Kristina Grozeva Explained

Birth Name:Kristina Yordanova Grozeva
Birth Place:Sofia, Bulgaria
Years Active:2004–present
Partner:Petar Valchanov

Kristina Yordanova Grozeva (bg|Кристина Йорданова Грозева) is a Bulgarian filmmaker. She is best known for her feature films The Lesson (2014), Glory (2016), The Father (2019), and Triumph (2024).

Early life and education

Kristina Yordanova Grozeva was born in Sofia, Bulgaria.

She has master's degrees in journalism and film and television directing from Sofia University and the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, respectively. She completed a degree in directing in the class of Georgi Djulgerov.

Career

Since graduation, Grozeva has been working with her husband, fellow Bulgarian director Petar Valchanov. In 2013, their short film Jump was nominated for Best Short Film at the European Film Awards.[1] In 2014, they released their first feature film The Lesson, which won awards at the film festivals in San Sebastián, Tokyo, Warsaw, Gothenburg, Thessaloniki, Sofia.

The pair next directed the 2016 drama film Glory, which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival and was positively received by critics.[2]

Their 2019 film The Father, which features a brief appearance by their then-student Maria Bakalova, won the Crystal Globe Award at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.[3] Both Glory and The Father were selected as the Bulgarian entries for the Best International Feature Film at the 90th and 93rd Academy Awards, respectively.[4] [5]

The third film of their "newspaper clippings" trilogy (after The Lesson and Glory) is the 2024 comedy Triumph, based on the 1990s excavation of the "Tsarichina Hole" by the Bulgarian military following the instructions of a psychic.[6]

Recognition

Grozeva is a member of the European Film Academy.[7]

Selected filmography

YearTitlewidth=65Directorwidth=65Writerwidth=65ProducerNotes
2008Family TherapyShort film
2010Emergency LandingTV film
2012JumpShort film
2014The Lesson
2016Glory
2019The Father
2024Triumph

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jump / SKOK - Film - European Film Awards. European Film Awards . https://web.archive.org/web/20211021033549/https://europeanfilmawards.eu/en_EN/film/jump.6075 . 21 October 2021.
  2. Web site: Glory (2017) Reviews - Metacritic. .
  3. Web site: Българският филм "Бащата" триумфира в Карлови Вари. Monitor. Bulgarian. 7 July 2019. 31 July 2021.
  4. Web site: Oscars: Bulgaria Selects 'Glory' for Foreign-Language Category. The Hollywood Reporter. Nick . Holdsworth. 13 September 2017. 31 July 2021.
  5. Web site: "Бащата" на режисьорите Кристина Грозева и Петър Вълчанов е българското предложение за наградата "Оскар". Bulgarian National Film Center. Bulgarian. 6 November 2020. 31 July 2021.
  6. Web site: Triumph . Adelaide Film Festival . 30 October 2024 . 1 November 2024.
  7. Web site: Биография на Кристина Грозева. obuch.info. Bulgarian. 31 July 2021.