Alina Yklymova is a German-Turkmen writer and director whose films move between tragicomedy, surrealism and intimate political family stories. Her work explores people who are loving, manipulative, wounded, absurd and deeply human at the same time.
She studied directing at the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg. Her debut feature MATRÖSHKI was selected for the Tribeca Creators Market 2026 and is currently in post-production. Her work has received support from broadcasters, film funds and talent programmes including SWR, WDR, HR, ARTE, Hessen Film & Medien, the Deutschlandstipendium, the Norbert Janssen Foundation, INTO THE WILD and X3 Spaces Against Disinformation.
She is currently developing projects across fiction, documentary and television, including Prince of Philly (WT), a personal documentary funded in treatment development by Hessen Film & Medien.
Filmography
2026 MATRÖSHKI | fiction feature
| tragicomedy | 105 min.
Writer, Director, Co-Producer | Production: Schiwago Film
In Co-Production with Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
In collaboration with SWR, WDR, HR
2022 STÖRENFRIEDA
| international title: SHE IS A GOOD BOY
| fiction short film | drama | 26 min.
Director
| Production: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
In collaboration with ARTE, SWR
2022 KURSCHATTEN | international title: GOOSEBUMPS
| fiction short film | surrealist drama | 8 min.
Director
| Production: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg,
Atelier Ludwigsburg-Paris
In collaboration with ARTE, SWR
2020 MUHA | fiction short film
| surrealist drama |23 min.
Writer, Director
| Production: Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg
2015 LEV | fiction short film
| surrealist drama | 25 min.
Writer, Director
Selected Festivals
Tribeca Creators Market 2026
| Work in Progress, MATRÖSHKI
IN THE PALACE International Short Film Festival 2023 | Official Selection, Störenfrieda
Max Ophüls Preis 2022
| Competition (Mid-Length Film), Störenfrieda
Biberacher Filmfestspiele 2022
| Official Selection, Störenfrieda
ShorTS International Film Festival 2022
| Official Selection, Kurschatten
Watersprite Film Festival 2021
| Best Screenplay Nomination, Muha
Awards for „Störenfrieda“
filmreif! Bundesfestival junger Film 2022
| Best Film
Filmzeit Kaufbeuren 2022
| Innovation Award (DACH Filmzeit)
Düsseldorf Filmfest 2022
| Special Mention (Jury)
contact: mail@alinayklymova.com
@2026