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1-50 of 657
- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Nina Dobrev is a Bulgarian-born Canadian actress. Her best-known television roles are Mia Jones in Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001) and Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce on The Vampire Diaries (2009). Her film work includes The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), Let's Be Cops (2014), The Final Girls (2015), xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017), and Dog Days (2018).
From a very young age, she showed great enthusiasm and talent for the arts: dance, gymnastics, theater, music, visual arts, and acting. Modeling jobs led to commercials, which turned into film auditions; she booked roles in the feature films Fugitive Pieces (2007), Away from Her (2006), and the popular CTV television series Degrassi: The Next Generation (2001), which led to The Vampire Diaries (2009), where she played the lead role for 6 seasons.
Nina loves to travel and has often visited Europe for pleasure, as well as to compete internationally, representing Canada in Aesthetic gymnastics. She enjoys playing volleyball and soccer, swimming, rock climbing, wakeboarding, snowboarding, and horseback riding.
Above all, acting is her passion, and she sees it as an adventure that has just begun; she believes that the journey and the characters we create along the way will help us understand ourselves.- Stanislav Yanevski was born on 16 May 1985 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is an actor and producer, known for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Hostel: Part II (2007) and The Cloaking.
- Anjela Nedyalkova was born on 2 March 1991 in Sofia, Bulgaria. She is an actress, known for T2 Trainspotting (2017), The Paradise Suite (2015) and Avé (2011).
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Atanas Srebrev (born April 19, 1971) is a Bulgarian actor well-established in strong supporting roles. Because of his level of English-speaking ability, Srebrev is recognized as being the first Bulgarian actor to make his own way in Hollywood. He trained at the National Academy of Theater and Film Arts in Sofia, Bulgaria. Highly versatile and instantly recognizable among SyFy Channel viewers, he has appeared in over 100 films. Not limited to SyFy Channel features, he has appeared in mainstream film releases including 300: Rise of an Empire (2014), Mechanic: Resurrection (2016) and Rambo: Last Blood (2019).- Actress
- Stunts
- Producer
Yana Marinova was born on 17 August 1978 in Sofia, Bulgaria. She is an actress and producer, known for Attraction (2018), Conan the Barbarian (2011) and The Way Back (2010). She has been married to Tihomir Vinchev since 2010.- Actor
- Producer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Christo Jivkov was born on 18 February 1975 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He was an actor and producer, known for The Passion of the Christ (2004), Otchuzhdenie (2013) and The Final Inquiry (2006). He died on 31 March 2023 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actor
- Director
- Additional Crew
Hristo Shopov was born on 4 January 1964 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is an actor and director, known for The Passion of the Christ (2004), Love.net (2011) and Double Identity (2009).- A refugee from the Nazi regime as a child, Dora trained and danced briefly with the Vienna Opera as their youngest solo dancer until an accidental fall in her late teens ended her dancing career. She then moved to London and studied theatre at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, where she had to improve her English skills as well through classes.
After a career on British television, in a few Hollywood films and on the stage, she gave up acting career to raise a family and beginning in the 1980's, she became one of Britain's leading fashion designers. - Actress
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Mimi Davila was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. She is an actress and producer, known for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018), Piel Canela (2019) and Vacation Friends (2021).- Composer
- Music Department
Borislav Slavov was born on July 17, 1973 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is also known as Bobby Slavov. The works he is known for are Crysis 2 (2011), Crysis 3(2013) as Composer and Music Director, Ryse: Son of Rome (2013), Two Worlds II (2010). His music career starts in 2001, when he gets his first soundtrack production assignment for the real-time strategy video game Knights of Honor.- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Stephan Komandarev is a Bulgarian director, producer and scriptwriter. Born in 1966 in Sofia. He graduated in Film & TV directing at the New Bulgarian University (1999).
Stephan Komandarev's latest feature film "Directions" is a nominee in the section "Un certain regard" at the Cannes Film Festival 2017 official selection. His previous works include award-winning feature and documentary films, such as: The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner (2008 - the first Bulgarian film, shortlisted for Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (2010), the most world-wide theatrical released Bulgarian film ever, distributed in 93 countries, won 35 awards at international film festivals); The Judgment (2014) (won 12 awards, Bulgarian entry - Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film - 2016); The Town of Badante Women (2009, doc.), Alphabet of Hope (2003, doc.), Bread over the Fence (2002, doc.), Dog's Home (1999, feature).
