Jury

Sevda Shishmanova

Director  of Programming and Film production  - BNT 1, Journalist, Producer , Film director.

She is the producer who created the most successful Bulgarian series Undercover. As head of film production makes breakthrough with the films of Bulgarian National Television  in the world market. Crime drama Undercover is the first Bulgarian series that has worldwide distribution carried out by  US company New Films International. The series has sold more than 180 territories. The series  Undercover is selected  in official competition, the category drama series,  at the International Emmy Awards 2012 and 2013. She also produced the political drama series The Fourth Estate, selected in official competition, the category drama series, at the  International Emmy Awards 2014.

Sevda Shishmanova is a journalist with practical experience in Television program-making. Reporter, commentator and international correspondent in Bulgarian National Television (BNT) and Economedia. Film director and producer with significant background in documentary productions.

In 2002 had won “ John Hopkins” University  SAIS – Novartis International Journalism Award
In 2001 documentary “The Unfinished War” had been nominated in top 10 for international journalism achievements.
In 2002 documentary „Pakistan – the shadow of the war” was selected  for the main competition of FIPA, Biarritz film festival, France.
In 2009 was awarded  the Special prize for outstanding contribution of Bulgarian Book Association.
In 2012 was awarded the prize of Bulgarian Union of Film Makers for Best Producer for the TV Series Undercover
In 2013 was awarded the prize of Bulgarian Union of Film Makers for Best Producer for the TV Series The Fourth Estate


She holds Master Degree from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Faculty of Slavic Studies and Master Degree from National Academy for Theater and Film Art, Film Directing.
Member of the Management Board of Bulgarian National Television 2004/2010.
Director of  Programming of Bulgarian National Television, present.
Member of the National Counsel of Cinema 2006/2008
Member of the International jury of Sofia Film Fest 2007
Member of the International jury of Filmini / short movie  film festival/ 2008

Professional timeline      

Government correspondent for BNT since 1992 to 1998.

Presidency correspondent  for BNT since 1994 to 1998. International correspondent  for BNT since 1998.

Correspondent in Kosovo and in Italy /Aviano   military base/  during the war campaign in Yugoslavia in 1999.

Correspondent in Turkey during earthquake shock in 1999.

Correspondent in Skopje during the Macedonia war in 2001.

Correspondent in Islamabad, Pakistan in  2001 and 2008.

Correspondent in Turkey and Northern Iraq during the war in Iraq in 2003. Correspondent in London in 2005, after the terror attack.

Correspondent in Afghanistan  in 2006.

Roaming correspondent during Election Campaigns in USA, Russia, Turkey, Italy, Macedonia, UK, Afghanistan and Pakistan  since 1994 to 2008.

Documentaries timeline

1994  Berlusconi - The Pawn Success

1995  North Iraq – No man’s Land

1995  The Power  Russia

1997  Bulgaria – 1/11/1997 The Real Revolution

1999  In the Hope by Richter Scale

2000  BBC – Verification

2001  The Unfinished War/ Macedonians unsolved Albanian problem/

2001   Pakistan - The Shadow of the War

2002   The Choice of War

2008   The Base: Pakistan/Afghanistan 

2009   One Hundred Years of Solitude  /  based on the novel of Marquez/

Film Productions  timeline

2011  Undercover, Season 1

2012  Undercover, Season 2

2013  Undercover, Season  3

2013  The Forth Estate,  BNT

2014  Undercover, Season  4

2016  Undercover, Season 5