According to a statement from the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation, actress and director Lyudmila Vasilievna Tsvetkova died at age 78. The death occurred the day before, on May 31.
Her official titles include documentary director, actress, member of the Russian Union of Cinematographers, honorary member of the Russian Academy of Arts, academician of the Eurasian Television and Radio Academy, and honorary artist of Moscow. She was regarded as an outstanding student of cinema, and she held the position of President of the Russian Federation Lyudmila Vasilievna Tsvetkova until her passing. The organization extended condolences to her family and friends.
Farewell to the artist is scheduled for June 2 at 11:00 in the Central Conference Hall of the Cinematographers’ House on Vasilyevskaya Street.
career path
Born on October 31, 1944, Tsvetkova completed her studies at the Theater School in 1967, graduating from Shchepkin. She began her film career as an actress, with her first appearance in Leon Saakov’s film The Three Seasons.
Over a prolific career she appeared in more than 40 films and collaborated with renowned directors including Eldar Ryazanov, Pyotr Todorovsky, Marlen Khutsiev, and Georgy Danelia, among others. Audiences especially remember her performances in Athos by Daneliya as a store manager, in Garage where she played a woman in a feathered hat, and in The Irony of Fate as one of the lead character’s friends.
She expanded into directing in 1996 with her first project, a documentary titled Afghans. Her directorial body of work surpassed 20 titles, featuring a collection such as The True Gift, Brykin Bor, Forest Bell, The Beautiful Lives Here, and Witnesses of the Age, which highlighted the experiences of World War II veterans.
She also wrote screenplays for Don’t Leave Me Out of Love and The Real Gift. Since 2008 she served as President of the Military Historical-Patriot Films Association within the Russian Union of Cinematographers, and since 2022 she was a member of the Art Council for the Cinematography Department of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The tribute to her life underscores a remarkable dedication to cinema and documentary storytelling. [Source: Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation].