Javor Gardev

Javor Gardev (Bulgarian: Явор Гърдев) is a Bulgarian stage and film director. He was born on February 23, 1972 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Javor Gardev holds an MA degree in Philosophy from Sofia University, and in Theatre Directing from the Bulgarian National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts. He has staged thirty-three performances in his home country and abroad. This includes Williams Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” and “King Lear”, Edward Albee’s “The Goat or Who is Sylvia?” and “The Play about the Baby” (Officially endorsed by Edward Albee), Martin McDonagh’s “A Behanding in Spokane” and “The Pillowman”, Tracy Letts’ “Killer Joe”, Ethan Coen’s “Almost an Evening”, among others. Gardev has directed radio-drama and authored performance art and video art works. His long feature debut film Zift (2008) won nineteen domestic and international awards and special mentions. Javor Gardev won “Silver St. George” for Best Director in Main Competition at the 30th Moscow IFF. “Zift” was part of the selections of fifty four different International Film Festivals including Toronto IFF, 2008 (Official Selection, Discovery). It was Bulgaria’s official entry for foreign language Oscar and part of the Official Selection for the European Film Academy Awards, 2008. Until 2009 when its domestic record was broken, it was the highest grossing Bulgarian feature film since the prior two decades. Since 2009 Javor Gardev is a member of the European Film Academy. In 2011 he founded Compania Ecstatica.

Gardev graduated from the National Lyceum for Ancient Languages and Cultures, Sofia, Bulgaria in 1991. He then pursued a master's degree in Philosophy from the University of Sofia, which he obtained in 1997. The following year he obtained another master's degree, in Stage Directing from the Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, Sofia.

In 2008 Gardev directed his first feature film. It was entitled Zift. The film was produced by Miramar Film (Bulgaria), with the Bulgarian National Film Center and the Bulgarian National Television as co-producers. Gardev is slated to direct his second film, entitled 'Theseus,' which will be a tale of the Greek mythological hero Theseus.

Gardev has also directed several plays. Among his most famous stage directions are Russian People's Post (1999), In the Air (2002), The Pillowman (2004), Caligula (play) (2008), A Behanding in Spokane (2011), and Almost an Evening (2013).

DIRECTOR (STAGE PRODUCTIONS)

2015 “The Seagull” by Anton Chekhov, National Palace of Culture, Theatre Azaryan, Sofia

2015 “Quartet - Dangerous Liaisons After The End of The World”, Live Performance Movie by Javor Gardev Reimagining Heiner Muller’s Play National Palace of Culture, Sofia

2014 “Joan” by Yaroslava Pulinovich, The National Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria

2013 “Almost and Evening” by Ethan Coen, Youth Theatre & Bright Light Entertainment, Sofia, Bulgaria

2012 “Hamlet” by William Shakespeare, The National Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria

2012 “Cancun” by Jordi Galceran, State Drama Theatre "Priyut Komedianta", Saint Petersburg, Russia

2012 “The Moth” by Peter Gladilin, The National Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria

2011 “The Ugly One” by Marius von Mayenburg, Saratov Academic Drama Theatre, Russia

2011 “A Behanding in Spokane” by Martin McDonagh, The National Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria

2011 “Killer Joe” by Tracy Letts, Theatre of Nations, Moscow, Russia (Tour in Latvia.)

2010 “The Gronholm Method” by Jordi Galceran, Theatre of Nations, Moscow, Russia (Tour in Ukraine.)

2009 “The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?” by Edward Albee, The National Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria

2008 “Caligula” by Albert Camus, Co-production: & “La Rose des Vents” Scene Nationale Lille Metropole, Villeneuve d’Ascq, France (Tours in France, Russia, Macedonia).