Stephan Komandarev is 2011 EAVE graduate and Member of the Bulgarian Film Directors' Association and Bulgarian Film Producers' Association. Member of the European Film Academy.- Yavor Baharov was born on 12 July 1985 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is an actor, known for I Spit on Your Grave 2 (2013), Tilt (2010) and The Legend of Hercules (2014).
- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
In 2000, Todor Chapkanov graduated TV & Film Directing with a Masters Degree from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts "Krastyo Sarafov".
Between 2001 and 2018, Todor worked as First Assistant Director and Second Unit Director in over 50 movies, including titles like: "The Way Back", "Barbarian", "Hitman's Bodyguard", "London Has Fallen" and many others.
Since his directorial debut in 2007 till 2020, Todor directed different kinds of genre films & TV Series. Including one of the highest rated Bulgarian TV series - the period drama "Tree of Life". In 2015, Todor directs the sports action movie "Boyka: Undisputed" for Millennium Films.
Between 2016 and 2018, was operating as a Show Runner & Main Director of the Bulgarian TV series "Dear Heirs", highest rated prime time show on national television.
After directing couple of Romantic Comedies for Free Dolphin and Second Unit for "Expendables 4", Todor went to Amsterdam to make the Action/Thriller "Black Lotus" for Dutch Filmworks and Capstone. Premiered in April, 2023.
Throughout his career, Todor Chapkanov has directed more than 15 movies, numerous TV series, TV shows, Commercials and music videos.- Velizar Binev was born on 8 March 1967 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is an actor, known for Stonehearst Asylum (2014), The Expendables 3 (2014) and The Protégé (2021). He has been married to Nusha Bineva since 29 June 2002.
- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Simona Theoharova is a Bulgarian-German actress, director, dancer and artist known for the film adaptation of the bestseller by Charlotte Link (2020), Tatort and her documentary work tripleF*** . Born in Sofia/Bulgaria, she now works worldwide. Besides directing in her documentary work, she mainly acts in films, but is also intensively engaged in dance and acting improvisation. She brings a refreshing authenticity to her work and doesn't shy away from portraying raw emotions or complex relationships, making her storytelling relatable and impactful.
What also sets Simona apart is her activism. She incorporates her passion for positive change into her craft and her psychological work. Whether through lectures, films or new immersive media, through writing, performing or through community initiatives. Her social commitment not only enriches the film landscape, but also the audiences.- Vladimir Karamazov was born on 27 April 1979 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is an actor, known for Darvoto na jivota (2013), Fourth Estate (2013) and Love Off.
- Yoanna Boukovska was born on 8 April 1977 in Sofia, Bulgaria. She is an actress, known for Brother of the Snail (2009), Security (2017) and Death, Deceit & Destiny Aboard the Orient Express (2001).
- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Kal Minev was born on September 19th, 1996 in Sofia, Bulgaria. At the National School of Applied Arts in Sofia, Minev was involved in woodcarving and sculpture which he continues to practice as a means of artistic expression. Kal attended the National Academy for Theater and Film Arts where he studied acting.
Minev's acting debut came when he was in 1st year in university in the feature "XIIA" (2017) directed by Magdalena Ralcheva. Not so long after he landed a role in one of the most viral Bulgarian web series "Follow Me/Sledvai me" (2017 - 2019) in which he played the character Daniel. In 2019 Kal suspends his academy education, because he's been accepted to become part of the cast of an Immersive Theater show on the West End in London called Variant 31. During his time there, he signs a management contract with Jupiter Lights Talent Media.
In the summer of 2020, he played the role of the soldier Justin Mitchell in the American/Finnish horror film "The Refuge" directed by Renny Harlin. The film is expected to premiere in 2023. Some of his other major project roles include Paul Barrymore in the Romantic comedy "For Better or Worse" (2022) directed by Todor Chapkanov and the Bulgarian TV series "The Lies in Us/Lazhite v nas" (2022).
At the beginning of 2023, Kal Minev appeared on the screen of CBS in FBI International, where he played the role of the basketball star Bogdan Vidmar in S2EP10 of the series.
Kal is the associate producer of the short thriller "Red Admiral" (2023) directed by the young and talented director Marin Rangelov. The film has won an award at Robinson Film Awards international festival and has been selected for the official program of In the Palace International Film Festival. Kal is the producer of "The Red Market" a short film, directed by Julian Kostov, currently in post-production.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Joseph Al Ahmad is a multilingual and biracial actor and director. His mother, a journalist, is of mixed Sudanese and Bulgarian origin, and his father, a university professor, is from Syria. Joseph grew up speaking four languages and is fluent in English, Bulgarian, Russian, and Levantine Arabic. He is the youngest grandson of internationally acclaimed poet and author Vanya Petkova.
