Hailing from the vibrant city of Sofia, Bulgaria. I’m a 27-year-old filmmaker and photographer.

From as far back as I can remember, the world of creation and art has been my constant companion. The joy of crafting, both visually and narratively, has shaped my journey. In my childhood, I’d pen stories in tiny notebooks and bring them to life with my illustrations. When I was around 12, my family acquired a pocket-sized digital camera, and it marked the beginning of my photography adventure. Over time, my fascination with cameras, photography, and filmmaking deepened.

Around the same period, I started experimenting with video and taught myself the art of editing. The positive response I received after sharing my creations online was a motivating force. At 14, I delved into acting lessons, which continued for four years until I completed high school. This was also the time when I picked up classical guitar lessons.

In the realm of theater, I trod the boards every year, performing in front of live audiences, cultivating my confidence and teamwork skills. Summers were dedicated to film projects with my theater group. As high school drew to a close, I began making short films with friends in my free time, sparking a deeper interest in pursuing filmmaking.

Simultaneously, I honed my photography skills after my family’s second camera essentially became my own. I’d wander the streets, capturing everyday moments. Post high school, I worked with a traveling theater troupe for a couple of years while I grappled with the direction of my artistic journey. Ultimately, I decided to leave theater behind and pursued a degree in film at university.

In 2017, I embarked on a new chapter at Arts University Bournemouth in the UK, enrolling in their Film Production course. Over the course of three years, I delved deep into the art of filmmaking, both in practice and theory. I directed numerous short films, refining my storytelling and directorial skills while continuing my photography work during my free moments. The summer of 2020 marked my graduation.

In 2019, I collaborated with a group of friends on the documentary series “Who is Bulgaria?”. We embarked on a journey across Bulgaria, interviewing people from all walks of life. This project opened my eyes to the craft of documentary filmmaking, deepening my appreciation for the genre and inspiring me to undertake more of these compelling projects.

In 2020, upon my return to Bulgaria, I applied for a grant from the National Culture Fund and secured it for my photography project, “Elements”. In March 2021 my work was exhibited in the “Boris Christoff” museum in Sofia.

In 2021 I secured a second grant for “City Safari” with an exhibition coming in 2024.

My artistic interests are marked by a penchant for absurdism and surrealism, with a recent infatuation with documentary filmmaking. I relish the experience of pondering, “What is this all about?” and I am drawn to the strange, the bizarre, humor, and comedy. I find beauty in the ordinary and the mundane. My art is a reflection of my ever-evolving self, but what remains constant is my insatiable thirst for experimentation and the exploration of new horizons.

Online, I go by the name “Ignat , Ignatov.” You might wonder about the comma, which to me symbolizes transience. Life, to me, is an ever-changing, constantly shifting journey. Each day, I evolve and renew myself, a philosophy that resonates both in my art and in my life’s story.