Daria Bondarenko is currently EVP of Sales, Acquisitions and Co-productions, at START, a subscription-based streaming service, founded in 2017 by the producers of the media and entertainment group Yellow, Black and White.
Bondarenko started her career in media at renowned independent Russian production studio Sreda Production (Trigger, Trotsky) before moving to CTC Media, where she was deputy head of acquisitions working with major studios to secure content for up to five free-to-air national channels in Russia.
At START Bondarenko handles all international outreach and relations, raising the profile of START’s shows, alongside identifying international co-production and distribution partners, and overseeing acquisitions.
Under her leadership, START has secured its first distribution deals with global giants Netflix Originals, Amazon Exclusives, Walter Presents, Beta Film, NHK Enterprises and ZDF Enterprises taking Start’s dramas to international audiences for the first time. Additionally, START’s dramas have generated broad international recognition winning accolades from Cannes Series, SeriesMania, Content London, New York Film Festival, MIP Drama, The Wit, Rose d’Or Awards.
In 2021 Bondarenko served as a member of Jury at BANFF Rockie Awards. She is one of the only executives in Russia to be interviewed by Golden Globes https://www.goldenglobes.com/articles/rising-russian-female-producers-talk-about-their-projects about the rise of women in TV production in Russia.
Bondarenko has a degree in Economics and Media.
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