Elena Tikhonova works as film director, screenwriter, editor, and VJane. Born in the Soviet town of science Obninsk, town of the "peaceful atom", she graduated at Moscow's Film University "VGIK", where she studied cinematography for feature and documentary films. Since year 2000 she lives and workes in Vienna, and is engaged in documentary as well as short and experimental film projects. She also performs as VJ under the name Mirniy Atom ("peaceful atom") in collaboration with various artists.