Natalya Kadyrova
Natalya Kadyrova was born in Novosibirsk, Russia. As a high school student, she worked as a writer for a local newspaper and a reporter for a local TV channel. After graduating from Novosibirsk State University with a degree in journalism, she opted to continue her studies at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in Moscow. Working as a freelance scriptwriter and director for the federal Russian TV channels, she made over 60 documentaries.
Natalia joined RT Documentary in 2010. During her time with RTD, she has completed several dozen projects, most notably ‘The Congo Dandies’, ‘Bride Trade’, and ‘Romany Romance’. Many of her documentaries have had a profound impact on the protagonists and community. For example, ‘Brides by Force’, one of Natalia’s signature pieces, contributed to legal reform in Kyrgyzstan: bride kidnappers are now subject to 10 years in prison.
“For me the most exciting thing about documentary filmmaking is the story, which is often much more captivating than the plot of a blockbuster or a thriller, because real life has much more to show than any made-up script. Every new film is an opportunity to live the life of the protagonist. And the diversity of these lives is striking”.