Kalina Ivanova earned her Bachelor's degree in Film and Television Directing from the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts ‘Krastyo Sarafov’ in Bulgaria. She has directed short fiction films, documentaries, music videos, commercials, and reportage audiovisual projects, such as 'I DID IT FOR YOU' (2022) - Short Fiction Movie, 'ADDRESS WITH NO INHABITANT' (2020)

Beyond directing, Kalina has gained extensive industry experience as a first and second assistant director on various productions. She has also participated in the production department to commercial projects for major brands such as McDonald's, KFC, Amazon, Apple, Jean Paul Gaultier, Disney, and others.

Since 2024, Kalina has shifted her focus towards producing and started working as an assitant-producer on all film projects in the ‘Contrast films’ production company’s slate:

'NO WAY TO SAY GOODBYE' – debut documentary film by Plamena Slavcheva, production support by The Bulgarian National Film Center (completed)

'GOD OVERESTIMATED ME' – documentary film by Youlian Tabakov, production support by The Bulgarian National Film Center, Swiss Film Institute and Creative Europe/ Media (in post-production)

'TEARS OF NEON' – fiction biographical film by Karolina Bielawska; producer Lava Films (Poland), co-producer Contrast films; production support by The Bulgarian National Film Center and Polish Film Institute (in pre-production);

'KIRIL’S LUCK' – fiction film by Milena Andonova, presented at Connecting Cottbus – winner at Midpoint for best script and Sofia Meetings pitching forum 2020; production support by The Bulgarian National Film Center (in development)

'CONTRE-JOUR' – fiction film by Antonia Milcheva; production support by The Bulgarian National Film Center and SEECN (in development)

'A COLD SPOT' – screenplay idea for debut fiction film by Phillipe Morozov - production support by The Bulgarian National Film Center (in development), selected for PICTH_IT 5th Edition Workshop;

'LIFE IS AHEAD, MY FRIENDS' – screenplay idea for fiction film by Veselka Kuncheva and Polina Hristova - production support by The Bulgarian National Film Center (in development).