops on directing actors, and then implementing it on a real film set. Making the show– running ideas in the writers’ room, editing a pilot, directing actors– all of it was so new and so exciting that I couldn’t let down my producer or myself, so we did our best to make this series as fun as possible. Two seasons later, it became the most successful show on that channel!

I made a short film in 2016 and I went with it to the Cannes International Film Festival to network, and when I got there it was a whole new world. I attended that year’s The Cinéfondation Selection screening and I was shocked; so many great films from people who are not even established in the industry yet. That was the moment I realized I wanted to get a professional filmmaking education in the U.S. That same year, I directed my debut feature film in collaboration with my producer friend I told you about. I was working with the largest Eastern European Studio, FILM.UA, at the same time I was applying for a Fulbright Grant, and ultimately chose to keep it to myself.

Within a year, I received a call that I won a grant and I would go to the US to study. As I waited over the summer for freshman year to start, I directed a feature film that later became the highest grossing movie in Ukrainian box office. During the summer break before my second year in film school, we made a sequel to that film and it also set that year’s box office record. Finally, Ukrainian movies were profitable! A lot of new great filmmakers are making movies that go on to win prizes at international festivals and get great reviews from Ukrainian audiences.

Summer 2022 – I directed my 4th feature film, The Best Weekend, which was a big challenge because it is a narrative movie partially set against a real music festival – the biggest festival in this part of Europe. We had a lot of great inventions with my Director of Photography to combine staged narrative storytelling with guerrilla-style sneak cinematography. It premiered in movie theaters on February 2nd. At the time, I had just gotten my O1 visa and went to Rome for vacation before departing for the United States, with many plans with producers for future projects, but everything changed over one dark night.

February 24th – Russia started a full-scale war and invaded Ukraine. It’s not a movie, it’s a real evil that takes the lives of thousands of people including women and children. Hundreds of artists joined the army army and territorial defense forces to defend the country. A lot of them are making documentaries under the bullets of real battlefields. I am proud to be Ukrainian and to spread the word about the war among people here in the US– I am grateful I have an opportunity to support my family and donate to the Ukrainian army. I’m blessed to have projects in development that will show Ukrainian identity and traditions to the world.

I’m now exploring Los Angeles as I consider myself living here starting March of the year.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
As an international student –   I had to overcome my fears and come to the US, starting from scratch in a new country. As a legal alien– I still feel ashamed I’m safe here while my friends– actors, producers, and others– are defending Ukraine from the enemy, from Russian aggression. But I have a job here and can support my family, donate to the army and be valuable for my country.

As a newcomer to Hollywood, I have to start my career from the bottom again, and it’s an interesting change. I appreciate people I meet on this path. I’m looking for productions and agencies to collaborate with.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m the highest-grossing film director in the Ukrainian market. Here is my website:

https://www.vladklimchuk.com

I made 4 feature films. I’m most proud of the latest movie, The Best Weekend– it was released on February 2nd, 2022.

Here is a link to IMDb page:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16539516

What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the people in Los Angeles, particularly their freedom. There are a lot of deep and creative personalities here.

On the other hand, there’s a lot of pretending, and people trying to be something they’re not.

Contact Info:

• Website: vladklimchuk.com
• Instagram: @the.klim
• Facebook: @the.klim

Image Credits
Aleksandra Genenfeld
Roman Orel