Javor Gardev
Stage & Film Director
Javor Gardev (born 1972, Sofia) holds a MPhil degree in Philosophy from Sofia University, and MFA degree in Theatre Directing from the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts. He currently works as resident stage director at The National Theatre of Bulgaria in Sofia. One of the foremost directors of his native Bulgaria, he has staged over fifty theatrical performances, in his home country and abroad, which were presented in Sofia, Berlin, Paris, Lille, Bern, Gdansk, Moscow, St.Petersburg, Lisbon, Chicago, San Francisco, Seattle, Skopje, Rotterdam, and Utrecht, to name a few.
Among the plays he has staged are William Shakespeare’s Hamlet and King Lear, Edward Albee’s The Play about The Baby and The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? (endorsed by Mr. Albee), Heiner Müller’s Quartet, Jean Genet’s The Maids, Peter Weiss’ Marat/Sade, Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman and A Behanding in Spokane, Tracy Letts’s Killer Joe, Ethan Coen’s Almost an Evening.
His feature film debut Zift won nineteen domestic and international awards and special mentions. Javor Gardev won “Silver St. George” for Best Director in the Main Competition on the 30th Moscow IFF. “Zift” was part of the selections of fifty-four different International Film Festivals including Toronto IFF, 2008 (Official Selection, Discovery). It was Bulgaria’s official submission for the 2008 ‘Best Foreign Language Picture’ Academy Award category and part of the Official Selection for the European Film Academy Awards, 2008. Until 2009, it was the highest grossing Bulgarian feature film of the last two decades. Since 2009, Javor Gardev is a member of the European Film Academy.
Javor Gardev’s works, even those with a deceptively simple set-up, invariably possess a multi-layered reflectiveness. His artistic language is unconventional and continuously innovative. Besides his prolific theatre work, Javor Gardev has directed several radio-drama features and authored performance art and video art works.
EDUCATION
2021 – 2022 Fulbright Visiting Researcher, Northwestern University, Evanston, USA
2018 – 2021 PhD Candidate, New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria
1992 – 1998 – MFA Degree in Stage Directing and Theatrical Production
Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, Sofia, Bulgaria
1991 – 1997 – MPhil Degree in Philosophy, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”
1986 – 1991 National Lyceum for Ancient Languages and Cultures, Sofia
FULL-LENGTH FEATURE FILM (DIRECTOR)
2008 – Zift
Produced by Miramar Film (Bulgaria)
Co-produced by Bulgarian National Film Center Co-produced by Bulgarian National Television
World Sales by Monte Cristo International (USA) International Film Festival
Selections: 54 / Awards: 19
THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS (DIRECTOR)
2023 You Shouldn’t Have Said So! by Salomé Lelouch, Baza X at Lumiere Cinema, Sofia
2022 Easter Wine by Konstantin Iliev, The National Theatre of Bulgaria, Sofia
2021 Fitz Roy by Jordi Galceran, World Premiere, Little City Theatre Off the Canal, Sofia
2021 Castor by Javor Gardev as Part of The Interdisciplinary Performance Portraits of The Unknown by Petar Dundakov (composer), Javor Gardev (writer/director), Venelin Shurelov (stage designer), ViaFest & Varna Summer Festival, Varna
2021 The Tail by Zachary Karabashliev, Drama and Puppet Theatre, Pleven
2020 Insulted.Belarus. by Andrei Kureichik, Online video-performance, Drama and Puppet Theatre, Pleven
2020 Homecoming by Harold Pinter, Little City Theatre Off the Canal, Sofia
2019 Hangmen by Martin McDonagh, Macedonian National Theater, Skopje
2019 The Celebration by Thomas Vinterberg, Mogens Rukov, Bo hr. Hansen, and David Eldridge, Little City Theatre Off the Canal, Sofia
2018 The Observers / A hypothesis on hereafter by Konstantin Iliev,
The National Theatre of Bulgaria, Sofia
2018 Christmas Tree at the Ivanovs by Aleksander Vvedensky, Replica Theatre @ Structura Gallery, Sofia
2018 The Dragon by Yevgeniy Schwartz, TMPC / The State Drama Theatre “St. Bachvarov”, Varna
2018 Sleuth by Anthony Shaffer, Theatre of Nations, Moscow, Russian Federation
2017 Chamkoria Theatrical Adaptation of Milen Rouskov’s Novel, Theatre 199, Sofia
2017 The Drunks by Ivan Vyrypaev, Little City Theatre Off the Canal, Sofia
2015 The Seagull by Anton Chekhov, National Palace of Culture, Theatre Azaryan, Sofia
2015 Quartet – Dangerous Liaisons After the End of the World Reimagining Heiner Muller’s Play, National Palace of Culture, Sofia
