Mikhail Krichman (Михаил Владимирович Кричман; born 1967) is a Russian cinematographer who received a Golden Osella award at the 67th Venice Film Festival for Silent Souls and 3 time award winner at Camerimage. Krichman is best known to western audiences for his work with renowned Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev. He photographed all of Zvyagintsev's films, including The Return (2003), The Banishment (2007), Elena (2010), Leviathan (2014), Loveless (2017) and Minotaur (2026). Zvyagintsev claims that Krichman (an engineer by profession) learned his craft by reading American Cinematographer. Krichman also shot Miss Julie for Norwegian director Liv Ullmann.
Style Krichman’s cinematography plays a central role in shaping the atmosphere that defines Zvyagintsev’s emotionally intense films. Working primarily with crisp wide-angle compositions, he often contrasts the strained expressions of his characters with the stark yet striking Russian landscape. His imagery carries a palpable coldness, though it is tempered by a reflective, almost existential quality that lends the films a quiet sense of unease. Favoring 35mm film and an emphasis on natural light over artificial sources, Krichman frequently illuminates spaces before characters, situating them firmly within their environments. This approach enhances the realism of the scenes while reinforcing the emotional weight of the events unfolding on screen.
Early life His parents come from the field of book typesetting. After finishing his army service he did not know what to do with himself, and he chose the easiest path. He spent a lot of time in printing houses, and liked the smell of the paint. Those were the things from his childhood that made him start his studies at what is now Moscow State University of Printing Arts.
It was around 1991. He joined the department of technical studies, learning about the technology and the process of book printing. After third semester he moved to an extramural study program and started doing part-time jobs. And it so happened that he met a guy that was about to graduate from the cinematography department of the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography. It was a birthday party, and he asked a question that probably a lot of people ask in a similar situation – would it be possible to visit a set and see how things work when they shoot a movie. Then after a year he got in touch, saying that he had an opportunity for Krichman to come and visit a set. That was how Krichman saw a film set for the first time – as he was directing and shooting some kind of a commercial.
Selected filmography Sky. Plane. Girl (2002) The Return (2003) Poor Relatives (2005) Silent Souls (2010) The Banishment (2010) Elena (2011) Winter Journey (2013) Miss Julie (2014) Leviathan (2014) The Secret Scripture (2016) Loveless (2017) Vermiglio (2024) The End (2024) Minotaur (2026)
Awards and nominations +List of awards and nominations Award Category Year Nominated work Result Camerimage Golden Frog 2017LovelessSilver Frog Camerimage Golden Frog 2014Leviathan Camerimage Golden Frog 2010Silent SoulsSilver Frog Camerimage Golden Frog 2003The Return European Film Awards Carlo di Palma European Film Award for Best Cinematographer 2017Loveless 2007The Banishment Venice Film Festival Golden Osella 2010Silent Souls Nika Awards Best Cinematographer 2018Loveless 2015Leviathan 2012Elena 2011Silent Souls 2008The Banishment 2004The Return Golden Eagle Awards Best Cinematography 2017Loveless 2014Leviathan 2011Elena 2010Silent Souls 2004The Return Russian Guild of Film Critics Best Cinematographer 2017Loveless 2014Leviathan 2011Elena 2010Silent Souls 2007The Banishment 2003The Return
References
External links
http://www.mikhailkrichman.ru/