Natalija Yefimkina, Film Maker

It’s rare but every so often a documentary film comes along that transcends the medium, that is in itself a work of art. For me, Garage People by Natalija Yefimkina is such a film.

It describes the lives of a group of people living in the arctic circle in Russia, all of whom have their own garage space where they pursue all kinds of activities, from salvaging scrap, to carving religious icons, playing death metal, breeding quail, and even digging a never ending hole.

It’s intimate, profound and above all, human.

So I was delighted to talk to Natalija about her own creative process. Garage People is - remarkably – her first film.

In our conversation, recorded remotely, we discuss the question of artistic compromise, and fighting for your vision, especially as a first time director and as a woman. Natalija, who has never been to film school describes the value in rejecting the conventions of your chosen medium. She reflects on the role of ego in the artistic process. And there’s an explanation of how she managed to navigate the challenges of a four year project.

If you’re in the UK you can watch Garage People on the BBC iPlayer.