Timur Bekmambetov Biography: Movies, Instagram, Height, Net Worth, Wife, Children, Parents, Age

Timur Bekmambetov, is a Kazakh-Russian filmmaker and tech entrepreneur renowned for blending high-octane action with innovative storytelling, from the vampire saga Night Watch (2004) and its sequel Day Watch (2006) to Hollywood hits like Wanted (2008) and the genre-defining screenlife thrillers Unfriended (2015) and Searching (2018).

He founded the Bazelevs production company in 1990, revolutionizing visual effects and digital filmmaking while pioneering the “screenlife” format that unfolds entirely on computer interfaces.

With over 50 credits as director, producer, and writer, he continues to push boundaries through Bazelevs, including upcoming sci-fi thriller Mercy (2026) starring Chris Pratt.

Profile

• Full Name: Timur Nuruakhitovich Bekmambetov
• Stage Name: Timur Bekmambetov
• Born: June 25, 1961
• Age: 64 years old
• Birthplace: Atyrau, Kazakhstan
• Nationality: Kazakh-Russian
• Occupation: Filmmaker and tech entrepreneur
• Height: 1.68m
• Parents: Nuruakhit Bekmambetov and Mira Bogoslavskaya
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Natalia Fishman
• Children: Zhanna Bekmambetova
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $30 million

Early Life and Education

Timur Bekmambetov was born on June 25, 1961, in Atyrau, Kazakhstan, to Nuruakhit Bekmambetov, a power engineer at a local energy company, and Mira Bogoslavskaya, a journalist and editor.

He might have had siblings but details about them are unknown.

Bekmambetov briefly attended the Moscow Power Engineering Institute in 1979 but left after a year, deemed “unreliable” amid Olympic tensions, before serving in the Soviet Army—an experience that inspired his debut film.

He pursued formal training at the Alexander Ostrovsky Theatrical and Artistic Institute in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, graduating in 1987 with a degree in theatre and cinema set design.

He holds Kazakh-Russian nationality with Central Asian and Jewish ethnic roots and has not disclosed religious beliefs.

Career

Timur Bekmambetov kicked off his creative path in the late 1980s as a production designer for Uzbekfilm Studio and the Ilkhom Theatre in Tashkent, experimenting with sets that captured Soviet-era grit.

He directed his first feature, Peshawar Waltz (1994), a stark drama on the Soviet-Afghan War co-written with Gennadi Kayumov, which premiered at festivals but struggled commercially amid post-Soviet chaos.

From 1992 to 1997, Bekmambetov helmed over 18 innovative commercials for Imperial Bank, honing his visual flair and founding Bazelevs in 1990 as a hub for production, marketing, and effects.

These early gigs built his reputation for dense, fast-paced narratives, blending Eastern aesthetics with Western polish.

Bekmambetov broke through with Night Watch (2004), a fantasy epic based on Sergei Lukyanenko’s novel that shattered Russian box-office records at $16.7 million, outpacing The Lord of the Rings.

He followed with Day Watch (2006), grossing $42 million domestically and spawning a franchise that redefined post-Soviet cinema.

Hollywood beckoned in 2008 with Wanted, a stylized action thriller starring Angelina Jolie that earned $351 million worldwide and two Saturn Awards.

Bekmambetov directed Apollo 18 (2011), a found-footage horror, and produced Black Lightning (2009), Russia’s first superhero film.

His Bazelevs expanded into visual effects, collaborating on global blockbusters.

Timur Bekmambetov pioneered screenlife with Unfriended (2015), a desktop thriller that grossed $64 million on a $1 million budget, followed by productions like Searching (2018) and Profile (2018), which he directed.

He helmed the 2016 Ben-Hur remake and produced The Age of Pioneers (2017), a biopic on cosmonaut Alexei Leonov.

In 2022, he sold Bazelevs’ Russian arm but retained international operations, focusing on tech-infused storytelling.

Upcoming Mercy (2026), a sci-fi thriller with Chris Pratt facing an AI judge, promises his signature tension.

Bekmambetov’s influence spans festivals to franchises, mentoring emerging directors through Bazelevs Academy.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @Bekmambetov
• Facebook Handle: Unknown
• Twitter Handle: @Bekmambetov

Personal Life

Timur Bekmambetov married producer and costume designer Varvara Avdyushko in the early 2000s, collaborating on projects like Night Watch before their separation; they share no children.

He wed Natalia Fishman in 2019, finding stability amid his peripatetic career between Moscow, Los Angeles, and Almaty.

Bekmambetov has a daughter, Zhanna Bekmambetova, from a prior relationship, whom he credits for grounding his nomadic life.

He resides primarily in Los Angeles, enjoying photography, hiking in the Hollywood Hills, and quiet family dinners.

Bekmambetov supports children’s immune deficiency funds through the Podsolnukh charity and avoids tabloid scrutiny, channeling energy into creative collaborations.

Filmography

• Peshawar Waltz (1994)
• Night Watch (2004)
• Day Watch (2006)
• Wanted (2008)
• The Irony of Fate 2 (2007)
• Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012)
• Unfriended (2015)
• Ben-Hur (2016)
• Profile (2018)
• Mercy (2026)

Net Worth

Timur Bekmambetov has an estimated net worth of $30 million.

His wealth flows mainly from box-office hauls like Wanted’s $351 million global take and the Night Watch franchise’s domestic dominance, plus Bazelevs’ production deals and visual effects contracts.

Hollywood directing fees, international royalties, and tech ventures in screenlife software contribute significantly.