Iryna Tsilyk

Iryna Tsilyk was born in Kyiv. Graduated from Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinematography and Television named by Karpenko-Karyy summa cum laude. She used to work as 1st AD in advertising production and she works as director in a film industry now.

Moreover, Tsilyk is the author of several books (poetry, prose, children's books). Some of her works have been translated into English, German, French, Polish, Lithuanian, Czech, Romanian, Catalan, Swedish; were presented at different international literary festivals and events, such as "Poesiefestival Berlin" 2017, Leipzig Book Fair 2017, Frankfurt Book Fair 2016, „Lyrik für Alle“ (Babelsprech-conference, Salzburg 2016), Vilnius Book Fair 2016, “Meridian Czernowitz” (Ukraine, 2015-2016), Author’s Reading Month (Czech Republic, Slovakia 2016), Vilenica International literary festival (Slovenia 2008) and others.

In November 2020 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded Tsilyk the title Merited Artist of Ukraine.[1] She refused the honour claiming she was "just starting my career in film directing" and she consider it "inappropriate to accept such awards with a light heart in times of uncertainty, when many of my colleagues from the film community were offended by the unjust actions of the current government."[1] A few days later the decree that awarded Tsilyk the title disappeared from the official website of the Office of the President of Ukraine.[1]

Tsilyk lives in Kyiv together with her husband writer Artem Chekh and their 10 y.o. son.

• The Earth Is Blue as an Orange (Земля блакитна, ніби апельсин; documentary film, 74', 2020). The film had its world premiere at 2020 Sundance Film Festival (World Documentary Competition) and won “Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary” there. The European premiere of the film was held at 2020 Berlin International Film Festival in the Generation program. Also, the film has got two main awards at Docudays UA International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival 2020 and was officially selected to Museum of Modern Art Doc Fortnight (USA), Copenhagen International Documentary Festival, Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival, Cleveland International Film Festival, Thessaloniki Documentary Festival, ZINEBI - International Festival of Documentary and Short Film of Bilbao, Institute of Contemporary Arts: Frames of Representation (UK) and more than 60 other International film festivals.

• Tayra ("Тайра"; short documentary film, 10', 2017) and Kid ("Малиш"; short documentary film, 15', 2017) for the cinema-almanac "Invisible Battalion".

• Home (Дім; short fiction film). 12', 2016. FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics) award at Odessa International Film Festival (Ukraine, 2016). Film was included into short film almanac "Ukrainian New Wave. 20/16+" which was distributed in 2016 in Ukraine.

• Commemoration (Помин; short fiction film). 24', 2012. Prize of the Ecumenical Jury at Molodist International Film Festival. Film was included into short film almanac "Ukrainian New Wave. Romantigue" which was distributed in 2013 in Ukraine.

• Blue Hour (Вдосвіта; short fiction film). 10', 2008.

• Iryna Tsilyk's poems at Lyrikline.org
• Iryna Tsilyk at IMDb
• ‘The Earth Is Blue as an Orange’: Film Review in Variety
• The interview with Iryna Tsilyk • Director of The Earth Is Blue as an Orange
• Review: The Earth Is Blue as an Orange (2020), by Iryna Tsilyk
• Sundance 2020: War Induces Cinema In The Powerful Ukraine Documentary “The Earth Is Blue as an Orange”