After graduating from the National High School of Applied Arts in 2015 where he specialized in fine arts, he was admitted to the Gerasimov University of Cinematic Arts, the oldest film school in the world, where he earned his Master of Fine Arts degree in film directing with 'Excellence in the Performing Arts' in 2020.
While in college, he landed his first supporting speaking role as Bassam in the popular Egyptian TV series Above the Clouds (2018), which required performing in fluent Arabic and Russian. As a director, his short film 'Motives' was awarded 'Best Narrative Short' at the Los Angeles Film Awards in 2019, along with a second 'Honorable Mention: Director' award.
After moving to Los Angeles in 2021, he continued practicing his craft at Anthony Meindl's Actor Workshop and was granted 'Alien of Extraordinary Ability' status in the US as both an actor and director, with the support of the SAG-AFTRA union.
In 2022 he booked the critical role as the narrator on the set of A Christmas Story Christmas (2022), working closely with director Clay Kaytis and Peter Billingsley during production.
Today he is based in Los Angeles, often traveling to his hometown Sofia, Bulgaria, for projects and to spend time with his family, and is represented by his agent Myreon Arslan of MJB Talent, and his manager Irvin Gelb. Known for A Christmas Story Christmas (2022), Above the Clouds (2018), and for directing Motives (2018), Chase (2022).- Actress
- Stunts
Before she appeared as an actress in movies, Daisy Lang became one of the first women pioneers in women's' professional boxing. She has 3 titles in three different categories in Germany: Junior Bantam (1999), Bantam (2003) and Super Bantam Weight (2003). Her sports accomplishments opened the way for her to act in several action movies. After so many successful years in the sports industry, Daisy has decided to concentrate on her acting career for the time being.- Producer
- Production Manager
- Location Management
Gabriel Georgiev was born on 20 December 1976 in Sofia, Bulgaria. Gabriel is a producer and production manager, known for The Expendables 2 (2012), Conan the Barbarian (2011) and The Black Dahlia (2006).- Music Department
- Composer
- Additional Crew
Recognized in Hollywood as an extraordinary talent, Penka Kouneva has composed on iconic video games (League of Legends, Prince of Persia, The Mummy), the Netflix animated series Dragon Age: Absolution, a NASA theme park at the Kennedy Space Center, and numerous feature films (the Oscar contender Aga, Sony Pictures releases - Encounter and Devil's Whisper, and Cannes and Berlinale favorites). Her music has received national press as "fantastic, luminous and breath-taking" (Billboard, NPR and Forbes). The Grammy-winning soundtrack Women Warriors created by Amy Andersson featured seven compositions by Penka. As one of the industry's most accomplished women composers, in 2019 she was invited by showrunner Mark A. Altman and composer Joe Kraemer to co-compose the CW primetime TV show, Pandora. In 2020, Penka scored the Super Bowl TV ad campaign for Olay, #MakeSpaceForWomen. Like a great musical storyteller, her music carries the listener forth on an emotional wave with soaring themes and innovative orchestral arrangements.
The top soundtrack label Varese Sarabande (Universal Music) released Penka's orchestral albums The Woman Astronaut (2015) and Rebirth of Id (2018) to rapturous press. Penka is a Sundance Fellow, Duke University Distinguished Alumna and has received the Game Audio Network Guild Recognition Award. In 2019 Penka was commissioned and performed by Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl in front of an audience of 18,000 ("America in Space").
Penka was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria, received classical training and began composing incidental music for kids' theater at the age of 12. In 1990 she ventured out of Bulgaria with a Duke University composition fellowship and $150 in her pocket. At Duke, she studied with the celebrated orchestral composers Stephen Jaffe and Scott Lindroth and received the first-ever Ph.D. in composition. As a groundbreaking artist, mentor and passionate advocate for the advancement of women composers, Penka has been featured on NPR, documentaries, books, and in the international press.- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Fani Kolarova was born on 25 February 1974 in Sofia, Bulgaria. She is an actress and director, known for Taken (2008), 22 Bullets (2010) and My Father (2000).- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Hailing from Bulgaria, where Evgeniya Radilova is one of the most well known faces on screen and the stage has come to the United States to share her talents with us. She is the descendant of four generations of artists. This led her down the path of becoming an actress herself. Shortly after graduating from the National School for Music where she learned piano, she was the youngest actress to play on professional stage. Only 18 years old she was cast in one of the biggest TV show productions called "Masters of the TV", where she co-hosted for three years every night on Bulgarian National TV.
