INNOVATIVE ARTISTS (US)

narrative
Lauren Zak
+1 (310) 656 -5185
lauren.zak@iala.com

commercial
Lisa Holguin
+1 (310) 656 -5184
lisa.holguin@iala.com


personal
nikonovadp@gmail.com

US-based director of photography, Lidia Nikonova works on narrative, documentary and commercial projects. Prior to working in film she was a photojournalist - her work has been published in newspapers around the world including The Daily Telegraph, The Age, The Australian, Financial Review and many others. She believes that thoughtfulness, authenticity and honesty are crucial to storytelling.


Lidia’s debut narrative feature Family Portrait premiered at Locarno Film Festival where it won Golden Boccalino Award. Her documentary film Bama Rush (HBO, Vice Studios) has been the most watched documentary launch on MAX.
Her work played at numerous festivals including world premiere of While Mortals Sleep at Sundance and Laying Out at New York Film Festival. Lidia lensed the Annovera campaign that later won silver at Cannes Lions, whislt her other projects were featured on Vimeo Staff Pick, Directors Library, New Yorker, i-D, Vogue and Nowness.


Lidia is a recipient of a prestigious American Film Institute Scholarship. She holds a BA in Film Theory from The University of Sydney (AUS) and an MFA in Cinematography from AFI (USA). She is an alumna of Film Independent’s Project Involve and ASC Vision programs.








Festival selections

2025
Regards Satellites

2024
Festival International de Films de Femmes
D'A Film Festival Barcelona 2024
PriGlobal International Film Festival 2024
Festival Internacional de Cine Al Este 2024
Sidewalk Film Festival
DEBUT22 – Filmfestival Klosters
UNDERDOX 2024
Palm Springs International ShortFest

2023
Locarno Film Festival, World Premiere, Golden Boccalino Award
Black Canvas Contemporary Film Festival, Best Director Award
Chicago International Film Festival
American Film Festival (Poland)
Houston Cinema Arts Festival
International Filmfestival Mannheim-Heidelberg
El Gouna Film Festival
Hainan Island International Film Festival, Best Picture Award, Best Artistic Contribution Award
DOCNYC
MountainFilm Festival, Audience Award Winner, Best Short Documentary
Indie Short Fest
Cine Paris
Calgary Int'l Film Festival

2022
Sundance, World Premiere
Slamdance, World Premiere
BamCineFest
Palm Springs International ShortFest
San Francisco International Film Festival (x2)
Sydney Film Festival
Atlanta Film Festival
Fantasia International Film Festival
North Bend Film Festival
Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival
Bolton International Film Festival
Short Of The Week

2020
New York Film Festival, World Premiere
International Film Festival Rotterdam (The Eyeslicer)
New Hampshire Film Festival
Nitehawk Shorts Film Festival
Cucalorus Film Festival
San Francisco Independent Film Festival
Maryland Film Festival
Dallas International Film Festival
Rooftop Films, Official Selection