Contacts
valeriatemkina@gmail.com
telegram @vtemkina
inst vvtemkina, FB valeriatemkina
I provide consultations to creative people, give lectures, and
run the Indrama Telegram channel with contests and grants for creative people (11,100 + subscribers).
Portfolio
About me
I was born and live in St. Petersburg, Russia. I am a historian by primary education. I deal with topics of memory, history, and difficult heritage.
Resident of the Artkommunalka Museum in Kolomna (the play "Superfluous (things)" was staged in 2024). Participant of the individual research residency from the Swiss foundation "Pro Helvetia" in 2023 and the residence of the Swiss Literary Foundation Jan Michalski in 2025. Resident of the House of Creative Writers in Peredelkino: laboratory "From writer to screenwriter" in 2023, individual residence in autumn 2024 with the novel "Herman is my Sorrow".
Scholarship holder of the Union of Theatrical Figures for Talented Creative Youth in 2022 for the play "Alexander Nikolaevich, dear" based on Ostrovsky's diaries and the modern Book Club, where the play "Penniless" is discussed.
The plays were presented at the Moscow Regional Puppet Theater, the Melikhovo Estate Museum, Theater.doc , A theater-Theater in Perm and others.
A sketch based on the play "Putsch, Birds and Ghosts" was shown in the laboratory of the City Theater in St. Petersburg "Forward to the Past/Back to the Future" in October 2024, directed by Elena Levina. The play was staged in 2025.
Shortlisted for the play contests "Why do I Remember this", "Stories" from the Sabbath Theater and others. Two books of plays (2021, 2023) have been published with grants. The winner of the competition of short children's works from the publishing house "Nastya and Nikita", 2024.
Author of scripts for non-fiction and fiction animation (participant of the Suzdal Animation Festival). A participant in the Kinooptika laboratory at the Arctic open festival, the first short film based on my script was shot. Participant of the Full-cycle Film Laboratory in Veliky Novgorod from the Foundation for the Support of Regional Cinematography with a game script.
I work as a project author of scripts and plays.
I was born and live in St. Petersburg, Russia. I am a historian by primary education. I deal with topics of memory, history, and difficult heritage.
Resident of the Artkommunalka Museum in Kolomna (the play "Superfluous (things)" was staged in 2024). Participant of the individual research residency from the Swiss foundation "Pro Helvetia" in 2023 and the residence of the Swiss Literary Foundation Jan Michalski in 2025. Resident of the House of Creative Writers in Peredelkino: laboratory "From writer to screenwriter" in 2023, individual residence in autumn 2024 with the novel "Herman is my Sorrow".
Scholarship holder of the Union of Theatrical Figures for Talented Creative Youth in 2022 for the play "Alexander Nikolaevich, dear" based on Ostrovsky's diaries and the modern Book Club, where the play "Penniless" is discussed.
The plays were presented at the Moscow Regional Puppet Theater, the Melikhovo Estate Museum, Theater.doc , A theater-Theater in Perm and others.
A sketch based on the play "Putsch, Birds and Ghosts" was shown in the laboratory of the City Theater in St. Petersburg "Forward to the Past/Back to the Future" in October 2024, directed by Elena Levina. The play was staged in 2025.
Shortlisted for the play contests "Why do I Remember this", "Stories" from the Sabbath Theater and others. Two books of plays (2021, 2023) have been published with grants. The winner of the competition of short children's works from the publishing house "Nastya and Nikita", 2024.
Author of scripts for non-fiction and fiction animation (participant of the Suzdal Animation Festival). A participant in the Kinooptika laboratory at the Arctic open festival, the first short film based on my script was shot. Participant of the Full-cycle Film Laboratory in Veliky Novgorod from the Foundation for the Support of Regional Cinematography with a game script.
I work as a project author of scripts and plays.
News 2026
Three film photographs were taken for the new issue of the English-language magazine Elswhere, which is dedicated to the theme "The End of the World."
The poems and short story have been translated into Italian as part of the Babel review of translations project.
I received the "Best Screenwriter" award at the 2026 International Children's Film Festival for her screenplay for the short film "Pokhodni".
