CARTER KIRILENKO
DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, CINEMATOGRAPHER
DIRECTOR | PRODUCER | CINEMATOGRAPHER
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Carter Kirilenko is an award winning independent film Director & Producer, specializing in original and branded documentary production.
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Carter's films explore themes of human resilience and our relationship with the natural world. He is based in Vancouver, and has built a breadth of experience filming across different cultures and physically demanding environments.
Carter's films have screened at festivals globally, receiving multiple awards such as People's Choice Award at VIMFF for his film "Leuser: The Last Place on Earth" and "Best International Film" at Oregon Documentary Film Festival for "In Your Palm". Carter is a VIFF Catalyst Fellow, and has worked with companies such as Forgotten Parks Foundation, WaterBear Network, SONY, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Re_Generation, and ReWild Africa. His work has been regularly displayed at the United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP) annual climate exhibitions. He is currently developing Upemba, a feature documentary exploring the fight to protect one of the last wildernesses in the Congo.
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Carter holds a Bachelor of Environmental Studies (B.E.S) from the University of Waterloo, where he studied Environment and Business. He is a certified PADI Open Water diver and holds CPR C & AED certification.
“Carter Kirilenko is one of the most engaging and interesting speakers I've ever heard. As a regular speaker in our Planetary Health Film Lab, Carter was able to speak to a culturally-diverse audience of Indigenous youth on the art of making a documentary film that achieves progressive social change. My students always praised Carter's presentations above all others resulting in my re-hiring Carter three years in a row. I look forward to working with him again."
Mark Terry, PhD
Planetary Health Film Lab
PRESS
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The Vancouver Sun
September, 2021
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February, 2021
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100.5 FM Conscious Living Network Radio
September, 2020
March, 2020
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March, 2020
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SCREENINGS & EXHIBITIONS
Conference of the Parties (COP) 27 - Sharm El Sheikh
2022 - Dressing the Princess
Pacific Rim Film Festival
2022 Official Selection - Salmon Parks
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Conference of the Parties (COP) 26 - Glasgow
2021 - Salmon Parks
Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival
2021 Official Selection - Leuser: The Last Place on Earth
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McMinnville Short Film Festival
2021 Official Selection - In Your Palm
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American Conservation Film Festival
2021 Official Selection - In Your Palm
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Colorado Environmental Film Festival
2021 Official Selection - In Your Palm
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Oregon Documentary Film Festival
2020 Official Selection - In Your Palm
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Toronto Independent Film Festival
2020 Official Selection - In Your Palm
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
Eco Film Award
Dressing the Princess
2023 - Science Film Festival
Peoples Choice Award
2021 - Vancouver International Mountain Film Festival
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VIFF Catalyst Alumni
Mentorship program for emerging filmmakers
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Best International Film
2020 - Oregon Documentary Film Festival
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Best Short Film
2020 - Toronto Independent Film Festival
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Best Student Film
2020 - Awareness Festival
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Best Student Film
2021 - ​American Conservation Film Festival
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