Eliza Petkova (GER/BG)
Authors / Film / Directors / Film
is a film writer and director. She was born in Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria. After receiving her master’s degree in Philosophy and Modern Japan from Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf, she started working as a freelance filmmaker in Berlin. In 2011-2020, she studied directing at the German Film and Television Academy Berlin.
In 2015, her short film ABWESEND (Absent) was nominated for the Selection Cinéfondation at the 68th Festival der Cannes. In 2016, Eliza completed her first feature film ZHALEIKA, followed by international festival participations, prizes and awards. In 2018, she was part of the Berlinale Talents and again in 2020, when her feature EIN FISCH, DER AUF DEM RÜCKEN SCHWIMMT (A Fisch Swimming Upside Down) was part of the 70th Berlinale.
Eliza is currently working on two projects: SILENT OBSERVERS (in post-production) and THE WORKER (in development).
Works (selection)
THE WORKER
in development
Production: Rohfilm Factory (Karsten Stöter), Fourmat Film (Nicolas Kronauer)
Supported by the MDM Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung
DER ARBEITER portrays a young Roma from the Bulgarian province who sets off on a journey to Germany in quest for money and happiness.
SILENT OBSERVERS
in postproduction
MAYOR, SHEPHERD, WIDOW, DRAGON
2021
World premiere: Shanghai International Film Festival
D/BG, Documentary, 97 min
Festivals/prizes:
2022 – BLACK CAT AWARD International Film Festival Bolivia: Best Documentary
2022 – 16th Five Lakes Film festival
2022 – 18th achtung berlin Film Festival: Special mention as Best Documentary
2022 – 10th Liberation DocFest Bangladesh
2022 – 43th Film festival Max Ophüls, Film Critics prize: Best Documentary
„Eliza Petkova portrays without a raised finger the travails and joys of people whose lives are deeply etched on their sometimes weary yet radiating joie de vivre in this finely framed direct-cinema homage to a dying village.“ – Max Ophüls Jury’s statement
A FISH SWIMMING UPSIDE DOWN
2020
Premiere: 70 Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin
D/CHN, Spielfilm, 103 min
Festivals/prizes:
2021 – Tirana International Film Festival: Best director
2020 – 24th Sofia International Film Festival
2020 – 70th Berlinale
ZHALEIKA
2016
Premiere: 66 Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin
D/BG, feature, 92 min
Festivals/prizes:
2016 – 66th Berlinale: nominated for „Best newcomer“
ABSENT
2014
Premiere: 68th Festival de Cannes
D, short, 13 min