Darya Zhuk's life journey is a testament to her unwavering dedication to her craft. Born and raised in Minsk, Belarus, she embarked on a path that would take her to the prestigious Harvard University for her undergraduate studies.
Her academic pursuits were followed by a Master of Fine Arts in film directing from Columbia University, a feat that demonstrates her unwavering commitment to her passion.
Currently residing in Brooklyn, Darya has made a name for herself in the film industry with her impressive portfolio of work. Her most recent endeavour was directing an original episode of LITTLE AMERICA for Apple+, a project that holds a special significance to her as it is based on her own immigration experience from Belarus.
In addition to her work on LITTLE AMERICA, Darya has also directed and executive produced the first four episodes of an original series for Netflix Russia, ZATO. Furthermore, she has directed an episode of THE PREMISE for FX, an anthology series created by BJ Novak.
Darya's impressive resume also includes directing the entire second season of a popular Russian television series, RUSSIAN AFFAIRS, which is currently streaming on Amazon Europe.
Looking ahead, Darya is set to make her English language feature debut with THE REAL AMERICAN, a film that explores the idea of the American Dream through the eyes of a young foreign exchange student just after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The project is being produced by John Lesher.
Darya's debut feature, CRYSTAL SWAN, was a significant milestone for Belarus, marking the country's first entry to the Oscars in 22 years. Set in Minsk during the late 1990s, the film follows Velya, a young Belarusian DJ, as she navigates the complexities of the visa application process in pursuit of her dreams of visiting America.
