Kamen Kalev Director, writer, producer
Born: June 6, 1975 in Burgas, Bulgaria
Education
1998 – 2002 La Fémis National Academy for Film Art Paris, France
1996 – 1998 Bulgarian National Academy for Theater and Film Arts Sofia, Bulgaria Cinematography
1994 – 1996 St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Turnovo Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria Applied Linguistics – Spanish and French languages
1990 – 1994 G. S. Rakovski French Language School Burgas, Bulgaria
Professional Experience
2013 Love is a Sea – working title. Feature film project in development. Director and writer – Andrey Paounov, producer – Kamen Kalev
Face Down – working title. Feature film in post-production. Director and writer – Kamen Kalev
2010 The Island 95 min, color, 35 mm. Bulgaria/Sweden co-production. Supported by Eurimage, Film i Vast, The Chimney Pot, Art Eternal, Bulgarian National Television and Bulgarian National Film Center. Director: Kamen Kalev Writer: Kamen Kalev With: Thure Lindhardt, Laetitia Casta, Mihail Mutafov,Boyka Velkova, Rousy Chanev, Alejandro Jodorowsky Artistic collaborator: Stefan Piryov Producers: Kamen Kalev, Fredrik Zander, Anguel Christanov Director of photography: Julian Atanassov Production designer: Sebastian Orgambide Film editing: Åsa Mossberg, Mikkel E.G. Nielsen Executive producers: Elitza Katzarska, Stela Pavlova International distributor: Le Pacte, France www.theislandmovie.com www.facebook.com/OstrovatTheMovie Festivals: Cannes International Film Festival – Directors’ Fortnight, France 2011 Sarajevo Film Festival – In Focus, Bosnia and Herzegovina 2011 European Film Festival in Miami, USA 2011 Haifa International Film Festival, Israel 2011 Montpellier International Mediterranean Film Festival, France 2011 Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece 2011 Goa International Film Festival, India 2011 Sitges Film Festival, Spain 2011 Montreal Festival of New Cinema, Canada 2011 Reykjavik International Film Festival, Iceland 2011 Mons International Festival of Love Films, Belgium 2011 Scanorama European Film Forum, Lithuania 2011 Sofia International Film Festival, Bulgaria 2011 Golden Rose Bulgarian Feature Film Festival, Bulgaria 2011 Tallinn Black Night Film Festival, Estonia 2012 International Distribution Bulgaria, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Finland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Norway
2009 Eastern Plays 89 min, color, 35 mm. Bulgaria/Sweden co-production. Supported by The Chimney Pot, Film i Vast, Art Eternal. Director: Kamen Kalev Writer: Kamen Kalev With: Christo Christov, Ovanes Torosian, Saadet Aksoy, Nikolina Iancheva Producers: Stefan Piryov, Kamen Kalev, Fredrik Zander, Anguel Christanov Director of photography: Julian Atanassov International distribution: Memento Films, France www.easternplays.com www.facebook.com/eastern.plays Awards and Festivals: Nominated for Camera d’Or - Cannes International Film Festival - Directors’ Fortnight, France 2009 Nominated for Oscar for Foreign Language Film 2010 by the Bulgarian Film Academy Grand Prix du Jury - Angers European First Film Festival, France 2010 Sakura Grand Prix, Best Director, Best Actor - Tokyo International Film Festival, Japan 2009 Best First Time Director - Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival, Spain 2010 Finalist - LUX Prize of the European Parliament 2009 Best Actor, Best Director, Prize of the Ecumenical Jury - Bratislava International Film Festival, Slovenia 2009 Special Jury Award João Bénard da Costa - Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival, Portugal 2009 Competition Award - Warsaw International Film Festival, Poland 2009 Le Prix du Public - Mons International Festival of Love Films, Belgium 2010 Youth Jury Award - International Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival, Turkey 2009 CICAE Award - Sarajevo Film Festival, Bosnia