Rumen Surdzhiyski

Rumen Ivanov Surdzhiyski (Bulgarian: Ру́мен Ивано́в Сурджийски; 24 September 1943 – 11 July 2019) was a Bulgarian filmmaker.

In 1967 he graduated in theatrical directing at the National Academy for Theater and Film Arts (NATFA) "Krastyo Sarafov", located in Sofia, Bulgaria. He studied under the Merited Artist Prof. Stefan Surchadzhiev and later under Prof. Anastas Mihaylov. His first theatrical production on professional stage was "Kaliakra" (season 1967-1968), put at the Dobrich Drama Theatre "Yordan Yovkov". His more notable films are Swan (1976), Snapshots as Souvenirs (1979) and Place Under the Sun (1986).

His films are defined by humanism. They explore the characteristics of human nature with its aspirations and conflicts. His characters are genuine, living, going through real life experiences. The author and film critic Alexander Alexandrov wrote: "Rumen Surdzhiyski proves that he possesses acute power of observation towards the spiritual phenomena in our society and the problems of the time we live in." ("Narodna Kultura", newspaper, 1979)