2014 Joan by Yaroslava Pulinovich, The National Theatre, Sofia
2013 Almost an Evening by Ethan Coen, Youth Theatre & Bright Light Entertainment, Sofia
2012 Hamlet by William Shakespeare, The National Theatre, Sofia (Tour in Poland.)
2012 Cancun by Jordi Galceran, State Drama Theatre “Priyut Komedianta”, Saint Petersburg, Russia
2012 The Moth by Peter Gladilin, The National Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria
2011 The Ugly One by Marius von Mayenburg, Saratov Academic Drama Theatre, Russia (Tour in Bulgaria.)
2011 A Behanding in Spokane by Martin McDonagh, The National Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria
2011 Killer Joe by Tracy Letts, Theatre of Nations, Moscow, Russia (Tour in Latvia.)
2010 The Gronholm Method by Jordi Galceran, Theatre of Nations, Moscow, Russia (Tours in Latvia and Ukraine.)
2009 The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? by Edward Albee, The National Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria
2008 Caligula by Albert Camus, Co-production: Varna Drama Theatre & “La Rose des Vents” Scene Nationale Lille Metropole, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France
(Tours in France, Russia, Macedonia).
2008 Valentine’s Day by Ivan Vyrypaev, Little City Theatre Off the Canal, Sofia, Bulgaria
2007 The Old Woman from Calcutta by Hanoch Levin, Theatre 199, Sofia, Bulgaria
2006 Krum by Hanoch Levin, Varna Drama Theatre, Varna, Bulgaria
2006 Koutzoulan ou La Sainte Vierge aux Loups by Konstantin Iliev, Mise en espace, Panta Theatre, Caen, France
2006 King Lear by William Shakespeare, The National Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria
2005 The Play about The Baby by Edward Albe, Theatre 199, Sofia, Bulgaria
2004 The Tempest by William Shakespeare, Adana State Theatre, Turkey (Tours in Bulgaria and France.)
2004 The Pillowman by Martin McDonagh, Varna Drama Theatre, Varna, Bulgaria & Revival at Theatre 199, Sofia, Bulgaria (Tours in Russia, Serbia, Montenegro, and Kosovo Autonomy.)
2003 Life x 3 by Yasmina Reza, Theatre 199, Sofia, Bulgaria
2003 Marat/Sade after Peter Weiss, Multilateral co-production of Triumviratus Art Group, Varna Drama Theatre – Bulgaria, Association THEOREM, Hebbel Theater – Berlin, Germany, “La Rose des Vents” Scene Nationale de Villeneuve d’Ascq – France, Stadsschouwburg Utrecht – Netherlands (Tours in Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Macedonia.)
2002 In the Air after Alexej Schipenko, Haskovo Drama and Puppet Theatre, Haskovo, Bulgaria
2001 Bastard after William Shakespeare, F. Dürrenmatt and Adso of Moutier-an-Der, Varna Drama Theatre Production in Underground Cellar ‘Dimyat’, Varna
2000 Nosferatu, celui du dedans after David Le Breton, Theatre du Plessis-les-Tours / Companie Jose Manuel Cano Lopez, Tours, France
2000 Verona by Alexej Schipenko, The National Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria
1999 Russian People’s Post by Oleg Bogayev, Bulgarian Army Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria (Tour in Poland.)
1999 Quartet by Heiner Müller, Theatre-laboratory “Sfumato”, Sofia, Bulgaria (Tours in Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Portugal, and Macedonia.)
1997 Somnium Ulixis after Heiner Müller, J. Brodsky, G. Tenev, K. Merjanski Theatre-laboratory “Sfumato”, Sofia (Tours in Germany and Romania.)