She moved to the United States to explore and continue her career as an actress among the best in the business. Here she graduated from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts with Charles Jehlinger Award for Best Actress, and was invited back to be a part of the 2009-10 AADA Company. With her first show after the academy she booked a leading role in an Off- Broadway production of Blood Wedding, which gave her her Equity Card. She garnered rave reviews from the New York press, as well as from the audiences. Since then she has appeared Off Broadway, become a SAG and AFTRA member, and a lifetime member of The Actors Studio. The incredibly talented and marvelous Ellen Burstyn accepted her into the studio as one of the only 3 people who got accepted that year. Evgeniya played opposite Ellen Burstyn as her daughter in a production of the Cherry Orchard at The Studio. The production was directed by John Gould Rubin.
Also, she appeared on TV shows like "Limitless," "Law and Order SVU", "Elementary", "Spartacus", "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll", and completed several short and feature films. She worked on a film called "Price for Freedom" with Sally Kirkland (Academy Award nominee), Paul Sorvino, Ken Davitian, who played her dad. The film was also profiled on the "Larry King Show". Evgeniya is also featured in the independent film "Dreams Of The Last Butterflies", which has now screened at 50 Film Festivals in 13 countries, on 5 continents! The film also has 7 awards. She was nominated for a Best Actress Award at the "Blow-Up Chicago International Arthouse Film Festival" for her performance in the film "Let Them Have Their Way!"
Recently, Evgeniya co-founded "I DareProductions", where she has been producing, writing and directing for the past two years! Her first music video, "True Paradise" won three festivals: "Winter Film Awards", "LA Cinema Festival of Hollywood" and "Miami Film Festival". A film she directed called "My Relationship With The Moon" won the "Special Recognition Award" at the "Cayanne Film Festival". She also became a proud lifetime member of the Playwrights Directors Unit at The Actors Studio.
She wrote, produced and directed two short films: "Patrik" and "El Cavil". She directed and produced a new music video called "Nothing Changed for Me". And she also is co-producing and co-directing a film called "Then and Now", for which her actor gained 40 pounds for the role.
She was invited for a second year to teach and direct Film and Theatre workshops with the students of Chongqing and Kunming in China. She created two films with them: "Fortune Sticks "& "Marga". She also directed a production of W. Shakespeare's "Midnight Summer's Dream", last summer in Chongqing, China. She gave a very successful talk for film industry and film professors in China, Kuming! And she will be invited back to teach more.
Evgeniya has a great passion for fire dancing and has opened her own entertainment company, Evgeniya Entertainment, which includes performers from Circus Du Soleil to NYC's top performers, underground and street performers. She has performed in the most high-end cabarets stages in NYC as well as festivals and directed shows all over the county.- Actor
- Composer
Vladimir Mihaylov was born in Sofia Bulgaria. He has graduated from Sofia University with a bachelor's degree in English Philology. Vladimir has been living in the USA a couple of years before coming back in Bulgaria for good. His acting career started from a foreign movie he has taken a part in. He has starred in many foreign movies as well as in the Bulgarian movie "Heights" and the TV series "Brothers". Vladimir is also part of the music band "Rewind".- Julian Vergov was born on 15 July 1970 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is an actor, known for German Lessons (2020), The Fourth Kind (2009) and The Tournament (2009).
- Stunts
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kaloian Vodenicharov was born on 10 August 1969 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is an actor and assistant director, known for No Time to Die (2021), Theri (2016) and World War Z (2013).- Actress
- Music Department
- Director
Andrea was born on 23 January 1987 in Sofia, Bulgaria. She is an actress and director, known for Mission London (2010), Andrea: Vitamin (2017) and Andrea: Love Is Mine (2016).- Composer
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Todor is an award-winning composer. His credits include Brother (Lamar Johnson, Aaron Pierre), a film by Clement Virgo for which he received a CSA for best original music, Born To Be Blue, the Chet Baker biopic starring Ethan Hawke, Back Stabbing For Beginners (Ben Kingsley), the hit series Bitten, Ransom (eOne/Global/CBS), for which he received a CSA nomination, and Cardinal (eOne/CTV), for which he was awarded two CSA's for Best Original Music, Fiction.
He recently finished composing for Caitlin Cronenberg's new film Humane and Andrew Currie's The Invisibles.
