Thirty-eight episodes of The Sopranos represent only a fraction of the career of Alik Sakharov, a director and cinematographer who transitioned from the New York industrial video sector to high-profile television production. Born in Tashkent in 1959, he holds citizenship in both the United States and the Soviet Union, operating within a globalized film and television industry.
Cinematography and Early Development
Sakharov entered the United States film market in 1985. His initial roles involved sharing lighting cameraman duties for industrial projects in New York. He subsequently expanded his portfolio to include commercials, narrative films, and music videos. His technical expertise led to a long-term professional association with the American Society of Cinematographers. His work as a director of photography included multiple feature films and significant contributions to cable television programs.
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Since 2006, Sakharov has primarily functioned as a television director. His career includes work on projects such as Boardwalk Empire, Dexter, Rubicon, Brotherhood, Easy Money, The Americans, Flesh and Bone, and Counterpart. He served as both director and cinematographer on ten episodes of Rome and eight episodes of Game of Thrones. He also acted as director and co-executive producer for the third season of Black Sails. In 2025, he began directing for the HBO series Lanterns.
Project Collaborations and Recognition
Sakharov directed multiple chapters of the political drama House of Cards and episodes for the Amazon Studios series Goliath. His work on the series Marco Polo included directing the standalone special Marco Polo: One Hundred Eyes. In 2018, he directed episodes of The Witcher before departing the project. He later returned to the series Ozark to direct four episodes for its third season, including the episode Fire Pink. His recent credits include serving as director and executive producer on the AppleTV+ series Invasion and directing episodes for Dark Matter.
Industry Honors
Throughout his career, Sakharov has received various accolades and nominations. As part of the creative ensemble for The Sopranos, he received the American Film Institute's Year of Excellence Award in 2002 and 2004. He won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Cinematography for the Rome episode Passover in 2007. His directorial work on Game of Thrones earned him an OFTA Award in 2013, and he secured an Emmy nomination for directing the Ozark episode Fire Pink in 2020.
Fast facts
- Born: 1959, Tashkent
- Citizenship: United States; Soviet Union
- Occupations: Cinematographer, camera operator, television director, film director
- Member: American Society of Cinematographers
- Major Television Credits: The Sopranos, Rome, Game of Thrones, Ozark, Invasion, Dark Matter
Questions readers ask
What is Alik Sakharov's primary professional focus?
While he began his career as a cinematographer and camera operator, he has worked primarily as a television director since 2006.
Has Alik Sakharov worked on AppleTV+ productions?
Yes, he served as director and executive producer on seasons 2 and 3 of Invasion and directed episodes for Dark Matter in seasons 1 and 2.
Achievements
- Worked as television director, cinematographer and film director
