Mike Starchak is a filmmaker with an unconventional journey — from medical school and theater in Kyiv to directing top-rated TV series in Russia.
His work spans diverse landscapes, from the tropics of The Island to the Arctic chill of Polyarny, Russia’s most-watched show in 2019. In 2022, he left the Russian film industry and relocated to Vancouver, embracing new challenges and fresh inspiration. A passionate runner and storyteller, Mike continues to pursue filmmaking, believing that both cinema and life are long-distance races.