Roman Karmen

Known for DirectingBorn 1906-11-29Died 1979-04-29Odessa, Russian Empire

Roman Karmen (1906–1978) was a pioneering Soviet film director, war cinematographer, documentary filmmaker, journalist, screenwriter, pedagogue, and publicist. Born Efraim Leyzorovich Korenman, Karmen became one of the most prominent figures in Soviet cinema, known for his exceptional contributions to war documentation and his ability to capture history in the making. He began his career as a journalist before transitioning to filmmaking, where his early work focused on documenting revolutionary events and political developments. Karmen's most notable contributions were as a war cinematographer during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, where he filmed key moments from the frontlines, including the Soviet Union’s involvement in the Spanish war and the Nazi invasions. He was a close collaborator with Soviet authorities and a key figure in Soviet newsreels, documenting not only the war but also the victories and cultural milestones of the USSR. Karmen’s work was instrumental in shaping Soviet film as a tool for propaganda and national identity, using his camera to amplify the Soviet narrative of heroism, triumph, and unity. He was also involved in film education, teaching at VGIK (All-Russian State Institute of Cinematography) and inspiring future generations of filmmakers. Karmen's legacy as a documentarian is cemented in his works, which captured pivotal moments in Soviet history and continue to serve as an important visual record of the 20th century.Read more

Movies & web series

Sea Conquerors

Grenada, Grenada, My Grenada

The Great Patriotic War

Our Cinema

Leningrad in Struggle

To Die in Madrid

Filmmakers for the Prosecution

Spain 1936

Spain

The Unknown War

Majdanek - Cemetery of Europe

Cinerama's Russian Adventure

Nuremberg Trials

One Day in Soviet Russia

The Fall of Berlin

The Caspian Story

With Roman Karmen. Travel in the Youth

Roman Karmen - Un cinéaste au service de la révolution

Roman Karmen Whom We Do And Do Not Know

Distant and Close Skies

Blazing Continent

Двадцать пятый сентябрь

Comrade Berlin

World Without a Game

Death of the Commissary

The Magic Beam

Guest from the Island of Freedom

Island Ablazed

Great Is My Country

Vietnam

USSR Air Fleet Day

Film Documents of the Atrocities of the German Fascist Invaders

Албания

Albania

Oryol Battle

To Protect Native Moscow

China Is Fighting

K Sobytijam v Ispanii

Moskva–Karakum–Moskva