Timur Bekmambetov — director (wanted) with roots in the USSR
Timur Bekmambetov is a Kazakh-Russian film director born in Atyrau (Kazakhstan, USSR) who directed Night Watch (2004) — the biggest Russian blockbuster in history — and then made Hollywood films including Wanted (2008) starring James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie, and pioneered the 'screenlife' film genre.
Tracing the roots — Atyrau (Kazakh)
Born in Atyrau (Kazakh SSR) in 1961 and building his career in Russia before breaking into Hollywood, Bekmambetov represents the breadth of the Soviet cultural sphere — his Kazakh origins and his Russian career combine with his American breakthrough into a uniquely post-Soviet success story. Night Watch's $16 million Russian production defeated Hollywood blockbusters at the Russian box office.
Atyrau (Kazakh). At the time, this region was one of the fifteen republics of the Soviet Union.