1996 Tanya-Tanya by Olya Mouchina, Little City Theatre Off the Canal, Sofia, Bulgaria (Tour in Romania.)
1995 The March by Georgi Tenev, State Drama Theatre, Lovech, Bulgaria
1995 The Maids by Jean Genet, Haskovo Drama Theatre, Dimitrovgrad Drama Theatre, Bulgaria & Revival at Theatre-laboratory “Sfumato”, Sofia, Bulgaria
1994 Parts of the Night by Georgi Tenev, Sliven Drama Theatre, Sliven, Bulgaria
1994 Two Little Plays about the End after F.M.Dostoievski and L.Petrushevskaia
(co-directed by Nedyalko Delchev), State Drama Theatre, Dimitrovgrad, Bulgaria
OPERA PRODUCTIONS (DIRECTOR)
2015 La Rondine by Giacomo Puccini
Sozopol Summer Academy of Arts, 2015 “Darina Takova Foundation”
THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS (ACTOR)
1999 The young Bataille in Story of the Eye by Georges Bataille, directed by Ivan Stanev, (Co-production: Passages” Festival, Nancy / “Concept for theatre” foundation, Sofia)
1997 Germancho in Apocrypha authors’ performance of M. Mladenova & Ivan Dobchev, (Co-production: Theatre-laboratory “Sfumato”, Sofia / “Passages” Festival, Nancy, France)
1993 Leonce in Leonce and Lena by Georg Büchner, directed by Galin Stoev (Theatre-Studio “Studentina”, Sofia, Bulgaria)
1992 Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro, directed by Nikola Petkov (Theatre-Studio “Studentina”, Sofia, Bulgaria)
1988 Peyko in The Big Treasure by Pancho Panchev, directed by Nikolay Aprilov (Pioneers’ Palace Theatre Studio, Sofia, Bulgaria)
1987 First Duck in Anna’s Tales by Stefan Tsanev, directed by Nikolay Aprilov (Pioneers’ Palace Theatre Studio, Sofia, Bulgaria)
1986 Bonny The Clown in Laughter in The Circus, directed by Nikolay Aprilov (Pioneers’ Palace Theatre Studio, Sofia, Bulgaria)
1985 The Artist Abenitto or Citizen 2 in Gelsomino in The Liars’ Country after Gianni Rodari, directed by Nikolay Aprilov (Pioneers’ Palace Theatre Studio, Sofia, Bulgaria)
1984 The Buck Goat in The Yellow Eye by Nikola Rusev, directed by Nina Svetoslavova (Pioneers’ Palace Theatre Studio, Sofia, Bulgaria)
1983 Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn in Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, directed by Bogdan Krasinski (Pioneers’ Palace Theatre Studio, Sofia, Bulgaria)
RADIOPLAYS (DIRECTOR)
2005 D.J. by Georgi Gospodinov (Bulgarian National Radio)
2003 The Gate of Europe co-directed by D. Wedel / V. Vrhovnik / Javor Gardev
(Co-production: Danish Radio / Croatian Radio / Bulgarian National Radio)
2000 The Citadel audio-project of Assen Avramov / Georgi Tenev / Javor Gardev (Co-production: Bulgarian National Radio / Triumviratus Art Group / Ars Digital)
1999 The Atoll audio-project of Javor Gardev / Assen Avramov / Georgi Tenev (Co-production: Bulgarian National Radio / Triumviratus Art Group / Ars Digital) Awarded “Grand Prix – Best European Radio Drama” Berlin ’99, Germany
RADIOPLAYS (ACTOR)
2014 Flying Help by Angel Karaliychev & Matvey Valev
Role: Chief in-command of Sofia Airport
(Bulgarian National Radio)
VIDEOGRAPHY (AUTHOR)
2020 Insulted.Belarus. by Andrei Kureichik,
Online Video Performance, Drama & Puppet Theatre, Pleven
2002 Oh Sweet Home of Mine / Discovery Channel Redone – 1min., supershort
Produced by Triumviratus Art Group, Co-produced by Euroscreen 21
2000 Bedspotting – 8 min., short
Produced by Triumviratus Art Group
Co-produced by Companie Jose Manuel Cano Lopez, Tours, France
Co-produced by Pro Helvetia
1998 Der Solitudebolero oder Raskolnikowbesessenheit – 33 min., short
Produced by Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany
PERFORMANCE ART (AUTHOR & DIRECTOR & PERFORMER)
