Leonid Kanter
Leonid Vilenovych Kanter (July 27, 1981 – June 4, 2018) was a Ukrainian documentary filmmaker, writer, and cultural activist. He was best known for his films chronicling the Russo-Ukrainian War and for co-founding the Obyrok art village in northern Ukraine.
Also recorded as Leonid Vilenovych Kanter · Leonid Vilenovich Kanter
Leonid Kanter

Mykola Swarnyk · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Name
- Leonid Kanter
- Born
- 27 July 1981
- Birthplace
- Kyiv, Ukraine
- Died
- 4 June 2018
- Place of death
- Obyrok, Chernihiv Oblast
- Occupation
- Documentary filmmaker
- Nationality
- Soviet Union and Ukraine.
- Fields
- film direction, documentary film and literature.
- Education
- Kyiv Natural Science Lyceum No. 145, Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary Theatre and Cinema and Television University.
- Languages
- Ukrainian and Russian.
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Leonid Vilenovych Kanter (July 27, 1981 – June 4, 2018) was a Ukrainian documentary filmmaker, writer, and cultural activist. He was best known for his films chronicling the Russo-Ukrainian War and for co-founding the Obyrok art village in northern Ukraine.
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wikidata · Q42666624 · wikipedia · Leonid Kanter
In this article
Biography
Biography
Leonid Kanter studied at Kyiv Natural Science Lyceum No. 145 and Kyiv National I. Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema and Television University. The recorded working language is Ukrainian and Russian. The field of work recorded is film direction, documentary film and literature. Employment is recorded with Kyiv National I. Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema and Television University.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Leonid Kanter • Native Name — Леонід Кантер • Born — 27 July 1981 • Birthplace — Kyiv, Ukraine • Died — 4 June 2018 • Place of death — Obyrok, Chernihiv Oblast • Death Cause — Suicide • Occupation — Documentary filmmaker
Early life and career
Early life and career
Born in Kyiv, Kanter graduated from the Kyiv Natural Science Lyceum No. 145 in 1998 and later studied at the Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema and Television University.
Career
Career
In 2003, he founded an independent film studio Lizard Films which he directed over 50 short films and several feature-length documentaries. In 2007, he founded the Obyrok art village, a space for artists and cultural events, in Chernihiv. In 2014, he co-directed War at Our Own Expense, a documentary highlighting the experiences and inadequate provisions for soldiers of National Guard of Ukraine. At the time of shooting, Kanter was enlisted as a volunteer of the 2nd Battalion of National Guard. Later, he left military service and chose to focus on documentary filmmaking. This was followed by The Ukrainians (2015), which depicted volunteer fighters defending Donetsk Airport. The documentary featured wide-angled footage of the battle at the airport alongside testimonies from soldiers of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps. His final film, Myth (2018), co-directed with Ivan Yasniy, chronicled the life of Vasyl Slipak, a Ukrainian opera singer who left his career in France to volunteer with the Ukrainian army and was killed in the war in Donbas.
Death
Death
On June 4, 2018, Kanter was found dead in Obyrok from a gunshot wound to the head. Authorities ruled his death a suicide, citing a note found at the scene. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
The authorities additionally record the headings Leonid Vilenovych Kanter and Leonid Vilenovich Kanter. His recorded languages were Ukrainian and Russian.
Career and activity
Career and activity
Leonid Kanter worked in film direction, documentary film and literature. He was employed by Kyiv National I. Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema and Television University.
Identity
Identity
Leonid Kanter is recorded as manufacturer, television journalist, writer, documentarian and actor.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
2018
Leonid Kanter died at Obirky.
Places
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Places
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Kyiv.
Birth place
Obirky.
Death place
Literature
Scholarly footprint
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References
Citations
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Secondary witness
Further particulars
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Leonid Kanter studied at Kyiv Natural Science Lyceum No. 145 and Kyiv National I. Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema and Television University.
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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