Anna Popova
My Work
Documentaries
Who is Anjuta Popova? (2023)
Who is Anjuta Popova? is an intimate self-portrait documentary exploring identity, heritage, and the body. Born into a family where names are passed down like heirlooms, I grew up questioning who I was beyond tradition. But identity is more than a name—it’s a battle between self-perception and the realities we cannot control. Diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder at 17, I was forced to confront my body as both familiar and foreign. Through archival footage, personal reflections, and observational filmmaking, this film documents my journey from fear to acceptance, challenging what it means to be “normal” and redefining strength on my own terms.
WHO IS ANJUTA POPOVA?
The Tram Lady
'22
'22
The Tram Lady is a festival award-winning documentary capturing the personal story of a female tram driver in Zlatoust, Russia, home to the highest-altitude trams in the world. Filmed in just three days under extreme field conditions, the film offers an intimate look at the challenges of navigating this demanding profession, especially for women in a harsh climate. Through raw storytelling and immersive visuals, Tram Lady highlights resilience, dedication, and the unseen struggles behind a routine yet extraordinary job.
Watch here too
Watch here too
THE TRAM LADY
Mythical Tourist '25
coming soon
Mythical Tourist is a travel documentary series about how myths, stereotypes, and urban legends influence the way we see cities. Each episode looks at what people expect from a place versus its reality, exploring where these stories come from and how they shape tourism and local identity. The pilot episode, now in production as my final-year project, focuses on Venice, a city known for its romantic image, carnival mystique, and the long-standing belief that it’s sinking. Through expert insights and cinematic storytelling, Mythical Tourist unpacks how history, media, and popular imagination shape our travel experiences.
Course Works & Experimental Projects
Museum of Optical Illusions Interactive Video Game
'23
'23
Project Presentation Here
The Museum of Optical Illusions is my first 3D modeling and animation project, developed as my final assignment for the Computer Animation for Interactive Content course at City University of Hong Kong. This experimental video game blends art installation and interactive gameplay, exploring how optics, physics, and visual perception intersect.
The game consists of two scenes: the player enters through a tunnel and arrives at a museum of illusions, where each exhibit is interactive, allowing for an up-close exploration of optical distortions. The goal was to create a playable art space where science and aesthetics merge, emphasizing that art and physics are not opposites but interconnected forces.
As a complete beginner in animation and modeling, I took on the challenge of building an entire game from scratch, pushing myself beyond small exercises. After 12 weeks of Blender tutorials, I dedicated two weeks to intensive development, learning game design, camera work, and interactive storytelling. This project not only introduced me to 3D game environments but also deepened my understanding of how visuals shape human perception.
The Museum of Optical Illusions is my first 3D modeling and animation project, developed as my final assignment for the Computer Animation for Interactive Content course at City University of Hong Kong. This experimental video game blends art installation and interactive gameplay, exploring how optics, physics, and visual perception intersect.
The game consists of two scenes: the player enters through a tunnel and arrives at a museum of illusions, where each exhibit is interactive, allowing for an up-close exploration of optical distortions. The goal was to create a playable art space where science and aesthetics merge, emphasizing that art and physics are not opposites but interconnected forces.
As a complete beginner in animation and modeling, I took on the challenge of building an entire game from scratch, pushing myself beyond small exercises. After 12 weeks of Blender tutorials, I dedicated two weeks to intensive development, learning game design, camera work, and interactive storytelling. This project not only introduced me to 3D game environments but also deepened my understanding of how visuals shape human perception.
The Museum of Optical Illusions Let's Play
One can always make one's own entertainment
'22
'22
This is a short music video exploring the painful reality of addiction through the story of two friends—one struggling with substance abuse. Watch here.
I developed the concept, acted in the film, and edited the final piece. We chose this topic because drug addiction among young adults is a critical issue in Russia, and we’ve seen firsthand how it destroys lives. This project serves as a reminder: only the person struggling can save themselves—friends can’t do it for them.
This challenging yet rewarding production enhanced my skills in Adobe Premiere Pro and was my first experience editing fictional narrative. It ultimately shaped my ability to work as a video editing director in future projects.
