The Sphere of Independent Film Production Has A Breath of Fresh Air And People Are Taking Notice: Meet Nik Sysuev

That new hit song on the radio is often just a remake of something from the past, the latest fashion style is a repeat of a fad from 30 years ago, and how many variations of Marvel superhero movies can we take? But every once in a while something new and refreshing breaks through the humdrum and gives a new perspective to get excited about. In the world of filmmaking that something has a name and it's Nik Sysuev.

Nik Sysuev was raised in a small town in Russia before the collapse of the Soviet Union and learned about the hard knocks of life at a young age. Living in poverty, he learned from his parents how to not only face challenges but also navigate through difficult circumstances. This instilled in him from a young age a heightened creativity that has made him an out-of-the-box thinker in most aspects of his life. Although life was hard for him and his family, there was one exuberance for Nik that he simply couldn’t get enough of: movies.

Even before the Iron Curtain began to fall, US movies started making their way into the cities and towns of Soviet bloc countries and Nik’s town was no different. He was able to get VHS recordings of movies like Robocop, Lethal Weapon, and Terminator and would watch them repeatedly paying attention to not just the entertaining side of the movies but to the actual intricacies of the acting, special effects, and story flow. Little did he know at that time exactly where his newfound passion would take him.

Today, Nik Sysuev has become quite a popular name in the world of L.A. filmmaking. His unique ability to create captivating and powerfully emotional short films has given him quite a bit of notoriety. His rise to stardom began when he started studying to receive his Masters of Fine Arts degree at the prestigious American Film Institute in Los Angeles. There he impressed his peers and professors with his incredible aptitude to not only learn the art of filmmaking quickly but to take this knowledge and turn it into great stories..

His love for film drove him to push to new heights during his academic years even to the point of completing 2 thesis films during his educational experience. These films KUSH: A Bubble Gum Western, produced in 2021, and Why Don’t You Like Me?, produced in 2022, garnered attention from several highly respected film festivals with both of them receiving the coveted title of “Official Selection” by the judges. Films that are chosen for this distinguished category are known to have excellent artistic value, fascinating subject matter, and producers with an extraordinary eye for creativity. Nik had elevated himself to a whole new level of respect and admiration in the world of short films but right around the corner was another big jump forward in his career and he had no idea that it was coming.

Film festivals in Los Angeles are always a big deal but very few of them have achieved the prominence of the Dances With Films festival. With over 20,000 attendees from all over the globe, this yearly pinnacle of excellence picks only the best of the best to be represented among its participants. Needless to say, Nik was both shocked and elated when his short film Why Don’t You Like Me? was selected to compete among over 36 other esteemed short films. This, in itself, was a huge honor but no one was prepared for what was going to happen next.

As the Dances With Film festival continued, the much-anticipated awards ceremony got underway. The Audience Choice Award is considered among many to be one of the most desirable achievements because it puts the power of voting into the hands of the people and gives a true reflection of a producer’s authentic talent and charisma. When the award was announced, Nik was speechless. His short film Why Don’t You Like Me? took first place and officially cemented the name of Nik Sysuev into the minds of film enthusiasts around the world.

Fast-forward to today and Nik is busy with a plethora of exciting projects that are guaranteed to make an impression in the US and beyond. With his ingenious creativity and his unique skill to connect to people through film, the future is bright for this up-and-coming producer and we are eager to see what amazing cinematography will be attached to his name. He certainly is that breath of fresh air in the filmmaking industry that people are looking for.