Film director and Production Designer of Animated Films
Professor of VGIK
Honored Artist of the Russian Federation
Academician of the Academy of Cinematic Arts “Nika”
Born on May 18, 1947, in Moscow.
In 1965 – 1967, Sokolov graduated from the animator courses at the “Soyuzmultfilm” Studio.
From 1966 to 1972, he studied at VGIK at the Art Faculty in the workshop of Professor Ivan Petrovich Ivanov-Vano.
Received his diploma in 1972.
In 1972 – 1973, Sokolov served in the Soviet Army.
Since 1973 he worked at the “Soyuzmultfilm” Studio as a production designer.
In 1977, Sokolov made his debut as аdirector with “Dogada”.
Sokolov worked twice in Germany at the “DEFA – Trikfilm” Studio, where he directed joint films “Der Soldat und der Garten” (1980) and “The Falling Shadow” (1985).
From 1990 to 1994, Sokolov did joint work with British filmmakers on films based on the plays by Shakespeare “The Tempest” (1992) and “The Winter’s Tale” (1994). They were recognized and awarded with international awards, including the Emmy of the American Television Academy.
From 1994 to 1999 – another joint work with British filmmakers on the animated feature film “The Miracle Maker”. It is dedicated to the 2000th anniversary of Christianity, and it was also awarded with international prizes.
Since 1985 Sokolov has been teaching at VGIK. He is the head of the workshop of cartoon artists, and the head of the Department of Animation and Computer Graphics from the day of its foundation in 1995.
Participant of All-Russian and international exhibitions.
Sokolov’s feature film “Hoffmaniada” received a special jury prize and a prize for directing at the IFF in Recife (Brazil); the silver medal of the Russian Academy of Arts and the “Golden Eagle” prize of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences of the Russian Federation for the best animated film of 2019.
Filmography:
• 1977 “The Guess”
• 1978 “About Ruff Ruffovich”
• 1980 “Der Soldat und der Garten”
• 1981 “The Homeless Hobgoblings”
• 1983 “The Fish Carriage”
• 1984 “Black and White Cinema”
• 1985 “Falling Shadow”
• 1988 “The Big Underground Ball”
• 1990 “The Golden Sword” (co-authored with Shumsky)
• 1990 “And What’s under the mask?”
• 1991 “The Tempest”, in the cycle “Shakespeare: The Great Comedies and Tragedies”
• 1993 “The Winter’s Tale”, in the cycle “Shakespeare: The Great Comedies and Tragedies”
• 2000 “The Miracle Maker” (co-authored with Derek Hayes)
• 2001 “Al-Fatihah” (“Muslim prayer”)
• 2001 “Our Father” (co-authored with Elena Livanova)
• 2003 “Shma Israel” (“Jewish prayer”)
• 2019 “Hoffmaniada”