I developed the concept, acted in the film, and edited the final piece. We chose this topic because drug addiction among young adults is a critical issue in Russia, and we’ve seen firsthand how it destroys lives. This project serves as a reminder: only the person struggling can save themselves—friends can’t do it for them.
This challenging yet rewarding production enhanced my skills in Adobe Premiere Pro and was my first experience editing fictional narrative. It ultimately shaped my ability to work as a video editing director in future projects.
Breaking cinema apart, one frame at a time.
VZLOMKINO Podcast
'24
'24
VZLOMKINO is a thought-provoking podcast that dissects cinema beyond the screen, exploring how film constructs secondary realities that shape our perceptions of the real world. Hosted by me and my classmate & friend Alexandra Merkusheva, the show brings a critical media perspective to popular films, trends, and visual storytelling techniques.
Instead of just reviewing movies, VZLOMKINO breaks down how cinema influences cultural narratives, societal discourse, and even our daily thoughts. From the psychology of cinematic myths to the ethics of media representation, we expose the hidden power of film.
WELCOME HOME
Audio Drama Pilot
'22
Audio Drama Pilot
'22
Welcome Home is a pilot episode of an audio drama, based on the real case of Colleen Stan, a woman who spent seven years held captive in a basement.
This project was my first deep dive into audio-only storytelling, where every detail—spatial sound design, background noise, and directionality—was carefully crafted to immerse the listener in the unsettling world of our story.
The biggest challenge was creating a realistic atmosphere—deciding where the listener "stands," how sound moves, and how much ambient noise is needed to build tension. Eight minutes took a full week of editing, pushing me to master audio storytelling and sound design in a way I had never done before. Though the piece is in Russian and cannot be directly translated without losing its essence, I encourage you to listen and experience the world we built.
Listen here.
This project was my first deep dive into audio-only storytelling, where every detail—spatial sound design, background noise, and directionality—was carefully crafted to immerse the listener in the unsettling world of our story.
The biggest challenge was creating a realistic atmosphere—deciding where the listener "stands," how sound moves, and how much ambient noise is needed to build tension. Eight minutes took a full week of editing, pushing me to master audio storytelling and sound design in a way I had never done before. Though the piece is in Russian and cannot be directly translated without losing its essence, I encourage you to listen and experience the world we built.
Listen here.
Photo Projects
More than just a snack, Siu Mai is a Hong Kong icon, and behind every steaming dumpling is a story. At Nam Shan Estate Market, Granny Zhong has been making Siu Mai for over 40 years, turning a simple street food into a symbol of resilience, tradition, and community.
As a co-author and photographer, I captured the essence of this culinary legacy, documenting Granny Zhong’s journey, the history of Siu Mai, and its deep cultural significance. Through interviews and immersive storytelling, this project, created by international students, explores how one woman’s dedication has made Siu Mai a lasting part of Hong Kong’s food culture.
As a co-author and photographer, I captured the essence of this culinary legacy, documenting Granny Zhong’s journey, the history of Siu Mai, and its deep cultural significance. Through interviews and immersive storytelling, this project, created by international students, explores how one woman’s dedication has made Siu Mai a lasting part of Hong Kong’s food culture.
More of Hong Kong – Through My Lens
Hong Kong is more than just a city—it's an atmosphere, a rhythm, a blend of contrasts that never stops moving. I spent months capturing its hidden corners, neon-lit streets, and everyday moments, purely for myself, as a way to preserve the essence of a place that shaped me.
Now, I want to share these film snapshots with others. I’m working on a series of postcards featuring this incredible city—its energy, textures, and untold stories—so that a piece of Hong Kong can travel beyond its skyline.
Stay tuned for more!
Now, I want to share these film snapshots with others. I’m working on a series of postcards featuring this incredible city—its energy, textures, and untold stories—so that a piece of Hong Kong can travel beyond its skyline.
Stay tuned for more!
A Series of Portraits of Known and Unknown
People and their surroundings are deeply connected. This portrait series captures my friends and unknown individuals in their natural environments, showing how spaces shape identity and expression.
Instead of isolated studio shots, each portrait is about context—where they live, work, and exist.
Familiar or unknown, every subject is part of the bigger picture of the world around them.
Instead of isolated studio shots, each portrait is about context—where they live, work, and exist.
Familiar or unknown, every subject is part of the bigger picture of the world around them.