The story "Tolmachevo" was shortlisted for the Y. Levitansky Prize, was one of the 3 winners.
The sketch for the play "The Peach Tree" (2024, commissioned by the director) was presented at the Director's Laboratory of the Minusinsk Drama Theater. Directed by Alexandra Golikova (selected for production).
I was selected for the Dramaturgic Laboratory at the I. Turgenev Estate "Spasskoye-Lutovinovo" and the "Time T" festival. It was also selected for the "Nabokov.lab" laboratory for artists.
News 2025
The play "The Peach Tree" was included in the readings of the project "Laboratory of Modern Drama "Horn" in Moscow . Directed by Alexandra Golikova.
The play based on my play "Putsch, Birds and Ghosts" was staged at the St. Petersburg City Theater. Directed by Elena Levina
I was selected for the local history and drama laboratory "Mansion. Research" in Kazan, wrote a play about Vvedensky.
I took part in a film lab in Veliky Novgorod with a game series. A short film based on my script was shot in Arkhangelsk.
Two photos were taken for an exhibition in Rome at the Loosenart Gallery.
My review of the graphic novel by Swiss Lika Nyussli has been published in Gorky.
I was in residence for writers and translators in Switzerland (the Jan Michalski Foundation) in May 2025.
Artist statement
I am a historian by my first education, so in my plays and novels I often walk along the boundaries of fiction and documentary. The most interesting thing for me is what happened in reality, to a person. Often, what actually happened seems to be fiction, but the truth can be "more shameless" than literature. I have always been interested in the problems of memory and "difficult heritage". In the context of humanities research and artistic practice, it is about difficult and ambiguous events and periods in people's lives that can be interpreted in various ways but always leave a lasting impact. And often tell my story through documents, objects, and memories - through the means of art. This is a search for ghosts of the past in the present. What is over continues to last, and affects our decisions, perception of reality.
In addition, I take fairytale plots as a basis, magical realism, myths and legends, diaries and letters of different peoples are close to me - I see the fulfillment of life in them. I like to mix different texts, genres and methods in my work, because that's how you get closer to the truth.
The structure, rhythm and installation in the work are of great importance to me. And also the choice of "the best words in the best order". I pay a lot of attention to language and working with it, so I don't like verbal redundancy. One metaphor can say more than a page of text.
If I were asked to name the purpose of my work, I would say: "Catch the passing and tell a story.Perhaps there is hope and salvation in it"
My interests include studying the past, narrative sources, architecture, anthropology and the history of things, flea markets, the concept of memory, magical realism, street art, gastronomic culture, and documentary projects.
I am a historian by my first education, so in my plays and novels I often walk along the boundaries of fiction and documentary. The most interesting thing for me is what happened in reality, to a person. Often, what actually happened seems to be fiction, but the truth can be "more shameless" than literature. I have always been interested in the problems of memory and "difficult heritage". In the context of humanities research and artistic practice, it is about difficult and ambiguous events and periods in people's lives that can be interpreted in various ways but always leave a lasting impact. And often tell my story through documents, objects, and memories - through the means of art. This is a search for ghosts of the past in the present. What is over continues to last, and affects our decisions, perception of reality.
In addition, I take fairytale plots as a basis, magical realism, myths and legends, diaries and letters of different peoples are close to me - I see the fulfillment of life in them. I like to mix different texts, genres and methods in my work, because that's how you get closer to the truth.
The structure, rhythm and installation in the work are of great importance to me. And also the choice of "the best words in the best order". I pay a lot of attention to language and working with it, so I don't like verbal redundancy. One metaphor can say more than a page of text.
If I were asked to name the purpose of my work, I would say: "Catch the passing and tell a story.Perhaps there is hope and salvation in it"
My interests include studying the past, narrative sources, architecture, anthropology and the history of things, flea markets, the concept of memory, magical realism, street art, gastronomic culture, and documentary projects.
Favourites
A residence for writers and translators. I will continue to work on the topic of Verdingkinder- "contract children" who were sent to foster farms and orphanages from the 1800s to the 1970s.