Todor is also renowned in the indie and pop music scenes working with Metric, Stars, Feist, Sarah Slean, 070 Shake and more.- Stunts
- Actor
- Writer
Deni Jordan was born on 2 August 1966 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is an actor and writer, known for The Stunt Comedy Show (2014), Thelma (2017) and Troll (2022).- George is a full-fledged Bulgarian lad, born in Sofia, Bulgaria to real live Bulgarian parents. Taking on Davy Jones's British accent in "Daydream Believers: The Monkees Story" was no sweat for him, though--he high schooled at the American School in Switzerland, where he used to mimic the accents of his English friends. Growing up in Toronto, he attended Forest Hills Public School. Now he travels back and forth between Toronto and Los Angeles, where he takes acting classes and guitar lessons. He's appeared in one film that we know of called Octopus, from Nu Image. George is also a budding musician--with his father, he's written and produced an album called "Are You Ready." The album shot to number one on the Bulgarian charts, outstripping superstar Ricky Martin's album in the process, and will soon be released in the States. George enjoys listening to *N SYNC and Michael Jackson...and rumor has it that he's got a lot of Michael's moves down pat!
- Boyko Kirilov Krastanov was born on December 21, 1987 in Sofia, Bulgaria. His first TV role was as Danny Kasabov in the hit TV series "Glass Home". He is playing Danny while still attending the National Academy of Theater and Film Art, then in 2010 Boyko graduated and shortly after he is taking a part in different theater roles. Years later after his first TV role, Boyko appeared again in another hit series "Undercover" and the Irish crime series "Red Rock". To date, his career is on the rise and he is one of the most popular actors of his generation.
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Valeri Yordanov was born on February 22, 1974 in Sofia, but raised in Pleven village Gornik - his parents were northerners. He graduated from the National Academy in 1996 in the class of Professor Stefan Danailov. He played in the Youth Theatre, Theatre "Sfumato", Theatre 199 and others. Among his the theatrical roles are: Neoptolemus in "Dream Odyssey" by Heiner Müller and Child of the Devil in "Apocrypha" by M. Mladenova and Ivan Dobchev in Theater "Sfumato", Santiago in "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho and Drummer in "The Night of Rock and Roll" by Donny in Theatre 199; Waller in "Tartuffe" by Moliere, Stefan in "Yesterday" by Stefan Mavrodiyev, Sky in the "French Quarter" by Tennessee Williams, George in "All My Sons" by Arthur Miller at the Youth Theatre. He is in troupe of the National Theatre from 2004 and among his roles are: Kuhn in "The visit of the Old Lady" by Dürrenmatt, Characters in "The rifle will shoot after intermission" by Anton Chekhov, Horus in "With Love not Joke" by A. de Musset, Don Carlos in "Don Juan" by Moliere, Oswald in "King Lear", Brachkov in "Outcasts" by Ivan Vazov, Lvov in "Ivanov" by Chekhov. He plays in the most popular contemporary Bulgarian movies , including " Stolen Eyes " (2004), " The Trap " (2003), "A trip to the horizon", " Emigrants " (2002) and " Wolf Hunt " (2000). In 2009, he wrote and made his directorial debut with Ivan Vladimirov , with the movie "Sneakers". In "Crabs" (2009) he starred with Philip Avramov , Rangel Vulchanov, Nikolay Urumov , Nikolay Shterev, Krasimir Dokov, Eugenia Barakovova, Marin Marinov, Ivan Raynov, Alexander Marinov - Sancho; a director and screenwriter is Ivan Cherkelov . He has several awards, including " Asker " for leading actor and " Golden Rose "; Special diploma of " FIPRESCI " of " Sofia Film Fest "; Prize of the Ministry of Culture for the promotion and development of Bulgarian culture - in 2005 and Best Young Actor Award "Ivan Dimov" in 2004.- Actress
- Producer
Elena Petrova was born on 1 November 1975 in Sofia, Bulgaria. She is an actress and producer, known for Roseville (2013), Stuklen dom (2010) and Magna Aura (2009).- Animation Department
- Director
- Writer
Rumen Petkov is a cartoon and animation artist and director. He graduated from Sofia Art School in 1967 and in Bulgarian Studies from the University of Sofia in 1977. Animator, artist and director at Sofia Animation Film Studio. Since 1989 he lives in the US. He has received Grand Prix at the International Festival of Animated Film, Ottawa (Canada) and Palme d'Or in Cannes 1985; directed the TV series The Adventures of Choko and Boko, very popular with children in the 1980s. Rumen Petkov has worked as a writer, storyboard artist and director of many episodes of TV series, such as Tom and Jerry, Johnny Bravo, Dexter's Laboratory, Cow and Chicken, etc.- Born in Sofia, Bulgaria. Heir to the popular Austrian family Kottas - Heldenberg. Anton Kotas is also related to the great Bulgarian actress Nevena Kokanova, as her grandmother is the sister of Anton Kottas' great-grandfather. He has also performed as a singer, performing songs by Queen and the popular Bulgarian singer Lili Ivanova.
