Larysa Kondracki was born in Toronto, Canada, and later pursued her education in English and theater at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. Her academic endeavors led her to further her studies in film direction, earning an M.F.A. from Columbia University in New York City.
Prior to embarking on her feature film directorial debut, Kondracki gained recognition for her short film VIKO, released in 2008, which received widespread acclaim and was showcased at various film festivals. The WHISTLEBLOWER marks her first feature-length film as a director.
During her time at Columbia University, Kondracki became aware of the widespread issue of sex trafficking in Eastern Europe, a topic that resonated deeply with her due to her Canadian-Ukrainian heritage. She traveled to Amsterdam to learn more about the story of Kathryn Bolkovac, a Canadian human rights activist, and spent time with her in Amsterdam, gathering firsthand information.
Kondracki subsequently spent two years in Europe, collaborating with co-writer Eilis Kirwan, researching the subject of human trafficking, and conducting interviews with NGO workers and high-ranking officials from the United Nations, European Union, and Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. This extensive research led to the development of the script for THE WHISTLEBLOWER.
Currently based in Los Angeles, Kondracki has written feature film projects for various production companies, including Focus Features, HBO Films, Participant Media, and Showtime Entertainment, among others. She has numerous projects in development, with The Count of St. Petersburg set to be her next directorial endeavor.