2008 “Valentine’s Day” by Ivan Vyrypaev, Little City Theatre "Off the Channel", Sofia, Bulgaria

2007 “The Old Woman from Calcutta” by Hanoch Levin, Theatre 199, Sofia, Bulgaria

2006 “Krum” by Hanoch Levin, Varna Drama Theatre, Varna, Bulgaria

2006 “Koutzoulan ou La Sainte Vierge aux Loups” by Konstantin Iliev, (mise en espace), Panta Theatre, Caen, France

2006 “King Lear” by William Shakespeare, The National Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria

2005 “The Play about the Baby” by Edward Albee, Theatre 199, Sofia, Bulgaria

2004 “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare, Adana State Theatre, Turkey (Tours in Bulgaria and France.)

2004 “The Pillowman” by Martin McDonagh, Varna Drama Theatre, Varna, Bulgaria (Tours in Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Kosovo Autonomy.)

2003 “Life x 3” by Yasmina Reza Theatre 199, Sofia, Bulgaria

2003 “Marat/Sade” after Peter Weiss, Multilateral co-production of Triumviratus Art Group, Varna Drama Theatre – Bulgaria, Association THEOREM, Hebbel Theater – Berlin, “La Rose des Vents” Scene Nationale de Villeneuve d’Ascq – France, Stadsschouwburg Utrecht – Netherlands (Tours in Germany, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Macedonia.)

2002 “In the Air” after Alexej Schipenko, Haskovo Drama and Puppet Theatre, Haskovo, Bulgaria

2001 “Bastard” after William Shakespeare, Friedrich Dürrenmatt and Adso of Moutier-an-Der, Produced by Varna Drama Theatre in the Underground Wine Cellar ‘Dimyat’, Varna, Bulgaria

2000 “Nosferatu, celui du dedans” after David Le Breton, Theatre du Plessis-les-Tours / Companie Jose Manuel Cano Lopez, Tours, France

2000 “Verona” by Alexej Schipenko, The National Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria

1999 "Russian People's Post" by Oleg Bogayev, Bulgarian Army Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria (Tour in Poland.)

1999 “Quartet” by Heiner Müller, Theatre-laboratory “Sfumato”, Sofia, Bulgaria (Tours in Switzerland, France, Netherlands, Portugal, Macedonia.)

1997 "Somnium Ulixis" after Heiner Müller, Joseph Brodsky, Joseph Brodsky and K. Merjanski, Theatre-laboratory "Sfumato", Sofia (Tours in Germany and Romania.)

1996 "Tanya-Tanya" by Olya Mouchina, Little City Theatre "Off the Channel", Sofia, Bulgaria (Tour in Romania.)

1995 "The March" by Georgi Tenev, State Drama Theatre, Lovech, Bulgaria

1995 "The Maids" by Jean Genet, Haskovo Drama Theatre, Dimitrovgrad Drama Theatre, Theatre-laboratory “Sfumato”, Sofia, Bulgaria

1994 "Parts of the Night" by Georgi Tenev, Sliven Drama Theatre, Sliven, Bulgaria

1994 "Two Little Plays about the End" after F.M.Dostoievski and L.Petrushevskaia, Dimitrovgrad Drama Theatre (co-directed with Nedyalko Delchev), Bulgaria

ACTOR (STAGE PRODUCTIONS)

1999 The young Bataille in "Story of the Eye" by Georges Bataille, directed by Ivan Stanev (Co-production: Passages” Festival, Nancy / "Concept for theatre" foundation, Sofia)

1997 Germancho in “Apocrypha”, authors’ performance of M. Mladenova & Ivan Dobchev (Co-production: Theatre-laboratory “Sfumato”, Sofia / “Passages” Festival, Nancy, France)

DIRECTOR (OPERA PRODUCTIONS)

1995 "La Rondine” ("The Swallow") by Giacomo Puccini, Sozopol Summer Academy of Arts, 2015 Darina Takova Foundation

DIRECTOR (RADIO PLAYS)

2005 "D.J." by Georgi Gospodinov, (Bulgarian National Radio)

