Brussels Close-Up

Ilja Sirčenko is a Belgian videographer, photographer, actor and musician, born in Latvia in 1986. He lived, studied, and worked in Latvia until 2009.

After earning a degree in Aviation Mechanical Engineering from Riga Technical University in 2009, he moved to Malta, where he worked as an aviation technician at Lufthansa Technik.

In late 2010, Ilja relocated to Brussels, Belgium, to pursue French language studies and explore diverse professional opportunities.

Since 2011, he has been actively engaged in Russian amateur theater and has appeared in films, TV series, and commercials. His passion for storytelling led him to direct a stage adaptation of Alfred Hitchcock's Rope in 2016.

That same year, he founded the musical band Exebiche, composing their debut album Exit.

As an actor, Ilja has portrayed a wide variety of roles across different mediums, gaining recognition for his work in international productions.

In 2018, he began studying at the Agnès Varda School of Photography and Videography in Brussels, where he developed a deep interest in street photography.

He graduated in December 2023 and released a short documentary, Brussels Close-Up, which offers a unique perspective on street photography in the city.

Ilja continues to work as a photographer and actor while also developing new scripts for feature and documentary films.