I was born in Moscow, Russia and have lived in LA for more than 30 years.
I have a Law Degree from Moscow State University (magna cum laude), with specialization in American Constitutional Law, followed by a master’s degree from foreign affairs department of the Institute of American and Canadian Studies (with George Arbatov as the head of the organization), with a thesis topic: the executive privilege in the United States.  
Worked as a interpreter and representative for top U.S. filmmakers at numerous Moscow Film Festivals, and also for International Trading Chamber, Academy of Sciences and International Book Fairs. Contributed to various magazines and newspapers, such as “Moscow News” and “New Films”. 

In Los Angeles I worked as Executive Director of RKO Foundation, which was founded by Dina Merrill, American actress and philanthropist, to guide and award (with an annual prize) talented screenwriters and filmmakers in new democracies, such as Russia, Poland, Hungary and other Eastern European countries. Following that I worked as Richard Gere‘s (American actor) producing partner.

I was a permanent member of ICT (Institute for Creative Technologies), a joint Think Tank between USC and CIA, created for gathering filmmakers’ input on how to combat extreme ideologies.