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Exotic leading man of American films, famed as much for his completely bald head as for his performances, Yul Brynner masked much of his life in mystery and outright lies designed to tease people he considered gullible. It was not until the publication of the books "Yul: The Man Who Would Be King" and "Empire and Odyssey" by his son, Yul "Rock" Brynner, that many of the details of Brynner's early life became clear.

Yul sometimes claimed to be a half-Swiss, half-Japanese named Taidje Khan, born on the island of Sakhalin; in reality, he was the son of Marousia Dimitrievna (Blagovidova), the Russian daughter of a doctor, and Boris Yuliyevich Bryner, an engineer and inventor of Swiss-German and Russian descent. He was born in their home town of Vladivostok on 11 July 1920 and named Yuli after his grandfather, Jules Bryner. When Yuli's father abandoned the family, his mother took him and his sister Vera to Harbin, Manchuria, where they attended a YMCA school. In 1934 Yuli's mother took her children to Paris. Her son was sent to the exclusive Lycée Moncelle, but his attendance was spotty. He dropped out and became a musician, playing guitar in the nightclubs among the Russian gypsies who gave him his first real sense of family. He met luminaries such as Jean Cocteau and became an apprentice at the Theatre des Mathurins. He worked as a trapeze artist with the famed Cirque d'Hiver company.

He traveled to the U.S. in 1941 to study with acting teacher Michael Chekhov and toured the country with Chekhov's theatrical troupe. That same year, he debuted in New York as Fabian in "Twelfth Night" (billed as Youl Bryner). After working in a very early TV series, Mr. Jones and His Neighbors (1944), he played on Broadway in "Lute Song" with Mary Martin, winning awards and mild acclaim. He and his wife, actress Virginia Gilmore, starred in the first TV talk show, Mr. and Mrs. (1948). Brynner then joined CBS as a television director. He made his film debut in Port of New York (1949). Two years later Mary Martin recommended him for the part he would forever be known for: the King in Richard Rodgers' and Oscar Hammerstein II's musical "The King and I". Brynner became an immediate sensation in the role, repeating it for film (The King and I (1956)) and winning the Oscar for Best Actor.

For the next two decades, he maintained a starring film career despite the exotic nature of his persona, performing in a wide range of roles from Egyptian pharaohs to Western gunfighters, almost all with the same shaved head and indefinable accent. In the 1970s he returned to the role that had made him a star, and spent most of the rest of his life touring the world in "The King and I". When he developed lung cancer in the mid 1980s, he left a powerful public service announcement denouncing smoking as the cause, for broadcast after his death. The cancer and its complications, after a long illness, ended his life. Brynner was cremated and his ashes buried in a remote part of France, on the grounds of the Abbey of Saint-Michel de Bois Aubry, a short distance outside the village of Luzé. He remains one of the most fascinating, unusual and beloved stars of his time.

Pavel Ruminov was born on 25 November 1974 in Vladivostok, Primorskiy kray, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He is a director and writer, known for Dizlayk (2016), I'll Be Around (2012) and Deadline (2004).

Olya Zueva was born in Russia, in Vladivostok - a harbor town, with a mix of random communist remains, expanding consumer culture, and people trying to survive in the oppressed, uninspiring environment. In a way, hers is a story of many: a girl feels she is destined for more than her hometown. She left home and became a model, walking the runways of Paris, Milan, London, yet, she was still unsatisfied. In 2006, she moved to New York and became an actress, further unsatisfying. Only when she wrote and directed her first short film did she find meaning. Ever since, her focus has been to make films as a director. She worked and collaborated on many projects with other filmmakers, and wrote and directed a number of her own short films. In 2012, she graduated with honors from The New School in Film and Screenwriting. In 2016, she directed her first feature film, In the Hood (2018) ("In The Hood"), which she also wrote the script for. Zueva currently lives and works between Moscow and New York.

Wes Hurley (born Vasili Naumenko) is a Russian-born Seattle-based filmmaker, writer and actor. He wrote, directed and produced two features - the queer pop-art comedy musical "Fallen Jewel" and a documentary "Waxie Moon" - in addition to over a dozen shorts. Hurley is also the creator of the critically-acclaimed "Capitol Hill" TV/web series which was produced in partnership with Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Hurley is Advocate Magazine's Person to Watch, City Arts Magazine's Artist of the Year and a recipient of Seattle Mayor's Artist Grant. His autobiographical "Little Potato" - co-directed with Nathan Miller - won Best Short Documentary Jury Prize at 2017 SXSW.

Kristina Brodskaya was born on 28 December 1990 in Vladivostok, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]. She is an actress, known for Frontier (2018), SMERSH. Prodolzhenie (2022) and Split (2011). She has been married to Igor Petrenko since 19 September 2016. They have three children.

Kristina Rihanoff was born on 22 September 1977 in Vladivostok, Primorskiy kray, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]. She is known for Patterns (2023), SuperBen and Celebrity Mastermind (2002).

Artem Demenok was born in 1962 in Vladivostok, Primorskiy kray, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He is a writer and director, known for Schatten des Krieges - Das sowjetische Erbe (2016), Deutsche Lebensläufe (2001) and Welthauptstadt Germania (2005).

Mara Loseff was born on 13 March 1907 in Vladivostok, Russia. She was an actress, known for The Sky's the Limit (1938), Das Land des Lächelns (1930) and Liebeskommando (1931). She died on 3 July 1972 in London, England.

