
Julian Iliev
Biography:
Julian Iliev has a Master of Arts, School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Simon Fraser University (SFU), a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Studies from the University of Colorado at Boulder, USA and a Certificate for University Teaching and Learning from SFU.
He is currently a Sessional Faulty member at University Canada West teaching Visual Communications in Mass Media.
Julian believes that teaching is a continuous learning process about new art forms, new ways of expression and new strategies without forgetting the knowledge inherited from previous educators. One of his dreams as a teacher is to inspire and spread the love of visual media in his students as he shares his passion for media learning with them. In our media saturated society it is important for students to know how to create visual content, but also more importantly to create compelling images and stories. Julian believes grounding media teaching in historical artifacts can be transformative experience for students, because they can infer connections between the past and the present and consequently form novel ideas. As a learner, he acquires new trends in society from his students and share and experience exciting new artifacts.
Expertise and Experience
Julian began his teaching journey in 2010 when he opened his own studio in Denver, CO and taught script writing fundamentals. He taught individuals with different backgrounds, from different age groups but who shared common passion for visual entertainment. His Canadian academic teaching experience started with his first semester in Simon Fraser University in the Fall 2019. He was accepted as the teaching assistant in New and Narrative Media class, and he has been the teaching assistant in that class since (10 semesters). He has also been teaching assistant to Moving Images (3 semesters), New Media Images (3 semesters) and Digital Photography classes as well. Even though he has not yet completed his master’s degree, he was given the opportunity to teach New and Narrative Media class as a Limited Term Lecturer in Fall of 2020.
Publications and Scholarly Activity
Julian’s Master of Arts thesis has been published in the book Algorithmic Ethics and the title of the chapter is “Audio Beacon Technologies, Surveillance and the Digital Paradox.” The editor is Michael Filimowicz and the publishing company is Routledge.
He was a guest lecturer at National Academy of Theater and Film in Sofia, Bulgaria, where he had lecture series named “Orson Welles and his films.” At SFU he was invited to be a guest lecturer to few different classes. He led a lecture on the types of narrative montage in IAT 202; character development and script formatting in IAT 313; and building a narrative with triptychs and diptych photography in IAT 244.
His media publication consists of 16 films exhibited in assorted festivals. His two major achievements are: screening in France at the Cannes Film Festival and passing the first round of qualifications for the Academy Awards (Oscars) in the United States.
Awards
Julian has received seven awards in multiple festivals. The following list indexes the films that have been publicly exhibited.
Love is a function of Death – 2021
- Winner – Best Screenplay 2021 L.A. Neo-noir novel, film and script festival
- 2022 Cine-Maniacs Filmfest, Bavaria, Germany
- 2022 Official selection Absurd Art house Film festival, Kent, England
- 2022 Official selection Youality International Short Film Festival, France
- 2022 Official selection Faludi Film and Media Festival, Budapest, Hungary
- 2023 Official selection Bizarrya Short Film Festival, Portugal
- 2022 Ceylon International Film Festival – Honorable Mention, Sri Lanka
- 2023 Student World Impact Film Festival – Honorable Mention
usa.DT – 2020
- Finalist 2020 Athens International Digital Film Festival
- Official Selection 2020 Supernova Digital Animation Festival
- Official Selection 2020 The Cut Film Series
- Official Selection 2021 Showtown Film Festival
- Official Selection 2021 London Migration Film Festival
Banality of Evil – 2018
- Official Selection 2018 RedCorner Film Festival
- Official Selection 2018 Nile's Diaspora International Film Festival
- Official Selection 2018 MikroFAF
- Official Selection 2019 Benicia Film Festival
- Official Selection 2019 MoziMotion Film festival
- Official Selection 2019 Aks International Minorities Film Festival
- Semi-Finalist 2019 Toronto Indie Night
2 Yahoos and a Bottle of rum – 2016
- Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (Oscars) – first round of qualifications
- Official Selection 2017 River Film Festival
- Official Selection 2018 Cardiff International Film Festival
- Official Selection 2018 Minikino Film week
Running Life – 2013
- Official Selection 2014 Balkan Film Food Festival
- Official Selection 2014 Petaluma Virtual Film Festival
- Official Selection 2014 FIC Puebla Festival Internacional de Cine
- Official Selection 2015 AniFestrozafa Film Festival for Children and Adolescents
The Restroom – 2012
- Official selection GESAMT-Disaster 501: What happened to man – project of Lars Von Trier – A crowdsourced film
- 2012 Copenhagen Art Museum screening
- 2013 Goteborg International Film festival
MetA – Romantic – 2012
- Winner – Best Dramedy 2012 New York International Film Festival in LA
- 2012 Official Selection Denver International Film festival
The Here Between – 2010
- Official Selection at 2011 Cannes Film Festival
- Winner – Best Drama 2011 New York International Film festival in NY
- Winner – Best Drama 2011 New York International Film Festival in LA
- Semi-Finalist at 2010 Mid-Atlantic Black Film Festival
- Official selection at 2011 Texas Black Film Festival
The Pale Side of Darkness – 2007
- Winner – Best Student film 2007 Golden Knight Malta International Film festival
Born on 3RD of July – 2007
- Screenplay Finalist at 2007 Beverly Hills International Film Festival
Of Truth and Other Demons – 2005
- Official Selection at 2006 Golden Knight Malta International Film festival
Random Acts of Truth and Other White Lies – 2005
- Official Selection at 2005 International Student Film Festival Hollywood
- Official selection at 2006 Starz Denver Pan African Film Festival
- Screened at TV Channel LA57
Shadows – 2004
- Winner – Audience Award 2004 First Look Student Film Festival
- Winner – Bronze Award at 2004 Denver Video Festival
- Official Selection at 2004 Crested Butte Reel Festival
Bryan – 2004
- Official Selection 2005 First Look Student Film Festival
- Screened on SPARK TV