
Directing
Community Rating
5.9
TMDB estimate
Born
November 29, 1906
Died
April 29, 1979 (age 72)
Born in
Odessa, 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.

Filmmakers for the Prosecution
as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
2023

With Roman Karmen. Travel in the Youth
as Archive footage
2006
Roman Karmen - Un cinéaste au service de la révolution
as self
2002

Roman Karmen Whom We Do And Do Not Know
as Archive footage
1987

The Unknown War
as Director, Writer, Art Direction
1978

Distant and Close Skies
as Narrator
1976

Grenada, Grenada, My Grenada
as Director
1975

Blazing Continent
as Writer, Director
1972
Двадцать пятый сентябрь
as Director
1969

Comrade Berlin
as Writer, Director
1969
Death of the Commissary
as Director
1966

World Without a Game
as Archive footage
1966

Cinerama's Russian Adventure
as Director
1966

The Great Patriotic War
as Director, Writer
1965

The Magic Beam
as Writer, Director
1963

Guest from the Island of Freedom
as Director
1963

To Die in Madrid
as Archival Footage Coordinator
1963

Island Ablazed
as Director, Camera Operator, Writer
1961

Sea Conquerors
as Director, Writer
1959
Great Is My Country
as Director, Writer
1958