Sergei Mijáilovich Eizenshtéin (Russian: Сергей Михайлович Эйзенштейн; Latvian: Sergejs Eizenšteins; Riga, January 22, 1898-Moscow, February 11, 1948), better known as Sergei Eisenstein, was a director of cinema and theater soviet origin Jew. His innovative editing technique served as an inspiration for later cinema.

His communist ideals led him into conflicts with Soviet government officials on several occasions. Stalin was aware of the power of cinema as a propaganda medium, and considered Eisenstein a controversial figure. His popularity was later deepened by the success of his films, including Battleship Potemkin (1925), hailed as one of the greatest films of all time.

His cinematographic literary essays and his skills as a speaker, taking into account that he also spoke German, English and French, made him exert a great influence on the cinematographic theory of the time.