2021 Castor by Javor Gardev as Part of The Interdisciplinary Performance Portraits of The Unknown by Petar Dundakov (composer), Javor Gardev (writer/director), and Venelin Shurelov (stage designer), ViaFest & Varna Summer Festival, Varna
2006 Party Headquarters literary video-performance
after a novel written by Georgi Tenev
2005 Visual Police video-performance
Presented or exhibited at:
– Wuertenbergische Kunstverein, Stuttgart – 2006
– Kunsthaus, Dresden – 2006
– Schauspielhaus, Hanover – 2006
– Deutsche Schauspielhaus, Hamburg – 2006
– ATA Gallery – Institute of Contemporary Art, Visual Seminar, Sofia – 2005
2002 Michael Jackson’s Nightmare, ‘One Magazine’ Photographic & Video Performance & Publication, Sofia
2002 Danube Games, ‘One Magazine’ Conceptual Mystification Performance & Publication, Sofia
1998 Doppelmond oder Ihre Sprache im Koerper unserer Sprache literary and video performance with the writers Georgi Tenev and Dubravka Ugresic, Gallery of Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart
1995 Tiger’s Funeral open-air performance on the roof of Sliven Drama Theatre, Bulgaria
1994 Entrance Into The Night open-air performance on the roof of Sliven Drama Theatre, Bulgaria
TV & FILM (ACTOR)
2019 – Roussinov in The Father’s Day, Directed by Pavel Vesnakov
(Six Episodes TV Series, Bulgarian National Television & Agitprop)
1990 – Joshua Muller in Watch On The Rhine by Lillian Hellman
(Two Episodes TV Production, Bulgarian State Television)
1988 – Gottfried Klepperbein in Little Adventures
after Erich Kästner’s novella Anna Louise and Anton
(Ten Episodes TV Series Production for Children, Bulgarian State Television)
1987 – The Boy in The Kite by Rada Moskova
(Two Episodes TV Film for Children, Bulgarian State Television)
1984 – The Boy in Granddad, Grandma, Bread Roll and Grandchildren
(TV Film for Children, Bulgarian State Television)
1983 – Emil The Space in To Everyone by Dragan Maramski
(TV Novella for Children, Bulgarian State Television)
TV & RADIO (ANCHOR)
1989-1991 Youngster, Radio Show for Teenagers, Anchor
(Bulgarian Radio, BR)
1988 Class of Everything, Teenager Program, Anchor
(Bulgarian Television, BT)
1987 Motley Roundabout, Morning Radio Show for Children, Anchor
(Bulgarian Radio, BR)
1984-1988 Pioneeria, Children Program, Anchor
(Bulgarian Television, BT)
PLAYWRITING (AUTHOR)
2021 Castor, A Short Play by Javor Gardev
2005 Night Labor, A Short Play by Javor Gardev
In: “Sprung in die Stadt” – DuMont Literatur und Kunst Verlag
Edition in German: ISBN 10: 3-8321-7693-4; ISBN 13: 978-3-8321-7693-8
In: “Leap into the City” – DuMont Literatur und Kunst Verlag
Edition in English: ISBN 10: 3-8321-7712-4; ISBN 13: 978-3-8321-7712-6
1993 The Suicider, A Monologue by Javor Gardev
PLAYWRITING (CO-AUTHOR)
1999 The Cat of The Baskervilles by G. Tenev, J. Gardev, and I. Siromahov
1993 Phonologos by G. Tenev & J. Gardev
1992 Bologne by G. Tenev & J. Gardev
SCREENWRITING (CO-AUTHOR)
2015 Icaria by Sergey Kaluzhanov & Javor Gardev
2011 The Brood by Joe Nienalt & Javor Gardev
2014 The Red and The Black by Michael Brando & Javor Gardev after Stendhal
2014 Hamlet by Michael Brando & Javor Gardev after William Shakespeare
PUBLICATIONS / ARTICLES (AUTHOR)
Javor Gardev, For A New Ecstatic Theatre, In: “Artmargins” Art Magazine, 05/18/2000, USA
https://artmargins.com/for-a-new-ecstatic-theater/
Javor Gardev, The Unbearable Lightness of Being Barbarian, “Subsol” Online, 2000
http://subsol.c3.hu/subsol_2/contributors/gardevtext.html
Javor Gardev, Expanding the Solitude, Akademie Schloss Solitude, 1998
Javor Gardev, “Sadomasochism: Love Deprived of Its Method“, “Kultura Weekly”, Sofia, 10/18/1996
http://newspaper.kultura.bg/media/file/phpmGDpwZ3318.pdf
Javor Gardev, „British Theatre is dead! Long Live British Theatre!”, “Kultura Weekly“, Sofia, 07/26/1996
