Sitora Takanaev

Sitora Takanaev is a freelance director/producer based in Milwaukee, WI. Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, she began working as the host of a television show at age 15, and began directing and producing for television at age 20. She is a graduate of the Tashkent State Institute of Arts, and Milwaukee Area Technical College. For the past few years she's been freelancing on commercials, videos, and short films, as well as directing her own work. Her 2014 directorial debut short film "Balloons" was an official selection for numerous children's film festivals such as Children's Film Festival Seattle and Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF Kids). In February 2016 she was selected to be one of 35 participants of Abbas Kiarostami Workshop for Auteurs in Cuba. He is considered "one of the most highly celebrated directors in the international film community of the last decade." The workshop focused on directing real people within their environment .