Yuri Borisovich Bespalov (circa 1934 – September 27, 2026) was a television director, screenwriter, and Honored Artist of the Russian Federation who spent more than half a century working in Gorky–Nizhny Novgorod television. He was a member of the USSR Filmmakers' Union, a member of the Union of Journalists of the USSR, an academician of the Nika Academy of Cinematographic Arts, and a two-time laureate of the Nizhny Novgorod Prize.[1]

Career in Television

Bespalov joined Gorky Television on April 1, 1958, immediately after graduating from Gorky State University named after N. I. Lobachevsky, as an assistant director.[1] Having risen through every level of the profession, he became one of the leading figures in regional broadcasting and, in time, a television chronicler of Nizhny Novgorod.[2]

The director's first major works were dedicated to his home city. In 1963 he served as screenwriter and director of the program "A Walk Through City of Gorky" for the Intervision network: the live broadcast was aired across the entire Soviet Union, as well as in Poland, Czechoslovakia, and East Germany.[1] In 1964, the documentary film "Look at the City," scripted by Bespalov together with Yu. Adrianov and I. Kuznetsov, was released; the film appeared on all-Union television screens and represented the then-closed city of Gorky at the World's Fair in Montreal.[1]

For 18 years — from 1968 to 1986 — Bespalov's authored programme "45 Minutes About a New Film" aired on Gorky television.[1] A special place in the director's body of work was occupied by feature-length documentary films created in collaboration with the editorial team of the central programme "Ochevidnoye — Neveroyatnoye".[2] Many of his works received awards and diplomas at television reviews and festivals.[1]

Bespalov was one of the active participants in the campaign to restore the city's historic name — Nizhny Novgorod.[1]

Death

Yuri Borisovich Bespalov died on 27 September 2026, in his 92nd year of life.[3][1] The death was announced by official representatives of GTRK Nizhny Novgorod"; the television and radio company's staff expressed condolences to the director's family and loved ones.[1]

Sources

  1. GTRK "Nizhny Novgorod" (Vesti) — Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, Member of the USSR Filmmakers' Union, Member of the USSR Journalists' Union, academician of the Nika Academy of Cinematographic Arts, two-time laureate… has died (archive)
  2. Pro Gorod Nizhny Novgorod — Yuri Bespalov, who worked in Nizhny Novgorod television for more than half a century, has died (archive)
  3. Govorit Nizhny — Yuri Bespalov has passed away
  4. Pro Gorod Nizhny Novgorod — Yuri Bespalov — a master of Nizhny Novgorod television with more than half a century of experience — has died (archive)