http://newspaper.kultura.bg/media/file/phpzIUIt75801.pdf
Javor Gardev, “From Fraternal Mound to Mons Veneris: Rehabilitation of an Injured Erotism”, “Kultura Weekly“, Sofia, 02/02/1996
http://newspaper.kultura.bg/media/file/phpxBWjV34852.pdf
Javor Gardev, “Theocentrism or Egocentrism”, In: “Philosophical Thought”, 12/91, pp.32-34, Sofia, 1991
Javor Gardev, “God Complex or Caligula Phenomenon”, In: “Philosophia”, 3/91, pp.39-44, Sofia, 1991
PUBLICATIONS / MPHIL THESIS (AUTHOR)
Javor Gardev, “The Ecstatic Theatre”, In: “Democratic Review”, vol.34, Winter 97/98, pp.664-686, 1998
PUBLICATIONS / BOOK CHAPTERS (AUTHOR)
Javor Gardev, “The Art of Balance”, In: “Bulgaria & Romania: 10 Years In The European Union”, pp.109-119, Plovdiv 2019 Foundation – European Capital of Culture & Timisoara—European Capital of Culture Association, Plovdiv, 2017
Javor Gardev, “Third Person”, Short Story, pp.73-74, ICU, Sofia, 2015
Javor Gardev, “Rebellion For Self-Esteem”, In:”#Protest”, pp.111-117, East-West, Sofia, 2013
Javor Gardev, An Interview with Edward Albee In: “L’Europeo” Bulgaria, Issue#31/”Reality”, Sofia 2012
Javor Gardev, “Visual Police” Videoinstallation / Video Installation”, In: “On Difference #3 Raumpolitiken / Politics of Space”, pp.605, 606, 615, 616, Wurttembergischer Kunstverein Stuttgart, 2007
Javor Gardev, “Visual Police” Videoinstallation / Video Installation, In: “Wildes Kapital / Wild Capital”, Kunsthaus Dresden, Visual Chapter, Dresden, 2006
Javor Gardev, “New Architecture in Balchik, Bulgaria”, In: “Wildes Kapital / Wild Capital”, Kunsthaus Dresden, pp.164-173, Dresden, 2006
Javor Gardev, “Night Labor”, Short Play, In: “Leap Into The City”, DuMont Literatur und Kunst Verlag, pp.129-139, Cologne, 2006
Javor Gardev, “Peyo Yavorov’s Queens оf The Night”, In: “Text And Meaning: Literary Analyses”, pp.122-126, Sofia University Publishing House, 1992
TRANSLATIONS / ENGLISH-TO-BULGARIAN (TRANSLATOR)
1992 Central Government, Alan Jamieson, Published by Bell & Hyman (1978)
TRANSLATIONS / RUSSIAN-TO-BULGARIAN (TRANSLATOR)
2014 Joan, A Play by Yaroslava Pulinovich, (2013)
1994 Foma Bobrov And His Spouse, A Comedy by Daniil Kharms, (1931)
1994 The Isolation Box, A Dialogue by Lyudmila Petrushevskaya, (1988)
1991 Love, Vladimir Mayakovsky, (1926)
1991 And Yet, Vladimir Mayakovsky, A Futurist Poem (1914)
1991 A Few Words About My Wife, Vladimir Mayakovsky, A Futurist Poem (1913)
1991 They Understand Nothing, Vladimir Mayakovsky, A Futurist Poem (1913)
1991 Autobiographical letter, Vyacheslav Ivanov, (1917)
1991 Wagner and The Dionysian Act, Vyacheslav Ivanov (1905)
1991 New Masks, Vyacheslav Ivanov (1904)
1991 Nietzsche and Dionysus, Vyacheslav Ivanov (1904)
1990 The Hellenic Religion of The Suffering God, Vyacheslav Ivanov, (1904)
ARTISTIC & EDUCATIONAL RESIDENCIES
2003 Goethe Institut, Berlin, Germany
2001 Academy for Educational Development, State Department, USA
2000 Château Royal de Plessis-lèz-Tours, Tours, France
1998 Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany
1996 European Directors School, Leeds, United Kingdom
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2020 Javor Gardev Acting And Directing Classes, New Bulgarian University & National Academy For Theatre And Film Arts
2019 Javor Gardev Acting And Directing Classes, New Bulgarian University
2018 Javor Gardev’s Playwriting Laboratory with the Winners of New Bulgarian University Contemporary Play Contest
2017 Javor Gardev Lecture, Documentary Theatre Project «N/TRY 17», Red House, Sofia (with Jana Rasheva & Georgi Tenev)
2017 Javor Gardev’s Masterclass, Stage And Film Directing, Studio Of Individual Directing MIR-5, Moscow
