Liliya Anisimova

Liliya is an award-winning documentary producer, director, editor and broadcast television presenter. Before becoming an independent filmmaker, she was a national, award-winning television presenter and left a successful and highly visible career in Moscow just over 6 years ago. Liliya was working as an on-air anchor, special presenter, field journalist, and producer, leading her team to numerous broadcast awards, both Russian and international. Leaving Russia was difficult, but a choice she felt compelled to make. Liliya is a passionate advocate for women and children’s rights, social justice and LGBT awareness and rights. The political situation in Russia tied her hands in terms of the kinds of stories and news she could produce. The lack of true press freedoms and the abuse of marginalized voices made it clear she had to leave. Liliya was fortunate in being accepted into SVA’s prestigious MFA program in Social Documentary Film. She worked alongside some of the most highly regarded filmmakers in New York city: Bob Richman, Sam Polard, Michel Negroponte, Deborah Dickson, and Tom Hurwitz to name a few. Liliya’s short documentary Magic of the Underground was awarded The best experimental film at Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival and was screened at The Minneapolis Underground Film Festival.

She also produced and directed a short autobiographical film From Reel to Reel, which was nominated for the best short film at The Golden Egg Film Festival in NY. Her first independent feature documentary “Love is the Highest law” received to the IndieFEST award for best feature documentary, and has been invited to several film Festivals, including the Queer Film Festival in Oregon, SR, The Socially Relevant Film Festival NY, The Minneapolis Underground Film Festival and recently received The Award of Merit: Documentary Feature from The Accolade Global Film Competition.