# Mikhail Krichman

Mikhail Krichman (Михаил Владимирович Кричман; born 1967) is a Russian cinematographer who received a Golden Osella award at the 67th Venice Film Festival for Silent Souls and 3 time award winner at Camerimage. Krichman is best known to western audiences for his work with renowned Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev. He photographed all of Zvyagintsev's films, including The Return (2003), The Banishment (2007), Elena (2010), Leviathan (2014) and Loveless (2017). Zvyagintsev claims that Krichman (an engineer by profession) learned his craft by reading American Cinematographer. Krichman also shot Miss Julie for Norwegian director Liv Ullmann.

## Style

Krichman's cinematography is instrumental in creating the mood that is so imperative to Zvyagintsev's distinctively harrowing journeys of the soul. Predominantly shooting with a crisp, wide lens, Krichman's work often juxtaposes the embittered faces of characters against the weather-worn yet picturesque Russian landscape. There is a coldness to his work, yet it exudes an existential aura that feels like a nightmare slowly unravelling before your eyes. Preferring to film in 35mm and manipulating natural light rather than relying on artificial light sources, Krichman lights space before characters, grounding them within their surroundings and adding an air of realism and immediacy to the events that unfurl.

## Early life

His parents come from the field of book typesetting. After finishing his army service he did not know what to do with himself, and he chose the easiest path. He spent a lot of time in printing houses, and liked the smell of the paint. Those were the things from his childhood that made him start his studies at what is now Moscow State University of Printing Arts.
It was around 1991. He joined the department of technical studies, learning about the technology and the process of book printing. After third semester he moved to an extramural study program and started doing part-time jobs. And it so happened that he met a guy that was about to graduate from the cinematography department of the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography. It was a birthday party, and he asked a question that probably a lot of people ask in a similar situation – would it be possible to visit a set and see how things work when they shoot a movie. Then after a year he got in touch, saying that he had an opportunity for Krichman to come and visit a set. That was how Krichman saw a film set for the first time – as he was directing and shooting some kind of a commercial.

## Selected filmography

* Sky. Plane. Girl (2002)
* The Return (2003)
* Poor Relatives (2005)
* Silent Souls (2010)
* The Banishment (2010)
* Winter Journey (2013)
* Miss Julie (2014)
* Leviathan (2014)
* The Secret Scripture (2016)
* Loveless (2017)
* Vermiglio (2024)
* The End (2024)

## Awards and nominations

List of awards and nominations :
| Award | Category | Year | Nominated work | Result |
| Camerimage | Golden Frog | 2017 | Loveless | Silver Frog |
| Camerimage | Golden Frog | 2014 | Leviathan | Won |
| Camerimage | Golden Frog | 2010 | Silent Souls | Silver Frog |
| Camerimage | Golden Frog | 2003 | The Return | Nominated |
| European Film Awards | Carlo di Palma European Film Award for Best Cinematographer | 2017 | Loveless | Won |
| European Film Awards | Carlo di Palma European Film Award for Best Cinematographer | 2007 | The Banishment | Nominated |
| Venice Film Festival | Golden Osella | 2010 | Silent Souls | Won |
| Nika Awards | Best Cinematographer |
| Nika Awards | Best Cinematographer | 2018 | Loveless | Nominated |
| Nika Awards | Best Cinematographer | 2015 | Leviathan | Nominated |
| Nika Awards | Best Cinematographer | 2012 | Elena | Won |
| Nika Awards | Best Cinematographer | 2011 | Silent Souls | Nominated |
| Nika Awards | Best Cinematographer | 2008 | The Banishment | Nominated |
| Nika Awards | Best Cinematographer | 2004 | The Return | Won |
| Golden Eagle Awards | Best Cinematography | 2017 | Loveless | Nominated |
| Golden Eagle Awards | Best Cinematography | 2014 | Leviathan | Nominated |
| Golden Eagle Awards | Best Cinematography | 2011 | Elena | Won |
| Golden Eagle Awards | Best Cinematography | 2010 | Silent Souls | Nominated |
| Golden Eagle Awards | Best Cinematography | 2004 | The Return | Won |
| Russian Guild of Film Critics | Best Cinematographer | 2017 | Loveless | Won |
| Russian Guild of Film Critics | Best Cinematographer | 2014 | Leviathan | Nominated |
| Russian Guild of Film Critics | Best Cinematographer | 2011 | Elena | Nominated |
| Russian Guild of Film Critics | Best Cinematographer | 2010 | Silent Souls | Nominated |
| Russian Guild of Film Critics | Best Cinematographer | 2007 | The Banishment | Won |
| Russian Guild of Film Critics | Best Cinematographer | 2003 | The Return | Won |