- Tugba Melis Türk was born on 7 September 1990 in Sofia, Bulgaria. She is an actress, known for Mrs. Fazilet and Her Daughters (2017), Leyla and Mecnun (2011) and Back Streets (2006).
- One of the most talented actors from Bulgaria. He was born in Sofia in 1942. In 1962 he graduated from famous Krastyo Sarafov National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts as an actor. His first appearance in the movies was in 1956 when he was a only a teenager. With the well known series Na vseki kilometar he gained international reputation.
- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
Vesela Kazakova graduated both acting and producing respectively in the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in 2000 and University of Economics in Sofia 2003. Her first roles in the cinema and on stage brought her the debut awards for best young actress in Bulgaria in 2002. Further lead roles in six films have snapped up prestigious prizes for best female actress in Bulgaria and abroad, Silver George Award in Moscow Film festival in 2005, and Berlinale Shooting Stars Award in 2006 amongst them. Vesela started producing theatre performances in 2005 while also working as an actor, play co-writer and composer. After notable acting career, Vesela Kazakova set her goals on creating socially and politically charged work at production company Activist38 together with the animation director Mina Mileva. They started with the documentary "Because of Her", devoted to her mother who was an actress. Vesela Kazakova is part of Producers on the Move 2020; EAVE 2013 graduate and also one of the Emerging Producers'13 in Jihlava.
The dynamic director&producer duo Mina Mileva and Vesela Kazakova has created a strong wave of political activism in their own country Bulgaria with the internationally acclaimed feature doc "Uncle Tony, Three Fools and the Secret Service" 2013. The film had caused major controversy and changed the archival copyrights regulations and nearly send "the duo" to jail for revealing totalitarian mechanisms in the film industry. The authors were subjected to harsh and lengthy institutional and personal attacks from the film guild in Bulgaria and colleagues who vouched never to grant activist38 state subsidy again. EDN - European Documentary Network, EAVE and Cineuropa published support articles, which the Bulgarian Cinema Council demanded to be removed. VARIETY review by Jay Weissberg clarified the controversy. The film received eleven international awards together with prestigious selections, it entered AFI's showcase "Best of European cinema 2014".
Their next political documentary "The Beast is still alive" 2016, MEDIA supported and aired by ARTE for the 30th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall , dealing with consequences of Communism has created a furore after a single TV broadcast in Bulgaria. The PR department for the Bulgarian Socialist Party has reacted strongly against it, issuing statements in their media and sending letters and legal threats to the TV channel. Wide media reaction and debates ensued as the film portrays active politicians and current issues. Abroad, the film enjoyed good selections at IDFA, Sarajevo IFF, WARSAW FF, Goteborg, ZagrebDox, Beldocs and other festivals. It won BEST DOCUMENTARY awards at Aegean Docs and Calcutta Cult Film Festival. As a project it gathered IDFA FORUM AWARD 2015 at the East Doc Platform's pitch and it was selected amongst 4 upcoming work-in-progress from Eastern Europe in LAST STOP TRIESTE'16. Developed at Rough Cut Service (Iikka Vehkalahti), financed by the Bulgarian National Film Centre and coproduced by the Bulgarian National Television.
The tandem made their first fiction film "Cat in the wall" 2019 which deals with East European migrants in London premiered at Locarno's International Competition in 2019 and being part of EFA Feature Film Selection 2020. The film is supported by Creative Europe's programme MEDIA, Region Ile de France and it's coproduction with the Bulgarian National Television. The film received FIPRESCI Award at the 35st Warsaw Film Festival, two awards - Young critics award and Audience award at Zerkalo - Tarkovski Film Festival in Russia, and in Bulgaria was awarded for Best Bulgarian Film at Sofia Film Fest and Best Bulgarian Debut at Golden Rose. It has wide coverage on Variety, Screen International, including featuring as number 1 in their list of best films from summer festivals.