Stanislav Petrov was born on 7 September 1939 in Vladivostok, USSR. He died on 19 May 2017 in Fryazino, Moscow Oblast, Russia.

Mikhail Kremer was born on 12 April 1991 in Vladivostok, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He is an actor and cinematographer, known for Igra na vyzhivanie (2020), The Young and the Strong Will Survive (2020) and Better Than Us (2018).

Alina Veripya was born on 21 May 1985 in Vladivostok, RSFSR, USSR. She is a director and editor, known for Rodnye lyudi (2023), Dimash Qudaibergen: The Story of One Sky (2022) and Anna Sedokova: Ne ostavljaj menja, ljubimyj (2023).

Vladimir Issat was born in 1956 in Vladivostok, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]. Vladimir was a producer, known for Korotkoe slovo 'net' (2017), Podkidyshi (2016) and Ekstrasensy-detektivy (2011). Vladimir died on 19 June 2016.

Sola Monova is the most popular poetess of the Russian segment of the Internet. The author of vivid memorable poems "sells manuscripts", monetizes talents and raises children. Julia Solomonova (Sola Monova is a pseudonym) was born in the capital of Primorsky Krai in 1979. She began composing poems before she went to school. The girl was prompted to literary creativity by her enthusiasm for the poetry of her parents. The poetess is grateful for the support to Pope Valera, who managed to see a gift in the first daughter opuses, distinguished by black humor.

Oleg Pungin was born on 16 November 1968 in Vladivostok, Primorskiy kray, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He is an actor, known for Mumiy Troll: Medvedica (2004), Mumiy Troll: Amba+ (2007) and SOS Matrosu (2018).

Valerii Mironov was born on 30 May 2001 in Vladivostok, Russia. He is a director and writer, known for The Real Folks Kino (2021), Los Cops (2021) and Krasnyy Ded Otmshcheniya (2018).

Maksim Golovin was born on 27 July 1973 in Vladivostok, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He was a composer, known for Astra, ya lyublyu tebya (2012), Privychka rasstavatsya (2013) and Antikiller D.K. (2009). He died on 15 January 2020 in Russia.

Sergey Belogolovtsev was born on 2 April 1964 in Vladivostok, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He is an actor and writer, known for Oba-na! (1990), Territoriya Dzha (2014) and 33 kvadratnykh metra (1998).

Sergei Minin was born on 17 June 1901 in Vladivostok, Russian Empire [now Russia]. He was an actor, known for Vzryv (1928), Bolnye nervy (1929) and Za chornoye serdtse (1925). He died on 24 November 1937.

Maksim Tikhonov was born on 26 November 1990 in Vladivostok, Russian SFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He is an actor and writer, known for Istoriya 5-ti stalkerov (2010), Pervaya sopka. Mest beshenogo Gansalesa (2007) and Mesto deystviya. Fuckin City (2007).

Nikita Ost was born on 10 March 1987 in Vladivostok, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He is an actor, known for All at Once (2014), About Love (2015) and Kino pro Alekseeva (2014).

Vasili Zachinyayev was born on 9 August 1915 in Vladivostok, Russian Empire, [now Russia]. He was a production designer and art director, known for Silva (1944), Vesna na Zarechnoy ulitse (1956) and Ten u pirsa (1955). He died on 2 March 2008 in Sankt Peterburg, Russia.

Katya Khizhnyak was born on 6 November 1987 in Vladivostok, Primorskiy kray, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]. She is a costume designer and assistant director, known for Perdition (2010), Bhakti Boy and Tom & the Domme (2018).

A graduate from the Leningrad Engineering Academy and the Moscow Film School, Spilny has written, directed and produced over 40 documentaries and feature films in the Soviet Union, Israel, Europe, Africa, Canada, and the United States. Spilny came to Los Angeles in 1980 and together with Fries Entertainment he developed and co-wrote Stalin, eight-hour mini-series for CBS, as well as a number of other projects for television networks. In 1987, Spilny wrote and produced Stalingrad, the first theatrical motion picture co-production between Warner Brothers and MosFilm Studios, Moscow. The next year he produced Cops in Russia (FOX Television Network), the first television special about the Soviet Police in the history of the American television. In October 1988, Spilny founded USSR Film Service Corporation -- a joint venture with Soviet State Film Committee. In two years, he built the company into a successful, high-profile management-production organization with regional offices in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Among USSR Film Service Corporation productions are Chernobyl: The Final Warning (1991), an MOW for TNT; Friends of Summer, a Movie Of The Week for HBO; a Russian segment of Sharks of Steel, four-hour mini-series for the Discovery Channel, Inside The KGB, a 90-minute, prime-time special for NBC network television, where Spilny was an executive producer. Spilny has recently co-founded BooksToEnjoy.com, a company that is publishing beautifully illustrated books for children, unique books that entertain, educate and are in perfect accord with those virtues that are vital in teaching children.

Lucie Lichtig was born on 26 April 1912 in Vladivostok, Russian Empire [now Russia]. She is known for Topkapi (1964), Love in the Afternoon (1957) and The Last Run (1971). She died on 19 August 1999 in Brest, Finistère, France.

Evgeniy Zvidennyy was born on 11 December 1968 in Vladivostok, Primorskiy kray, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He is an actor and director, known for Mumiy Troll: Medvedica (2004), Mumiy Troll: Amba+ (2007) and SOS Matrosu (2018).