Yuri Burak | Documentary Cinematographer
Cinematic visuals delivered on time and within your budget
Your go-to pro for The Baltics | Eastern Europe | Caucasus & Central Asia
Embedded Files
SHOWREEL
Expedition & Documentary Cinematography
RECOGNITION
25 years of cinematic excellence behind the lens
WERNER HERZOG
Meeting Gorbachev
National Board of Review Winner
Top 5 Documentaries of the Year
ELIZABETH VARGAS
Crisis in Beslan
Emmy® Award Winner
Best Breaking News Coverage
BRYANT GUMBEL
Real Sports
Emmy® Award Winner
Outstanding Sports Journalism
SAMIR
Iraqi Odyssey
Oscar® Official Entry
Best Documentary Feature
Featured Projects
Cinematic Dialogue | Staged Interviews
Meeting Gorbachev (Dir. Werner Herzog & André Singer). A stylized, three-camera interview setup filmed over six months.
Key challenge: Creating a controlled, emotionally weighted space where light and composition carry the narrative.
The Human Portrait | Character-driven
High-altitude expedition, Kyrgyzstan.
A visceral look at conservationists in the Tian Shan mountains.
Key challenge: Maintaining a cinematic handheld aesthetic while embedded with a fast-moving team in extreme terrain.
Capturing the Moment | Observational
Arctic Migration, Yamal Peninsula.
A patient study of the Nenets’ traditional reindeer crossing. Key challenge:
Long-term observation in sub-zero temperatures, requiring disciplined field-craft and total technical reliability.
Experience & Approach
Cinematic Grit & Absolute Reliability
Beyond technical execution, I provide creative input on story structure and visual treatments, ensuring a seamless bridge between field reality and directorial vision.
In demanding field conditions, my goal is to deliver high-end cinematic imagery while maintaining the mobility of a documentary filmmaker. Working with major broadcasters has taught me that a project’s success relies on visual precision, strict deadlines, and transparent budget management.
I am equally effective leading a full camera crew or operating as a "one-man-band" when a minimal footprint is essential to preserve the sincerity of the moment.
Technical Approach
I am an owner-operator with a field-ready expedition kit: Sony FS7 4K, FX30 and DJI Drone. This setup is ideal for fast-paced work in remote locations where reliability is key. For high-end cinema projects, I am experienced with cine lenses, Arri, RED, and the Sony FX cameras, and can facilitate local rentals through my network.
ARTE | 360° Reportage
15+ Documentary Features
Long-term collaboration with director Wolfgang Mertin. Selected episodes produced as Filmmaker (Director & Cinematographer)
Nat Geo | Mars-500
Documentary Feature |
Moscow segments: Filming the 520-day isolation experiment with an international crew
ARD | Das Rote Imperium
(The Red Empire)
3-Part Documentaries
Moscow segments: Green Screen interviews directed by Martin Hübner & Jürgen Ast
Iraqi Odyssey
Feature Documentary by Samir | Academy Award Submission (Switzerland)
Moscow Chapter: Arri S16mm cinematography optimized for 3D conversion
Regional Expertise
When a project takes you beyond comfortable infrastructure, execution depends on experience that can't be improvised.
Based in the Baltics (EU), I provide a seamless bridge for international crews entering CIS and Central Asian regions, supported by a trusted network of local coordinators and essential logistical insights for remote territories.
Regional Focus: The Baltics · Central Asia · Caucasus · Arctic · Eastern Europe
Logistics Support: Remote expedition support and multi-jurisdiction coordination.
Reliability: On-time, on-budget delivery. Zero logistical surprises.
Proven Track Record: Successfully delivered productions in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Siberia, Yakutia, Kamchatka, and Chukotka.
Let’s talk about your next project | Contacts
Please send a brief outline (location, timeline, format), and I will get back to you with a feasibility assessment and a cost estimate
Note: Please allow up to 24 hours for a response, as I am often on location in remote areas with limited connectivity
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2026
Based in Estonia (EU) | Worldwide_Deployment
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