Vesela Kazakova

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Yordanova and the family name is Kazakova.
Vesela Kazakova
Kazakova in 2020
Born
Vesela Yordanova Kazakova

(1977-07-04) 4 July 1977 (age 47)
Sofia, Bulgaria
Education
Occupations
  • Actress
  • screenwriter
  • director
  • producer
Years active1999–present

Vesela Yordanova Kazakova (Bulgarian: Весела Йорданова Казакова; born 4 July 1977) is a Bulgarian actress, screenwriter, director and producer. She is best known for her roles in Mila from Mars (2004) and Stolen Eyes (2005), as well as for her cinematography on films such as Cat in the Wall (2019) and Women Do Cry (2021) alongside directing partner Mina Mileva.

Life and career

Kazakova was born on 4 July 1976 in Sofia. She first appeared on stage at the age of four with her twin sister Bilyana. Both were part of the Kambana children's theatre troupe, founded by their mother Snezhina Kazakova, who was also an actress. She majored in theater at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in the class of Stefan Danailov. While still a student, she made her professional debut in the plays Antigone, produced by Margarita Mladenova, and in The Night Of Rock'n'Roll, directed by Ivaylo Hristov at Theatre 199. In 2000, she played the role of Nina in The Seagull by Anton Chekhov.[1]

In this period, she gained an interest in producing independent theatre plays. For her performances in Stereolove and Nightsongs, she acted as project manager, co-writer, composer and actress. In 2003, she graduated from the University of National and World Economy in Sofia.[2]

In 2001, she played her first major film role in List otbrulen (A Leaf in the Wind), directed by Svetoslav Ovcharov.[1] For her role as a silent young girl, she won the Nevena Kokanova prize for best young actress at the Bulgarian Golden Rose Feature Film Festival in Varna in 2002.[2]

Kazakova has won more than ten awards at Bulgarian and international festivals. In 2019, she directed Cat in the Wall alongside Mina Mileva. The film was presented in the official competition of the Locarno Film Festival and at South by Southwest in the United States. It received the FIPRESCI prize from the Warsaw Film Festival.[3]

In 2021, she paired up with Mileva again to direct Women Do Cry. This film was selected to compete in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival, and was also screened at South by Southwest and the Glasgow Film Festival.[4][5][6][7] It was the winner of the Eurimages Audentia Award at the Trieste Film Festival in 2022.[8]

Selected filmography

Year Title Credited as Role Notes
Actor Director
1999 Hourglass Yes No Enthusiastic worshiper
2002 List otbrulen Yes No Vesa
Chervenata shapchitsa Yes No Red Riding Hood
2004 Toshka and Toshko Yes No Toshka
Mila from Mars Yes No Mila
Shantav den Yes No Ina
2005 Stolen Eyes Yes No Ayten
2008 I Don't Feel Like Dancing Yes No Mädchen
2009 Prima Primavera Yes No Jolie
2010 The Pillow Yes No She Short film
Ao: The Last Hunter Yes No Unak
Lin Yes No Vesela Short film
2012 Because of Mum Yes No The Girl (voice)
2013 The Enemy Within Yes No Romanian woman
2014 Uncle Tony, Three Fools and the Secret Service No Yes —
2019 Cat in the Wall No Yes —
2021 Women Do Cry Yes Yes Yoana

References

  1. ^ a b "Vesela Kazakova". SeeCinema. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Vesela Kazakova". Moviefit. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Les invités: Vesela Kazakova". Un weekend à l'est (in French). 24 November 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  4. ^ Sharf, Zack (10 June 2021). "Cannes Film Festival 2021 Lineup: Sean Baker, Wes Anderson, and More Compete for Palme d'Or". IndieWire. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
  5. ^ Yossman, K.J. (14 July 2021). "Maria Bakalova Stars in Cannes Contender 'Women Do Cry'". Variety. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Women Do Cry". Glasgow Film Festival. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  7. ^ O'Donoghue, Denise (14 March 2022). "Maria Bakalova Makes Her SXSW Debut With Two Films". WWD. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  8. ^ Camillo De Marco, "Radu Muntean's Întregalde wins in Trieste". Cineuropa, 26 January 2022.