Anastasia Babenko (b.1989), is a Ukrainian filmmaker and photographer currently based in Seattle. Prior to writing and directing, she had worked as a news reporter in Ukraine, Germany, and the U.S. Her latest fashion videos include a collaboration with Ukrainian designer Anton Belinskiy for Paris Fashion Week. Apart from her artistic practice, Anastasia curated shows and film programs for various galleries and film centers. She was also a part of the SIFF 2020 programming team. In 2022, Anastasia will co-curate The Middle Seat, a six-month-long exhibition series at Das Schaufenster centered around Eastern European immigrant artists.
Publications
2022 –Ukrainian film director turns focus to plight of home country / Kyodo News+
2022 – Seattle art show honors Ukrainian symbols of hope / Crosscut
2021 – Small Talk: Anastasia Babenko, Ukrainian film director / Marie Claire Ukraine
2021 – Three participants of 7+7 festival about their films, gender, and prejudice / BESTIN.UA
2021 – Anastasia Babenko's 8 favorite movies / Wonderzine
Grants & Awards
2021 –Gallery 110, Second Prize Award at 11th Annual Juried Show, Seattle, WA
2021 – EU 4 Gender Equality Grant Awardee, Kyiv, Ukraine
2020 – FotoFilmic Scholarship Winner, Lucas Foglia Masterclass, Vancouver, BC, Canada
2020 – 4Culture Grant Awardee, Seattle, WA
2020 – Photographic Center Northwest, Honorable Mention at Distinction exhibition, Seattle, WA,
Exhibitions / Screenings
2021 – Goethe Pop-Up at Das Schaufenster, "One Last Ride" (solo show)
2021 – Gallery 110, 11th Annual Juried Show curated by Shamim Momin, Seattle, WA
2020 – Photographic Center Northwest, "Distinction" curated by Kris Graves, Seattle, WA
2020 – Hiawatha Art Club, "Deep Affection", Seattle, WA
2019 – Lovecitylove, "The Farewell Show", Seattle, WA
2019 – Blue Sky Gallery, Pacific Northwest Photography Viewing Drawers, Portland, OR
2019 – Center on Contemporary Art, "Motherland" curated by Amanda Manitach, Seattle, WA
Professional Experience
2022– Gala Producer at Northwest Film Forum, Seattle, WA
2020– Programming Assistant at Seattle International Film Festival
2019 – Programmer at Northwest Film Forum, Seattle, WA
2018 – Curatorial Intern at CoCA (Center on Contemporary Art), Seattle, WA
Education
2010 – 2012 MA in Journalism, Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Ukraine
2006 – 2010 BA in Linguistics, Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Ukraine