Yulia Malkova - Screenwriting and Directing
Yulia will be graduating from Screenwriting and Directing on the 8th of February with her film "Anniversary"
Anniversary
Greg, a man consumed by jealousy, suspects his wife Mary of infidelity and begins obsessively spying on her from his car, using a telescope. Initially, it seems his paranoia drives him, but, like many jealous lovers, Greg is a hidden voyeur, secretly enjoying watching Mary and waiting for her to betray him. His obsession deepens, pushing him to stage a scenario by inviting his friend Nick to visit Mary, hoping to catch her in an act of betrayal. As Nick’s behavior takes an unexpected turn, Greg’s game spirals out of control, leaving him to confront the humiliating fallout of his own destructive fixation.
What is the first film experience you remember that had an impact on you?
It's hard to say. I grew up in post-Soviet Russia, where we simultaneously watched Tarkovsky’s films, Hollywood action movies, Soviet cartoons, and children’s films. I remember being deeply frightened as a child by Norstein’s masterpiece “Hedgehog in the Fog”, an experimental animation hailed as a global classic but clearly not made for children, and Alexander Mitta’s philosophical parable “The Tale of Wandering”, a dark gothic narrative about losing one’s soul disguised as a children’s fairy tale. But I fell in love with cinema after watching Lost Highway and Twin Peaks. In Russia, there’s a real cult around David Lynch, his films are still regularly screened in theaters. It’s incredibly sad that he passed away.
What fascinates you about filmmaking?
I’ve always loved creating stories and characters, and cinema is a wonderful way to tell stories, especially since not many people read books these days. Plus, it’s worth mentioning that filmmaking is a challenging process. Creating a good film requires collaboration with many people (and I am a true extrovert) while coming up with new technical and creative solutions. In short, it’s an exciting journey of self-development where there’s always room to grow.
Why did you choose Screenwriting and Directing?
My first degree is in journalism. I’ve made several documentary films and worked extensively in magazines and online media, so choosing to focus on screenwriting and directing was a completely logical step.
Did anything particularly surprise you during your studies?
The willingness of students to help each other is truly impressive.
And what does the future look like?
When it comes to the future of the film industry, the integration of artificial intelligence (which everyone seems to fear) will undoubtedly bring changes. It may very well reduce production costs and open up opportunities for independent filmmakers. As for the future in general, I stopped making predictions after 2020—just wishing everyone good luck!