2015 Javor Gardev’s Masterclass, Performing Daniil Harms, Sozopol Summer Academy Of Arts 2015 Montfiz Winter Festival, Velingrad – Performing “Hamlet”, Theatrical Workshop
2014 New Bulgarian University, Sofia – Performing “Hamlet”, Theatrical Workshop
2013 Youth Theatre & Art Office, Sofia – Javor Gardev Theatrical Workshop
2012 Sofia University, Sofia – Rehearsing “Hamlet”, Theatrical Workshop 2008 Territoria Festival, Moscow – Javor Gardev’s Theatrical Master Class
2006 International Theatrical Workshop at Theatre Ephemeride, Val de Reuil – Normandie, France – Declaration d’amour – Performing A.P. Chekhov
2004 International Theatrical Workshop at Schloss Trebnitz – Brandenburg, Germany – Mozart, Don Juan, Puschkin und Ich – Performing Alexander Pushkin
2002 International Theatrical Workshop at Schloss Trebnitz – Brandenburg, Germany – Penthesilea – Performing Heinrich von Kleist
2000 Lectures, Parcours de creation et stage formation avec des comediens de Region
Centre, Theatre du Plessis-les-Tours, Companie Jose Manuel Cano Lopez, Tours, France / Nosferatu, celui du dedans
1999 Workshop at Duke University – Chekhov’s Seagull and lecture at University of Chapel Hill, USA / Duke Center for International Studies, Chapel Hill Slavic Department, Duke Drama Department / Fall ’99
AFFILIATIONS
Since 2011– Affiliated Stage Director, DRAMA LEAGUE, NY, USA
Since 2009 – Voting Member of the EUROPEAN FILM ACADEMY
Since 1994 – TRIUMVIRATUS ART GROUP (founder & member)
Since 2001– BULGARIAN THEATRE DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION (founder & member)
ARTISTIC REPRESENTATION
William Moris Endeavor Entertainment (WME2), Los Angeles, USA
SCHOLARSHIPS / FELLOWSHIPS
2021 – 2022 – Fulbright Doctoral Research Fellowship, USA
2019 – 2021 – New Bulgarian University, Doctoral Scholarship, Sofia, Bulgaria
2001 – US Department of State, Performing Arts Management, International Visitor Program, Washington DC, USA
2000 – Compagnie José Manuel Cano Lopez Artistic Residence Fellowship, Château de Plessis-lès-Tours, Tours, La Riche, France
1997-1998 – Artistic Residence Fellowship, Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
1993-1994 – Academic Scholarship, National Academy For Theatre And Film Arts, Bulgaria
1992-1993 – Academic Scholarship, Alma Mater, Sofia University, Bulgaria
1990-1991 – Scholarship, National Lyceum For Ancient Languages And Cultures, Thirteen Centuries Bulgaria Fund
AWARDS
2022 Best Performance of The Year / “Askeer” Award for The Tail
2022 Best Director of a Satirical Performance / “Golden Kukerikon” Award for
The Tail
2020 Cultural Event of The Year 2020 – Homecoming / Ploshtad Slaveykov Cultural Magazine Poll Winner
2020 Best Performance of The Year / Union of Bulgarian Performing Artists IKAR Award for The Celebration
2018 Best Satirical Performance of the Year / “Golden Kukerikon” Award for “Chamkoria”
2018 Best Performance of the Year / Union of Bulgarian Performing Artists IKAR Award for “The Drunken Ones”
2016 Best Director of the Year / Union of Bulgarian Performing Artists IKAR Award for Quartet – Dangerous Liaisons after The End of The World and The Seagull‘
2013 Best Performance of the Year / Academy ASKEER Award – Hamlet
2013 Best Director of the Year / Academy ASKEER Award for Hamlet
2013 Best Director of the Year / Union of Bulgarian Performing Artists IKAR Award for Hamlet
2012 Best Performance of the Year / Academy ASKEER Award – The Moth
2012 Best Director of the Year / Academy ASKEER Award for The Moth &
A Behanding in Spokane
2011 Varna Theatrical Award “Golden Mask”
2010 MK Newspaper Award “Upcoming Masters”, Best Performance –
The Gronholm Method
2009 Award of the Society of the Independent Theatre Critics –
The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?
