Semyon Semyonovich Shkolnikov

Born in Bakhmut, Shkolnikov developed a keen interest in cinematography from a young age. At the age of six, he appeared in a film as an extra alongside his mother.[3] After completing school, he began working as a mechanic at the Serp i Molot plant.[4]

In September 1934, he found himself at the Moscow Newsreel Studio, where he became Mark Troyanovsky's assistant.[5] While working at the studio, he also attended the Institute for the Advancement of Creative Workers under the State Committee for Cinematography. He graduated from the institute in 1939.[6] That same year, he was selected as part of a group of cameramen for a special assignment during the Winter War.[7]

In 1940, he was conscripted into the Red Army and served as an artilleryman in the Odesa Military District.[8][9] From late September 1942, in the rank of engineer-captain, he worked as an assistant cameraman in the film group of the Kalinin Front.[10] From June 1944, he worked in the film group of the 1st Baltic Front as an assistant cameraman and later as a cameraman.[11]

From September 1945, Shkolnikov worked at the Central Newsreel Studio.[11] In 1946, he moved to Tallinn to join his wife and began working at Tallinnfilm from 1948.[12] He remained at the studio until 1989.[6]

In 2005, Shkolnikov ran as a candidate for the Tallinn City Council elections with the Estonian Centre Party, but he did not receive enough votes. In 2007, at the age of 89, he became a deputy of the Tallinn City Council after one of his party members resigned.[13]

He was a member of the Communist Party since 1945 and a member of the Union of Cinematographers of the USSR (Estonian branch) since 1957.[14][15]

Shkolnikov died on 27 July 2015, in Tallinn and was buried at the Pärnamäe Cemetery.[16]

• Yachts at Sea [Estonian: Jahid Merel] as director
• Underwater Reefs [Estonian: Veealused karid] as director
• They stole Old Toomas [Estonian: Varastati Vana Toomas] as director[17]

• Order of the Red Banner (1943)[18][19]
• Order of the Patriotic War (1944)[20]
• Medal "To a Partisan of the Patriotic War" (1943)[21]
• Medal "For the Capture of Königsberg" (1945)[7]
• Order of the Badge of Honour (1950)[22]