2003 "The Gate of Europe" co-directed by D. Wedel / V. Vrhovnik / Javor Gardev, (Co-production: Danish Radio / Croatian Radio / Bulgarian National Radio - in English -)

2000 "The Citadel" audio-project of Assen Avramov / Georgi Tenev / Javor Gardev, (Co-production: Bulgarian National Radio / Triumviratus Art Group / Ars Digital)

1999 "The Atoll" audio-project of Javor Gardev / Assen Avramov / Georgi Tenev, (Co-production: Bulgarian National Radio / Triumviratus Art Group / Ars Digital) Awarded “Grand Prix - Best European Radio Drama” Berlin ’99, Germany

PERFORMANCE ARTIST

2005 “Visual Police” video-performance

Presented or exhibited at: - Wuertenbergische Kunstverein, Stuttgart – 2006 - Kunsthaus, Dresden – 2006 - Schauspielhaus, Hanover – 2006 - Deutsche Schauspielhaus, Hamburg - 2006 - ATA Gallery - Institute of Contemporary Art, Visual Seminar, Sofia - 2005

1998 “Doppelmond oder Ihre Sprache im Koerper unserer Sprache” literary and video performance together with the writers Georgi Tenev and Dubravka Ugresic Gallery of Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart

1995 “Tiger’s Funeral” open air performance on the roof of Sliven Drama Theatre, Bulgaria

1994 - “Entrance Into The Night” open air performance on the roof of Sliven Drama Theatre, Bulgaria

AUTHOR

2005 “Night Labor” dramatic miniature published within: “Sprung in die Stadt” - DuMont Literatur und Kunst Verlag Edition in German: ISBN 978-3-8321-7693-8 “Leap into the City” - DuMont Literatur und Kunst Verlag Edition in English: ISBN 978-3-8321-7712-6

AUTHOR'S SHORT VIDEOS

2002 “Oh Sweet Home of Mine / Discovery Channel Redone” – 1min., supershort Produced by Triumviratus Art Group Co-produced by Euroscreen 21

2000 “Bedspotting” – 8 min., short Produced by Triumviratus Art Group Co-produced by Companie Jose Manuel Cano Lopez, Tours, France Co-produced by Pro Helvetia

1998 “Der Solitudebolero oder Raskolnikowbesessenheit” – 33 min., short Produced by Akademie Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany

MASTERCLASSES

2008 Summer Academy of Arts, Sozopol – Javor Gardev Acting Class based on Texts by Daniil Harms

2008 Territoria Festival, Moscow – Javor Gardev Theatrical Master Class

2006 International Theatrical Workshop at Theatre Ephemeride, Val de Reuil – Normandie, France – “Declaration d’amour” – Performing A.P. Chekhov

2004 International Theatrical Workshop at Schloss Trebnitz – Brandenburg, Germany – “Mozart, Don Juan, Puschkin und Ich” – Performing Alexander Pushkin

2002 International Theatrical Workshop at Schloss Trebnitz – Brandenburg, Germany – “Penthesilea” – Performing Heinrich von Kleist

2000 Lectures, Parcours de creation et stage formation avec des comediens de Region Centre, Theatre du Plessis-les-Tours, Companie Jose Manuel Cano Lopez, Tours, France / “Nosferatu, celui du dedans”

1999 Workshop at Duke University - ‘Chekhov’s Seagull’ and lecture at University of Chapel Hill, USA / Duke Center for International Studies, Chapel Hill Slavic Department, Duke Drama Department / Fall ’99

Since 2011 – Affiliated Stage Director, Drama League of New York, USA

Since 2009 – Voting Member of the European Film Academy

Since 1994 – TRIUMVIRATUS ART GROUP (founder & member)

2005 - 2001 – BULGARIAN THEATRE DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION (founder & member)

2016 Best Director of the Year / Union of Bulgarian Performing Artists IKAR Award for "Quartet - Dangerous Liaisons After The End of The World" & "The Seagull"