2009 Salerno IFF – “Tohno” Award – Zift
2009 Bulgarian National Film Center & Filmmakers Union Annual Award – Best Film – Zift
2009 16th Palic EFF – International Critics’ Jury Award – Zift
2009 09th Wiesbaden goEast Festival – Special Mention Director’s Achievement – Zift
2009 14th Vilnius IFF – Best Director Award – Zift
2009 13th Sofia IFF – Special Award of the International Jury – Zift
2009 13th Sofia IFF – Kodak Award for Best Bulgarian Feature Film – Zift
2008 28th Varna BFF – Grand Prix “Golden Rose” for Best Film in Competition – Zift
2008 28th Varna BFF – Special Award of the Bulgarian Cinema Critics Association – Zift
2008 33rd Plovdiv ITVF – “Golden Chest” Special Prize of the Jury – Zift
2008 33rd Plovdiv ITVF – “Academica 21” Award for Director’s Achievement – Zift
2008 33rd Plovdiv ITVF – “Galya Bachvarova” Award for Director’s Achievement – Zift
2008 30th Moscow IFF – “Silver St.George” Best Director in Main Competition – Zift
2008 30th Moscow IFF – Film Clubs Federation Award for Best Film – Zift
2006 Award of the Society of the Independent Theatre Critics in Bulgaria – Theatre Person of The Year for King Lear and Krum
2006 Best Performance of the Year / Academy ASKEER Award for King Lear
2006 GOLDEN AGE Award for contribution to Bulgarian Arts and Culture
2006 Best Director of the Year / Union of Bulgarian Performing Artists IKAR Award for The Play about The Baby
2005 Memorable Medal of The Ministry of Culture of Turkey / The Tempest tour in France
2005 GOLDEN QUILL Award of FM Classic Radio, Municipality of Sofia, and Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria for contribution to Bulgarian Culture.
2006 Best Director Award / Vratza Chamber Theatre Festival for
The Play about The Baby
2005 Best Performance Award / Vratza Chamber Theatre Festival for
The Pillowman
2005 Best Director Award / Vratza Chamber Theatre Festival for The Pillowman
2004 Municipality of Sofia Award for exceptional contribution to Arts and Culture / Life X 3
2002 Best Performance of the Year / Academy ASKEER Award for Bastard
2002 Best Director of the Year / Academy ASKEER Award for Bastard
2002 Best Director of the Year / Union of Bulgarian Performing Artists IKAR Award for Bastard
1999 Berliner Grand Prix Europe / Best European Radio Drama for “The Atoll”
1999 Best Director Award / Vratza Chamber Theatre Festival for Quartet
1999 Best Director Award / Blagoevgrad Annual Theatre Festival for Quartet
1997 Best Director of the Year / Union of Bulgarian Performing Artists Annual Award for Tanya-Tanya
1997 Best Director Award / Blagoevgrad Annual Theatre Festival for Tanya-Tanya
1991 National High school Literary Competition / First Prize for Best Essay
1991 National High school Philosophy Contest Winner / Philosophers Society
