Ivan Vyrypaev

Ivan Aleksandrovich Vyrypaev (Russian: Ива́н Алекса́ндрович Вырыпа́ев; Polish: Iwan Wyrypajew; born August 3, 1974) is a Polish playwright of Russian descent, screenwriter, film director, actor and art director. He is a leading figure in the New Drama movement. Founder and general producer of the private Polish foundation WEDA PROJECT. Artistic Director and General Producer of the foundation for creative and spiritual development "Teal House" in Warsaw. Winner of numerous literary, theatrical and film awards, including the Venice Film Festival, Stuckemarkt International Contemporary Drama Festival, Warsaw Film Festival, Rome Film Festival and many others. Ivan Vyrypayev's plays have been staged all over the world, from South Korea to the USA in more than 250 theaters. As a director, Vyrypayev has staged plays in theaters across Europe and the United States. In 2019 Vyrypaev entered the top 10 most prominent playwrights of the world. He is also known as a film director, his film Euphoria got into the main competition of the Venice Film Festival and received the award of the "youth jury" "small golden lion" for the best film. Since 2014 he has been living and working permanently in Poland together with his wife, prominent Polish actress Karolina Gruszka. Vyrypaev is known for his uncompromising stance on non-collaboration with the Russian state formulated after the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which he denounced in the strongest of terms; his decision to donate all proceedings from the staging of his theatrical work in Russia to Ukraine has led to a comprehensive ban and a criminal case. Ivan Vyrypayev was arrested in absentia and sentenced in absentia to 8 years in prison for spreading false information about the Russian army (Article 207.3 of the Russian Criminal Code).