Won the selection of residents with the Verdingkinder project - children who were taken from single mothers, the poor, Gypsies and other segments of the population, and given to foster families and shelters. This lasted from the end of the 19th century until the 1960s.
Part of the residency was held in Bern, part in Kaserne in Basel.
Online exhibition (film photographs, cycle "Hontology")
Online exhibition ("Flashcards" - polaroids)
The goal of the project is to write a play about this phenomenon in 2024.
In addition, was engaged in the study of material culture and the properties of memory through the study of flea markets.
Support letter from "Pro Helvetia"
Part of the residency was held in Bern, part in Kaserne in Basel.
Online exhibition (film photographs, cycle "Hontology")
Online exhibition ("Flashcards" - polaroids)
The goal of the project is to write a play about this phenomenon in 2024.
In addition, was engaged in the study of material culture and the properties of memory through the study of flea markets.
Support letter from "Pro Helvetia"
Sketch of the performance based on the play "Putsch, Birds and Ghosts" in the laboratory of the City Theater (St. Petersburg)
The play has been selected for production in 2025.
The play "Putsch, Birds and Ghosts", shortlisted for the "Why do I remember this?" from the Yeltsin Center, winner of the drama workshop (Makhachkala, 2021).
Nick's grandmother dies during the Coup. Her old neighbor Olga has to take him to Sergei, her father, in the village. At the historical break, the city is filled with ghosts. The deceased, Ira's mother and Kolya's grandfather, must help them. But there is a problem - the father does not know that he is the father. And the world is rapidly collapsing.
The play has been selected for production in 2025.
The play "Putsch, Birds and Ghosts", shortlisted for the "Why do I remember this?" from the Yeltsin Center, winner of the drama workshop (Makhachkala, 2021).
Nick's grandmother dies during the Coup. Her old neighbor Olga has to take him to Sergei, her father, in the village. At the historical break, the city is filled with ghosts. The deceased, Ira's mother and Kolya's grandfather, must help them. But there is a problem - the father does not know that he is the father. And the world is rapidly collapsing.
Kinooptika Scenario Laboratory from the Arctic Open International Film Festival (Arkhangelsk)
The result of the laboratory was the script of the short film "Our Kolya", about a fictional patient of the Maimaksin home for the disabled.
Dates: from August to December 2024.
The result of the laboratory was the script of the short film "Our Kolya", about a fictional patient of the Maimaksin home for the disabled.
Dates: from August to December 2024.
Private residence in Peredelkino Writers' House, September 2024
I was selected for the residence (out of 150 applications) and wrote first novel, "Herman is My Sorrow," based on diaries found in a St. Petersburg dumpster in May and August 2024.
I was selected for the residence (out of 150 applications) and wrote first novel, "Herman is My Sorrow," based on diaries found in a St. Petersburg dumpster in May and August 2024.
Other:
Competition of short plays "Stories" from the Saturday Theater, 2024
The play "Herman is my Sorrow", based on diaries found in a St. Petersburg garbage dump in May and August 2024, was included in the long list - 26 plays out of 350.
Competition "Short children's work" from the publishing house "Nastya and Nikita", 2024
I won second place for the short story "49 Kittens", based on the 2021 play.
A hedgehog finds 49 kittens in the forest, but forgets one in the forest. The story of who is to blame, and what came of it.
Perhaps it grows into a series.
Competition of short plays "Stories" from the Saturday Theater, 2024
The play "Herman is my Sorrow", based on diaries found in a St. Petersburg garbage dump in May and August 2024, was included in the long list - 26 plays out of 350.
Competition "Short children's work" from the publishing house "Nastya and Nikita", 2024
I won second place for the short story "49 Kittens", based on the 2021 play.
A hedgehog finds 49 kittens in the forest, but forgets one in the forest. The story of who is to blame, and what came of it.
Perhaps it grows into a series.
Cartoon "Once upon a Christmas" for Theos Media
screenwriter, curator of the project
screenwriter, curator of the project
Residence at the Artkommunalka Museum. Yerofeyev and others", Kolomna
Won the international grant competition in 2022.
