Maria Stanisheva

Maria Stanisheva is a Bulgarian film director, producer and founder of ANIMADOCS, specializing in animation, documentary and hybrid storytelling.

A graduate of Sofia University, Central European University and the New York Film Academy’s Documentary Filmmaking program, she has over 15 years of experience across feature films, shorts, TV and online series. She produced the award-winning animated documentary FATHER, screened at over 100 festivals and winner of 28 awards, including the Golden Dove at DOK Leipzig. Her 2016 animated campaign Together to End Male Guardianship, commissioned by Human Rights Watch Saudi Arabia, reached over 10 million people and contributed to legislative change. A Berlinale Talents alumna, Redford Centre grantee and NYFA Fellow (2024), she teaches classes in “Animation for Documentary Film” in Europe and the US. An external evaluator for MEDIA, EURIMAGES and BNFC projects. Currently, Maria is developing her first feature-length animated documentary, I AM EVERY WOMAN (co-directed with Ruxandra Gubernat), exploring global women’s reproductive rights, as well as FINDING HOME, a series of short films and an interactive art installation based on the stories of climate refugees from around the world.