Vera Iona Papadopoulou is a visionary film and performance director and interdisciplinary artist. Born in Kiev to a Greek father and a Ukrainian-Russian mother, she moved to Greece at the age of two. Vera’s work delves deeply into the complexities of human identity, spirituality, and the transformative power of the body and mind, aiming to foster positive change and personal growth.

Her portfolio encompasses performances, documentaries, films, and videos, utilizing personal confessions as a key research tool to explore themes of identity, gender, violence, and displacement. Her approach seamlessly intertwines spirituality and self-discovery, creating a rich tapestry of human experience.

Vera’s educational background is as diverse as her artistic interests. She holds a Master’s in Digital Art from the Athens School of Fine Arts (ASFA), studied Film Direction at the Gerasimov Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) in Moscow, and earned a Bachelor’s in Architecture from Odessa State Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture. She has also studied stage design with Maria Chaniotaki, Theodoros Terzopoulos’ method, and participated in ICA Moscow’s contemporary art program “The Problems of Contemporary Art – New Art Strategies.”

Her films have been showcased at festivals worldwide, and she has collaborated with prominent figures in performance and visual arts, including Marina Abramović and Yoko Ono. Vera’s work has been featured in esteemed museums and galleries such as GARAGE and MoMA PopRally. Additionally, she has directed performances, curated, and organized exhibitions and performance art festivals in both urban and online spaces.

Vera is deeply engaged in spiritual practices and the exploration of the mind’s potential for transformation. She holds a Yoga Alliance RYT200 diploma and has been involved in various spiritual practices since 2010. Her work delves into realms beyond vision, exploring the intersections of inner experience and artistic expression. Influenced by her unique experience with aphantasia—where she cannot visualize images in her mind—her art transcends conventional perceptions, embracing both the unseen and the spiritual dimensions of human experience.

She is the founder of Full Flight Productions, a Creative Production Company that focuses on social impact through video, documentaries, animation, educational programs, and immersive experiences. Vera draws inspiration from real people and transformative stories, crafting narratives that blend new media, documentary cinema, performance art, and spirituality, inviting audiences into immersive journeys of self-discovery and artistic exploration.