and Herzegovina 2009 Sofia Municipality Award for Cinema Art, Bulgaria 2009 International Jury Prize - SEE a Paris South-East European Film Festival, France 2011 Grand Jury Prize - Cinemanila International Film Festival, Philippines 2010 Best Feature Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor - Bulgarian Film Academy Awards, 2010 Best Bulgarian Feature Film - Sofia International Film Festival, Bulgaria 2010 CEI Award - Trieste Film Festival, Italy 2010 International Distribution: France, Japan, Monaco, Andorra, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Hungary, Turkey, Bosnia and Herzego- vina, Macedonia, Slovenia, Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Australia
2007 Rabbit Troubles 8 min, 35 mm Directors and writers: Kamen Kalev & Dimitar Mitovski Festivals: Cannes International Film Festival – International Critics’ Week, France 2007 Sarajevo Film Festival, Bosnia and Herzegovina 2007 Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, France 2007 LA Shorts Fest, USA 2007 AFI Dallas International Film Festival, USA 2008 Stockholm International Film Festival, Sweden 2007 Warsaw Film Festival, Poland 2007 Festival on Wheels, Turkey 2007 Athens International Film and Video Festival, Greece 2007 International Distribution Canal+ and Futureshorts (UK)
2005 Get the Rabbit Back 6 min, 35 mm Directors and writers: Kamen Kalev & Dimitar Mitovski Festivals: Cannes International Film Festival – International Critics’ Week, France 2005 Locarno International Film Festival, Switzerland 2006 Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, France 2006 Interfilm Berlin International Short Film Festival, Germany 2005 Warsaw Film Festival, Poland 2007 Stockholm International Film Festival, Sweden 2005 Cinemed International Film Festival of Montpellier, France 2005 Aubagne International Film Festival, France 2005 Namur International French-language Film Festival, Belgium 2005 FanTasia Genre Film Festival, Canada 2006 Bursa International Silk Road Film Festival, Turkey 2006 Festival on Wheels, Turkey 2005 International Sofia Film Festival, Bulgaria 2005 International Distribution: Canal+
2004-2005 Director of commercial spots with SIA Advertising, Sofia, Bulgaria: Mtel, Piraeus Bank, Raiffeisen Bank, Praktiker, Leki Frankfurters and Sausages, Vinprom Peshtera Winery, Vinprom Karnobat Winery, Vinprom Korten Winery, Zagorka Beer, Kamenitza Beer, Balkanpharma 2005 Never Stop – music video, Bulgara feat. Lora Karadjova Director and writer: Kamen Kalev
2003 It’s Life – music video, Edit, AveNew Productions Director and writer: Kamen Kalev
Cats and Dogs – 26 min, DV, Trafic Films, France Director: Kamen Kalev
Student Films
2002 Orpheus - 12 min, 35 mm Director, writer, cinematographer, editor: Kamen Kalev Festivals: Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Czech Republic 2003 – Special Jury Prize BRNO16 International Short Film Festival, Czech Republic 2002 – Gold Medal Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, France 2003 Angers European First Film Festival, France 2003 New York University International Student Film Festival, USA 2003 Singapore Short Film Festival, Singapore 2003 Belgrade International Student Film Festival, Serbia 2003 Lucerne International Film Festival, Switzerland 2003 Dinard British Film Festival, France 2002 l’Alternativa Barcelona Independent Film Festival, Spain 2002 VGIK International Student Festival, Russia 2002 Journées Européennes du Film, France 2002 Festival Nemo, France 2002
2001 Maltonius Olbren – 8 min, 35 mm Directors: Kamen Kalev & Alice Winocour Festivals: International Student Film Festival, Mexico 2003 Fajr International Film Festival, Iran 2003 Montreal World Film Festival, Canada 2002 BRNO16 International Short Film Festival, Czech Republic 2003
1999 Boomerang – 33 min, DV Director and writer: Kamen Kalev
Every day – 11 min, 16 mm Director and writer: Kamen Kalev