Meet Lesya Kalynska

Background

Lesya Kalynska is an award-winning film director, screenwriter, and producer.

She develops film projects through her production company, Pomegranate

Studios in New York. Originally from Kyiv, Kalynska earned her MFA in directing

and writing from New York University Tisch School of the Arts and received her

Ph.D. in Slavic Literatures and Languages in Ukraine. She found early success in the U.S. with her award-winning short narrative film, The Balloonist, and produced

The Debt directed by Levan Koguashvili, was an official selection at the Sundance and Tribeca film festivals. Kalynska is a recipient of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Production Award (Golden Globes) for her feature-length documentary in progress In the Land of the Lost Crusaders, which she directed and co-produced. Lesya also worked in Kyiv as a director of a docuseries Level of Secrecy 18 featuring historic reenactments and unique archival footage to tell the untold stories of World War II. It was released on the widely popular Ukrainian TV channel 1+1 in 2011.

Lesya Kalynska is the writer, director and producer of the feature documentary

A Rising Fury about the Russia’s war against Ukraine that was filmed for nearly

10 years. The World Premiere took place at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2022. It

was the winner of several awards including the Supreme Jury Award and the

Best International Director Award at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival.

A Rising Fury was screened across four continents in nine prestigious

international film festivals. The film is critically acclaimed and was nominated for

the Bronze Horse Award at the Stockholm FF, Best Documentary at the Warsaw

IFF and the Golden Duke Award at the Odessa IFF. Film Threat Magazine gives

the film 10/10 and hails it as “One of the best films of the year”. A Rising Fury

was qualified for the 2024 Academy Awards.

Discover Lesya Kalynska

Filmmaker with International Recognition

Lesya Kalynska is an award-winning filmmaker known for her work in narrative and documentary genres. Her films have achieved international acclaim, including selections at Sundance and Tribeca. She is passionate about storytelling that explores cultural history and human experiences.

Production Expertise in New York

Based in New York, Lesya leads Pomegranate Studios, where she oversees the development and production of innovative films. Her expertise spans from script development to post-production, ensuring each project meets high artistic standards. She is dedicated to elevating independent cinema.

Educational Background and Achievements

Lesya earned her MFA from NYU Tisch and a Ph.D. in Slavic Languages. Her academic achievements complement her filmmaking career, providing her with a deep understanding of storytelling and cultural nuances. She is committed to mentoring emerging filmmakers.