2014 Best Director, Best Performance & Best Cast / Golden Harlequin Awards - “The Ugly One”

2013 Best Performance of the Year / Academy ASKEER Award - “Hamlet”

2013 Best Director of the Year / Academy ASKEER Award for “Hamlet”

2013 Best Director of the Year / Union of Bulgarian Performing Artists IKAR Award for "Hamlet"

2012 Best Performance of the Year / Academy ASKEER Award - “The Moth”

2012 Best Director of the Year / Academy ASKEER Award for “The Moth” & „Behanding in Spokane”

2011 Varna Theatrical Award “Golden Mask”

2010 MK Newspaper Award “Upcoming Masters”, Best Performance – “The Gronholm Method”

2009 Award of the Society of the Independent Theatre Critics – “The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?

2009 Salerno IFF – “Tohno” Award – “Zift”

2009 Bulgarian National Film Center & Filmmakers Union Annual Award – Best Film - “Zift”

2009 16th Palic EFF – International Critics’ Jury Award - “Zift”

2009 09th Wiesbaden goEast Festival – Special Mention Director’s Achievement - “Zift”

2009 14th Vilnius IFF - Best Director Award - “Zift”

2009 13th Sofia IFF - Special Award of the International Jury - “Zift”

2009 13th Sofia IFF - Kodak Award for Best Bulgarian Feature Film - “Zift”

2008 28th Golden Rose Film Festival - Grand Prix “Golden Rose” for Best Film in Competition - “Zift”

2008 28th Golden Rose Film Festival - Special Award of the Bulgarian Cinema Critics Association - “Zift”

2008 33rd Plovdiv ITVF - “Golden Chest” Special Prize of the Jury - “Zift”

2008 33rd Plovdiv ITVF - “Academica 21” Award for Director’s Achievement - “Zift”

2008 33rd Plovdiv ITVF - “Galya Bachvarova” Award for Director’s Achievement - “Zift”

2008 30th Moscow IFF - “Silver St.George” Best Director in Main Competition - “Zift”

2008 30th Moscow IFF - Film Clubs Federation Award for Best Film - “Zift”

2006 Award of the Society of the Independent Theatre Critics in Bulgaria - Theatre Person of The Year for “King Lear” and “Krum”

2006 Best Performance of the Year / Academy ASKEER Award for „King Lear“

2006 GOLDEN AGE Award for contribution to Bulgarian Arts and Culture

2006 Best Director of the Year / Union of Bulgarian Performing Artists IKAR Award for "The Play about the Baby"

2005 Memorable Medal of Ministry of Culture of Turkey / “The Tempest” tour in France

2005 GOLDEN QUILL Award of FM Classic Radio, Municipality of Sofia, and Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria for contribution to Bulgarian Culture.

2006 Best Director Award / Vratza Chamber Theatre Festival for "The Play about the Baby"

2005 Best Performance Award / Vratza Chamber Theatre Festival for "The Pillowman"

2005 Best Director Award / Vratza Chamber Theatre Festival for "The Pillowman"

2004 Municipality of Sofia Award for exceptional contribution to Arts and Culture / “Life X 3”

2002 Best Performance of the Year / Academy ASKEER Award for „Bastard“

2002 Best Director of the Year / Academy ASKEER Award for „Bastard“

2002 Best Director of the Year / Union of Bulgarian Performing Artists IKAR Award for "Bastard"

1999 Berliner Grand Prix Europe / Best European Radio Drama for "The Atoll"

1999 Best Director Award / Vratza Chamber Theatre Festival for "Quartet"

1999 Best Director Award / Blagoevgrad Annual Theatre Festival for "Quartet"

1997 Best Director of the Year / Union of Bulgarian Performing Artists Annual Award for “Tanya-Tanya”

1997 Best Director Award / Blagoevgrad Annual Theatre Festival for "Tanya-Tanya"

1991 National Highschools Literary Competition / First Prize for Best Essay

1991 National Highschools Philosophy Contest Winner / Philosophers Society