Roman Nepomnyashchiy

Roman Nepomnyashchiy, born smack in the heart of Moscow back in September ‘71, is one of those names you stumble on in Russian cinema and think—wait, why haven’t I heard of this guy before? He’s got this knack for weaving together stories that kind of sneak up on you, catch you off guard, and then refuse to leave your head. Not exactly your cookie-cutter screenwriter. Take “Novyy god, ya lyublyu tebya!” from 2019. It’s billed as a New Year’s story, but Roman’s script dives way deeper than tinsel and fireworks. He’s poking at those messy, bittersweet feelings that bubble up when the calendar flips—nostalgia, regret, hope, the whole tangled mess. The characters feel like people you know—awkward, stubborn, occasionally hilarious. You end up rooting for them, even as they screw things up. Then there’s “ANNdroid” (2020), which, let’s be honest, sounds like a techy sci-fi romp but turns out to be more about what it means to be human when everything around you is getting weirder and more artificial. Roman’s not afraid to toss in some dark humor and a bit of existential dread just to keep you guessing. And don’t sleep on “The Jungle” (2012). It’s got all the wild adventure stuff, sure, but there’s this undercurrent of chaos and survival that feels weirdly real. Roman’s writing doesn’t shy away from the grit or the absurdity of people stuck in extreme situations. He’s not trying to be flashy—just honest, sharp, and a little bit unpredictable. That’s Roman for you.