The great mud of Akhtala  

In Georgia’s Kakheti region, an ancient mud volcano murmurs against the vineyards and fruit orchards of the Alazani Valley. Recognized for its healing properties since the 19th century, the natural spa resort of Akhtala harnesses the ritual potential of its mineral-rich mud, rising from the cracks in the land’s surface as a living, breathing resource. Reflecting local knowledge and traditional beliefs, confirmed by laboratory analysis, the spa has become a destination for connecting with the land itself – and a quiet secret among those who venture here.

The film crew expresses gratitude for the warm welcome from the Akhtala resort and its staff

Director/Cinematographer: Sasha Kulak
Executive producer: Greg Moga
Line Producer: Anna Artemieva
Talent: Ketevan Khursevich
Editor/Sound Mix: Ben Kaplan
Colorist: Aki Kettula
Drone: Danya Byakov
Sound: Polina Polukhina
Additional voice recording: Paata Godziashvili
Voiceover: Gvantsa Kilasonia
Graphic Design: Norma Smirnova
Georgia Cultural Advisor: Anastasia Golovkina

Nowness, 2025

MIRTEMIR IS ALRIGHT

character-driven documentary, 19 min, 2024 
Uzbekistan, Germany 

Mirtemir is growing up in Nukus, a dusty city caught between the desert and the dead Aral Sea. His mother has moved away to earn money in a neighboring country Kazakhstan, and Tima lives with his blind grandmother. He waits tables at a fast-food joint during the day and entertains people at a mobile karaoke by night.                                    
Days full of hard work and responsibility, too demanding even for an adult, are nonetheless full of joy and adolescent bliss.

scripted and filmed by Sasha Kulak and Michael Borodin
editor Katya Truba
sound Ilya Kanchurin
producer Julia Shaginurova, Einbahnstraße Productions and Michael Borodin, SESTRA Films

︎filmfestival-goeast.de
︎fipadoc.com

A HAWK AS BIG AS A HORSE

documentary fairytale, 75 min, 2022 
France

A Hawk as Big as a Horse follows the daily life of Lydia, a queer
ornithologist who lives in Shcherbinka, a remote suburb of Moscow.
As Lydia embarks on remaking David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, she
decides to create Lara, a life-size silicon doll of her favorite actress.

film by Sasha Kulak
cinematography Sasha Kulak, Maryana Drogoveyko, Yakov Mironchev
music Yakov Mironchev
script doctor Olga Polevikova
producer Louis Beaudemont
3D artist Elizaveta Federmesser

Les Steppes Productions, 2022
With the support of Sundance Institute, CNC, in collaboration with ARTE La Lucarne

︎hawkfilm.io
︎businessdoceurope.com
︎thefilmverdict.com

A hawk as big as a horse / publication

53 pages, 148×290 mm, silkscreened cover with a velvet binding, first edition: 150.
direction Sasha Kulak, Louis Beaudemont
graphic design Micaela Terk
printed by Raddraaier SSP, Amsterdam (Netherlands), 2022
 
The publication is dedicated to the release of the long-term project, a film A Hawk As Big As a Horse. Since the film could not fully answer the question of who the main character — bigender ornithologist Lydia-Sergey — is, or where Lydia’s universe merges with Sergey’s, the publication takes another attempt. By asking people who knew or had ever met Lydia the same set of questions, the answers seek to create a complete image of Lydia — an almost impossible question to answer.
The book comes with a set of stickers.

a limited number of copies is available for order