"Women Do Cry" (2021), their next fiction film, described as a rallying cry and a feminist critique of modern Bulgarian society, premiered at Cannes Un Certain Regard official selection in 2021. This film deals with the absurd circumstances in Bulgaria around the ratification of the so-called Istanbul convention focused on the gender-based violence with five main female characters. Followed by other strong selections in Sarajevo, Warsaw, Karlovi Vary, AFI, SXSW, Trieste where it received Eurimages Audentia award and again it was is part of the EFA Feature Film Selection 2022. The film is a coproduction with France (Ici et La productions - Christophe Bruncher), ARTE France and Eurimages supported and the Bulgarian National Film Centre. Presented by world sales mk2 films.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Marin Rangelov was born on April 11, 1997 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He graduated with a BA (Hons) in "Acting for Stage & Screen" at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts "Krastyo Sarafov" in prof. Stefan Danailov's last masterclass. After that, he graduated with two MFA degrees in "Film Directing" and "Producing Film and Television" at New Bulgarian University. Marin made his directing, screenwriting, and producing debut with the award-winning short thriller "Red Admiral," inspired by true stories. The film was in the Official Selection of the 20th In The Palace International Short Film Festival, which is the only festival in the Balkans that is an Academy Awards/Oscar qualifying festival.
In the summer of 2018, he played the role of Nasir in the American war movie, based on a true story, "The Outpost", with director Rod Lurie. The Bulgarian partnered on-screen with Scott Eastwood, Milo Gibson, Jack Kesy, and more. He's had leading roles in a couple of short films and supporting roles in Bulgarian TV series. His professional theater path started in 2017, when he started acting on stage at the National Bulgarian Theatre "Ivan Vazov". Marin made his theater debut with the role of Leo Hubbard in "The Little Foxes", a theater play by Lillian Hellman. The Bulgarian adaptation of the play was highly rated by the critics and had eight nominations and one award for the biggest Bulgarian theater awards. Marin portrayed the roles of Narcissus and Phaethon in Mary Zimmerman's theater play, "Metamorphoses" by Ovid, directed by Stayko Murdjev. The production opened the new theater season for 2023/2024 at the Drama Theater "Nikola Vaptsarov" in Blagoevgrad.
In 2019, the Bulgarian was living in New York City, where he was taking acting classes at the Susan Batson Studio and also was trained in a variety of different dance techniques at the Broadway Dance Center. The same year, Marin was accepted with a scholarship to the New York Film Academy's MFA program in "Acting for Film". Apart from his acting career, Marin is a painter. The actor graduated from the National School of Fine Arts "Ilia Petrov" as an illustrator.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Bulgarian actor and director Ivaylo Hristov was born on December 10, 1955, Sofia, Bulgaria. He graduated from the department of acting at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria. Then he worked at the Sliven drama theatre «Stefan Kirov». Since 1985 he worked as an actor at the Theatre of Bulgarian Army in Sofia. He has more than 50 roles in theatre, and more than twenty in feature films to his credit, directed stage productions «Accidental Death of an Anarchist», «Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll», «Graduate» etc. Since 1992 prof. d-r Ivaylo Hristov teaches acting at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, Sofia , Bulgaria. In 1988 he played the main role in Georgi Djulgerov's film "AcaDaMuS". He was a co-writer of the screenplay of this picture. His first feature «Emigrants» (2003), which he directed together with Lyudmil Todorov, won several national awards and participated in many film festivals. «Footsteps in the Sand» (2010) participated in the competition of the 32 MIFF. He is an author of the book - «The actor in cinema». One of the founders of the prestigious Bulgarian theatre awards, Askeer. Five years after the release of Footsteps in the Sand, actor/director/screenwriter Ivaylo Hristov directed Losers , an endearing coming-of-age story shot in black and white by Bulgaria's most revered cinematographer, Emil Christov. Ivaylo Hristov won the Golden George at the Moscow International Film Festival with Losers.- Director
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Yana Lekarska is a writer/director from Bulgaria. She holds an MFA in Film Directing from both Chung-Ang Univeristy in Seoul, South Korea as well as New Bulgarian Univeristy, Sofia, Bulgaria. Her debut feature film (as writer-director) Because I Love Bad Weather premiered in March 2024 in the International Competition Section of the 28th Sofia International Film Festival and won the Audiecne Award.- Editor
- Editorial Department
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Julian Minkov was born on 15 June 1973 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is an editor and director, known for Escape/Byagstvo (2001), Jonathan (1999) and Velikite bulgari (2006).- Milena Ermenkova was born on 15 June 1988 in Sofia, Bulgaria. She is an actress, known for Eighteen (2016), Stseni ot zhivota na edna aktrisa (2020) and 1, 2... 7, 8... 10 or 10 Steps to Find Your 1/2 (2020).
- Dimo Alexiev was born on 29 July 1983 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is an actor, known for Leatherface (2017), I Spit on Your Grave 2 (2013) and The Expendables 2 (2012).
