Born in 1951 in Podorvikha, Russia. Worked as producer's technical assistant and a producer's assistant for Gorky television. 1970 Produces first television shows. 1974 Receives degree in History from Gorky University. 1975 Enters Producer's Department at the VGIK (All-Union Cinematography Institute) Moscow. 1980 Due to Tarkovsky's recommendation letter Sokurov is employed by the film studio Lenfilm. Also worked for Leningrad Studio for Documentary Films. Received numerous awards internationally. Reknown for his fiction films, also director of over 20 documentaries.