Alina Yklymova is a german-turkmen writer and director based in Germany. She studied Media at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences and Directing at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, where she was mentored by Béla Tarr, Hubert Sauper, Nora Fingscheidt and Maren Ade. Her films have been presented at international festivals including Filmfestival Max Ophüls Preis, Biberacher Filmfestspiele, IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival, ShorTS International Film Festival and Watersprite Film Festival, receiving several awards and nominations.
Her work has been supported by the Deutschlandstipendium, the Norbert Janssen Foundation, the directing mentorship program Into the Wild, and the X3 Spaces Residency against disinformation.
In her diploma film MATRÖSHKI, currently in post-production, she combines tragicomedy with contemporary political themes, exploring identity, belonging and family through a distinctly feminist perspective. The film marks her fiction feature debut and was produced in collaboration with SWR, WDR and HR.
Previously, she explored her own family history in the short film MUHA. Autobiographical material and family relationships are recurring elements of her work, which is rooted in research, precise dramaturgy and a visual approach that makes psychological processes experiential rather than explanatory.
She is currently developing several projects across fiction, documentary and television, including the personal documentary PRINCE OF PHILLY, funded in treatment development by Hessen Film & Medien.
Filmography
2026 MATRÖSHKI | fiction feature | tragicomedy | 105 min.
Writer, Director, Co-Producer | Production: Schiwago Film GmbH, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
In collaboration with SWR, WDR, HR
2024 HERE AND NOW | experimental short film | 12 min.
Writer, Director | Production: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
Workshop with Béla Tarr
2022 STÖRENFRIEDA | international title: SHE IS A GOOD BOY | fiction short film | 26 min.
Director | Production: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
In collaboration with ARTE, SWR
2022 KURSCHATTEN | international title: GOOSEBUMPS | fiction short film | 8 min.
Director | Production: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris
In collaboration with ARTE, SWR
2020 MUHA | fiction short film | 23 min.
Writer, Director | Production: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
2019 DUSCHE | short film | 3 min.
Writer, Director, Producer
2018 LÄCHEL DOCH MAL | experimental short film | 20 min.
Writer, Director, Producer
2015 LEV | fiction short film | surrealist drama | 25 min.
Writer, Director
2014 K(L)ICK | experimental short film | 20 min.
Writer, Director, Producer