Mariyana Lazarova

Mariyana Lazarova is an Associate Professor in Management in Screen Arts at the National Academy for Theater and Film Arts (NATFA) in Sofia, Bulgaria. She holds a PhD in 'Film studies, cinema and television' and dual Master’s degrees in Law and Film Arts. Her primary affiliations include the Department of Film Studies and Dramaturgy within the Faculty of Screen Arts. She serves as Head of the MA Course in Film Studies, Legal Adviser on Copyright at NATFA, and member of key academic governance bodies, including the Scientific Policy Advisory Council and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of NATFA.

Her educational background combines legal and artistic disciplines: Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Sofia and Master of Film Arts from NATFA. Her research focuses on intersections between film art (analysis/poetics) and copyright law. She has authored two notable books: *The Centaur from Albion* (2014, award-winning film criticism) and *Copyright and Neighboring Rights in Audiovision* (2015, legal analysis of Bulgarian/EU frameworks). Her writing spans academic articles, essays in film journals, and legal publications on intellectual property.

Practical expertise includes 15+ years as a legal advisor specializing in copyright law, including roles with Bulgaria’s Ministry of Culture (amending national copyright law) and as Executive Director of a rights-collecting society. She advises student film productions on legal matters and lectures on specialized topics like digital distribution rights and media contracts.

Award-winning academic and legal professional, Lazarova is affiliated with the Union of Bulgarian Film Makers, Union of Bulgarian Jurists, and European networks like ENCATC (cultural management) and EIPTN (intellectual property education). Her professional networks extend to media law, creative industries analysis, and academic strategy development.