Christo Christov(1926-2007)

Christo Christov (11 April 1926 - 16 April 2007) was a Bulgarian film director and screenwriter. Before entering the theatre and film industry, Christov earned a medical degree in 1952. He graduated in Drama Directing at National Academy of Theatre and Film Art, Sofia, Bulgaria (1959) after studying theater direction. Between 1958 and 1966, Christov was a stage designer and director at the Plovdiv Theater. Between 1966 and 1967, Christov worked at Mosfilm Studios as an apprentice to several film directors, including Marlen Khutsiev and Mikhail Romm. Christo Christov made two of the seminal films in his country's cinema, Iconostasis (1969, in collaboration with Todor Dinov) and Last Summer (1974). Christo Christov was a professor in film and TV directing at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Art, Sofia, Bulgaria. He was a member of European Film Academy. He directed 19 films between 1969 and 1997. In 1973, he was a member of the jury at the Eighth Moscow International Film Festival. His film Cyclops (1976) was entered into the 27th Berlin International Film Festival. His film The Barrier (1979) won the Silver Prize at the 11th Moscow International Film Festival. In 1981, his film The Truck (1980) was entered into the 31st Berlin International Film Festival. His film Reference (1985) was entered into the 14th Moscow International Film Festival. In addition to his work in theater and film, Christov also works in television. From 1974 to 1982, he served as the Chairman of the Union of Bulgarian Film Workers.