Born in Moscow, raised in New York and making Venice Beach, CA his home, Victor got his start directing music videos and commercials, while still attending SVA Film School in NY. In 1991, when the Soviet Union opened its borders, Ginzburg traveled back to his birthplace to film an underground documentary about counterculture and the sexual revolution taking place during the waning days of the Soviet empire. The Restless Garden ("Neskouchny Garden") captured a unique moment in history - the power of free will, expressed through eroticism, but behind these bright new freedoms were clear signs of a darker future ahead. Restless Garden premiered at the Amsterdam Documentary Film Festival, participated in numerous international festivals and was released theatrically on the US art-house circuit. Perhaps Ginzburg is best known for the film Generation P, which he directed, co-wrote and produced. The story follows a former poet living in reduced circumstances who finds himself drawn into the world of advertising. He soon discovers (well ahead of post-social media Western interpretations) that the entire world is nothing but advertising, – and never more so than when campaigning for high office as he creates and elects a virtual Putin-like president of Russia. Released theatrically in Russia and the US to critical and box-office success the film participated in over 20 international film festivals. It was the official selection of the Vanguard Program of the Toronto IFF, ND/NF at MOMA/ Lincoln Center, received Special Jury Prize at the Karlovy Vary IFF; Special Jury Prize at Sofia IFF and the Best Foreign Film nomination at the Palm Springs IFF. In 2022 Ginzburg completed the third film of his “Russian Trilogy” – Empire V, which he wrote and directed, is an epic adaptation of the bestselling novel by Victor Pelevin, revealing the conspiracy of the Russian elite against its people. The film was banned by the Russian government for political reasons, a week before the theatrical release by Sony Pictures Russia. Director Statement For me, Empire V was an opportunity to experiment in the vampire genre but within a uniquely challenging narrative structure: telling a post-modern Moscow love story against the backdrop of a ruthless satire of modern civilization while retaining Pelevin’s ’s brutal eye for the ironies of Russian society. And, of course there was the opportunity to design and create never before seen worlds and creatures. For the first time in my life, when I was confronted with the ugly specter of state censorship, it was a heartbreaking feeling for me and for all the people who put years of work and love into this film. The same goes for literally millions of Russian fans that have been waiting for the release, many of whom helped crowdfund this truly independent film. Read less