Max Ksjonda, born in Donetsk, Ukraine, in 1978, graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s in fiction film directing from the Kiev National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television. During his time at university, he performed in a theatre group and also wrote texts for their performances. He has been a freelance director since 2009 and has also worked in advertising. His award-wining short film THE WAY (2012) was selected for more than 30 festivals worldwide, including the Slamdance, Les Arcs, Cottbus and Odessa Film Festivals as well as the renowned short film festivals in Clermont-Ferrand, San Francisco, Interfilm Berlin and Hamburg.