Aleksey Ageyev

Aleksey Ageyev, born in Moscow back when it was still the USSR (yep, 1978—cue disco and Cold War vibes), has carved out a weirdly eclectic path through the world of film. He’s not your average producer or manager; the guy’s got a knack for picking out projects that never really fit the cookie-cutter Hollywood mold. Take “Kicks” (2016), for example. It’s gritty, raw, and doesn’t shy away from the messiness of chasing after something you think will fix everything. Ageyev helped bring that to life, making sure the story actually felt like it was happening on the streets, not in some sanitized studio set. Then there’s “Bushwick Beats” (2019), a film that basically throws a bunch of stories into New York’s blender and hits purée—chaotic, heartfelt, a little strange, but kind of hypnotic. Ageyev’s influence? Oh, it’s there, all over the pacing and vibe. But honestly, if you want to see him get a little wild, look at “Pikovaya dama. Chyornyy obryad” (2015)—think Russian folklore meets horror, with a side of “maybe don’t watch this alone at night.” It’s creepy, atmospheric, and Ageyev manages to balance the supernatural with that signature real-world edge of his. The guy doesn’t just make movies; he drops you in the middle of them and dares you to try and look away. Not your run-of-the-mill filmography, that’s for sure.