Zako Heskiya(1922-2006)

Isaac Solomonov Heskiya, known as Zako Heskiya (21 September 1922 - 3 June 2006) was a Bulgarian film director and screenwriter. He graduated Cinema and Photograph College in Sofia. Since 1956 until 1965, he had been an assistant director in Boyana Film Studio. His first own film was "Torrid Noon" (1965), based on the novel by Yordan Radichkov. Heskiya became in 1966 international audience for "Torrid Noon", the Bulgarian contribution to the Cannes Film Festival and a nomination for the Palme d'Or. Zako Heskiya fared better with his well-handled war stories The Eighth (1969), Three reservists (1971), and his two part Dawn over Drava (1972), which was the first Bulgarian war picture to be made as a super spectacle. In 1981, he won the special prize at the 12th Moscow International Film Festival for Yo Ho Ho, based on the script by Valeri Petrov. The Fall (2006) by Tarsem Singh is based on the script of Yo Ho Ho. Zako Heskiya is also known for Alone Among Wolves (1979), Nights with the White Horses (1985), and Scar-Free (1989), based on the script by Konstantin Pavlov. Zako Heskiya works as a leader of the group "Debut" in former Boyana Studio and opened the door to professional work for many young Bulgarian film directors.