- Petar Ivanov Popyordanov , known as Chocho Popyordanov, is Bulgarian theater and cinema actor. He was born on June 11, 1964 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is a son of Ivan Popyordanov (born on 1938) - a longtime Chief of the cinema center Boyana Film Studios. He was also Chief of Bulgarian National Television in 1998. The Mother of Petar Popyordanov Katya was a doctor. The father's family originated from Veles, Vardar Macedonia. Chocho great-grandfather was a first cousin of the Macedonian revolutionaries - Chieftain Mile and his younger brother Jordan Popyordanov-Ortse, leader of Thessaloniki bombers. In 1989, Petar Popyordanov graduated National Academy for Theatre and Film Art, Sofia, Bulgaria in "Acting" in the class of Professor Krikor Azaryan and Todor Kolev. He studied at the Czech Republic one year. He has played in the troupes of Theatre "Sofia", Little City Theatre "Off the Channel" and in 1994 - in the National Theater. His most famous theater roles were in performances "Outcasts," "Midsummer Night's Dream," "At the foot of Vitosha Mountain," "The Tempest," "The man who makes the rain," "Kimono", "Decameron," "Ghosts in Naples, "" Hedda Gabler. " Chocho Popyordanov has involved in cinema productions, including "Yesterday" (1988), "Rio Adio" (1989), " The Love Summer of a Schlep " (1990), "Vampires, ghouls" (1992) "Canaries Season" (1993), "Frontier" (1994), "Spanish fly" (1998), "After the end of the world" (1998), "Danube bridge" (1999), "Sombrero blues" (1999), " Wolf Hunt" (2000). Petar Popyordanov has won numerous nominations and awards, including a nomination for "Asker" in 1996 and 1997 and the prize "Golden Bayar" in Belgium for Best Actor in the film "Border". He had also a presence on the small screen, starring in the TV show "UFO Club" on "Channel 1". In 2007 he began his participation in the series "Outcasts" for "Channel 1" of Bulgarian National Television. He has nephews Helen and Peter Koshnicharski. Albeit posthumously Chocho Popyordanov became a father of adopted him months earlier daughter Ekaterina Petrova Popyordanova. He died on May 5, 2013 in Boyana, Sofia Province, Bulgaria.
- Actor
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- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Assen Blatechky is a Bulgarian artist. He was born on March 22, 1971 in Sofia, Bulgaria. An actor, fascinated by painting and sports. Practiced swimming, soccer, rowing, handball. In four consecutive years (from 1989 to 1992) was the champion of Bulgaria, Federation of Traditional Karate. All that remains in the past, because in 1992 he applied for and was accepted at the National Theatre Academy, where he studied in the acting at the class of Prof. Stefan Danailov. He graduated in 1996, but even as a student he took part in theater productions with roles in Measure for Measure, crazy love, Lazaritza, intruders. No lag and screen incarnations. He has been filmed in a number of Bulgarian and foreign productions. Bulgarian audience knows him best for his roles in the movies Profits After the end of the world, Mila from Mars, Monkeys in Winter, and the TV series Sea salt, Glass home.- Director
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Kristina Grozeva graduated Sofia State University and worked as journalist for Bulgarian TV. After that she graduated from National Academy for Theater and Film Art (Sofia, Bulgaria) in Film Directing in classes of professor Georgi Djulgerov and associate professor Svetoslav Ovtcharov. Her student short films won several awards at International Student Film Festivals. Together, Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov have directed the documentary Parable of Life (2009), the TV movie Forced Landing (2010). Recently they wrote and directed the short film Jump, which was nominated for the European Film Awards 2013 at Clermont-Ferrand ISFF 2013, making it the first Bulgarian short film ever nominated for EFA. Jump was also awarded with Grand Prix at Brussels SFF 2013, Excellence Award for Best Picture at Busan ISFF 2013, and Best Short Film by the Bulgarian Film Academy 2013, among others. The Lesson is their full-length debut film, having been selected at Toronto IFF(Contemporary World Cinema) and San Sebastian IFF (New Directors).- Director
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Kalina Lukanova is a FAMU International graduate in Film Directing. She is working as a freelance film director, based in Sofia, Bulgaria. Kalina is also a MA graduate in Transdisciplinary New Media from the Paris College of Art. She has lived in a number of European capitals, including Milan, Lisbon, Paris, Dublin, and Prague. Her work is influenced by the New Wave of French cinema and explores paradigms of social and gender roles. Bird is her debut short film and her FAMU final project.- Stunts
- Actress
Dessy Slavova was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. Dessy is an actor, known for 6 Underground (2019), The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017) and Hellboy (2019).