Film director Alexander Mitta. Biography

The outstanding cinematographer (birth name — Rabinovich) was born on March 28, 1933 in Moscow. Since childhood, the future director dreamed of becoming an artist, studied in an art circle and a theater studio of the Moscow House of Pioneers.

After school, the young man entered an art university, but it didn't work out any further. In 1955, he graduated from the Architectural Faculty of the Kuibyshev Moscow Civil Engineering Institute (now the National Research Moscow State University of Civil Engineering), where he was taught by the famous constructivist architect Konstantin Melnikov.

In the second half of the 1950s, he worked as a graphic cartoonist in the socio-political and humorous magazines Ogonyok, Krokodil and others. At the same time, he took the surname Mitta, which goes back to his mother's roots. Later, the cartoonist's experience was useful to him in the cinema.

In 1960, Alexander Mitta received a diploma from the directing faculty of the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography (now the S. A. Gerasimov All-Russian State University of Cinematography).

His directorial debut was the film adaptation of Alexander Khmelik's play "My Friend, Kolka!.." (1961, co-directed by Alexey Saltykov, Mosfilm Film Studio). The film was awarded two honorary awards at once, one of which is international. The director was widely known for his film "The Crew", which is considered to be the first Soviet disaster film.

In total, Alexander Mitta directed about 20 films, becoming the co-author of the scripts of most of them. In addition, he has performed roles in several films. The most famous of his acting works is the young intellectual Vladik in the melodrama "July Rain" by Marlena Khutsieva (1966). He is also the author of several books for children.: "Victor in a Tiger's Skin" (1960), "The Martians Arrived..." (1960), "Miracle Bed" (1961) and "The Good Donkey" (1961).

The director was a member of the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation, was a member of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Cinematographic Arts, and was an honorary member of the Russian Academy of Arts.

In 2004, he was awarded the title of People's Artist of Russia. He was also awarded the badge "For Contribution to Russian Culture" (2018) and the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, III and IV degrees (2024, 2008).

The director has been married to the artist Lilia Mayorova for more than 60 years. He met his future wife during the period of cooperation with a children's book publishing house. The couple has a son, Evgeny, an artist.

Alexander Mitta died on July 14, 2025 in Moscow amid complications from a stroke. For a long time, he was worried about heart problems, cancer, and neurological problems. The legend of cinema was 92 years old.