During the month in Kolomna: wrote a play and prepared the exhibition "Pack up" - the history of objects through the eyes of Kolomna residents.
One of the resident residency - the last resort, the "memory storage" of Kolomna.
One of the fields of my interests - material culture, anthropology, history, memory and products, death. This project is based on the collection that the museum presents - everything from the 1960s to the present day.
Notebook for writing down where the children left off; "Red Moscow" perfume, slippers, clogs, a stoneless scarf - all this is a source of inspiration. They can spray and burn in silence. They are the key to the funeral.
During the month in Kolomna: wrote a play and prepared the exhibition "Pack up" - the history of objects through the eyes of Kolomna residents.
One of the resident residency - the last resort, the "memory storage" of Kolomna.
One of the fields of my interests - material culture, anthropology, history, memory and products, death. This project is based on the collection that the museum presents - everything from the 1960s to the present day.
Notebook for writing down where the children left off; "Red Moscow" perfume, slippers, clogs, a stoneless scarf - all this is a source of inspiration. They can spray and burn in silence. They are the key to the funeral.
The play «Alexander Nikolaevich, dear»
In the framework of a scholarship for talented youth from the Union of Theatrical Figures.
The basis of the play was a modern meeting of the Book Club dedicated to the "Penniless", and an additional plot is the last year of Ostrovsky's life and his relationship with his own characters. Authentic letters and diary entries of the playwright, questionnaires from dating sites and even posts from a women's forum find their place in this text.
In the framework of a scholarship for talented youth from the Union of Theatrical Figures.
The basis of the play was a modern meeting of the Book Club dedicated to the "Penniless", and an additional plot is the last year of Ostrovsky's life and his relationship with his own characters. Authentic letters and diary entries of the playwright, questionnaires from dating sites and even posts from a women's forum find their place in this text.
The play "Great Rain" (short sheet of the "Chekhov non-fiction" laboratory, 2020)
Documentary film in which there is nothing but an author's phrase - only remarks. I wrote a diary of the son of Anton Pavlovic Chekhov, Pavla Yegorovich and the books written by Chekhov himself.
This is a dialogue without a dialogue. Yes, there are no words between the phrases "It was raining, the dust on the road was noticeable" and "The dog ate a yellow dove", which Pavel Yegorovich left behind by the name of Melikhov. with his son-in-law, a writer. But I can't help but cry. There are rhythms and rhymes inside, a very subtle lack of roots.
"Pavel Egorovich. He makes a big path from the house to the fence.
They roll the path around my house. He turns to Anton Pavlovic with a smile.
Anton Pavlovic. Life is coming great, great, and sits on the five-legged".
This idea took place at the Suzdal Animation Festival of ASPI (shorts, 2023) (cartoon in the "animated" genre "Chehov, I'm Your Father") and in the competition illustrated books by imprint A+A (long)
Documentary film in which there is nothing but an author's phrase - only remarks. I wrote a diary of the son of Anton Pavlovic Chekhov, Pavla Yegorovich and the books written by Chekhov himself.
This is a dialogue without a dialogue. Yes, there are no words between the phrases "It was raining, the dust on the road was noticeable" and "The dog ate a yellow dove", which Pavel Yegorovich left behind by the name of Melikhov. with his son-in-law, a writer. But I can't help but cry. There are rhythms and rhymes inside, a very subtle lack of roots.
"Pavel Egorovich. He makes a big path from the house to the fence.
They roll the path around my house. He turns to Anton Pavlovic with a smile.
Anton Pavlovic. Life is coming great, great, and sits on the five-legged".
This idea took place at the Suzdal Animation Festival of ASPI (shorts, 2023) (cartoon in the "animated" genre "Chehov, I'm Your Father") and in the competition illustrated books by imprint A+A (long)
Stage of the laboratories of the Moscow Regional Theater doll "Little Girl", 2021.
The story of the world in which they learned to sell and buy souvenirs in various cocktails.
The story of the world in which they learned to sell and buy souvenirs in various cocktails.
Invitations - very important resource