In 1924 he became a literary consultant for Mezhrabpom-Rus, the German-Russian film studio.[2] He was assigned as assistant to Yakov Protazanov in 1925[3] and made his directorial debut in 1927 with The Circle,[2] first drawing attention the following year with Penal Servitude.[3] His next success was The Earth Is Thirsty in 1930, the Soviet Union's first sound film.[3]
His 7 Stalin/State Prizes made him one of the most decorated cultural figures in the Soviet Union. He was the first person to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Nika Awards in 1988 presented by the Russian Academy of Cinema Arts and Science.[2]