Iryna Tsilyk | |
|---|---|
| Ірина Цілик | |
 | |
| Born | 18 November 1982 Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Nationality | Ukrainian |
| Alma mater | Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinematography and Television named by Ivan Karpenko-Kary |
| Occupation(s) | writer and film director |
| Spouse | Artem Chekh |
Iryna Tsilyk (Ukrainian: Ірина Цілик; born 18 November 1982) is Ukrainian filmmaker and writer, the member of European Film Academy, Ukrainian PEN International. The winner of the “Directing Award: World Cinema Documentary” for the film "The Earth Is Blue as an Orange" at 2020 Sundance Film Festival.
Iryna Tsilyk was born in Kyiv. Graduated from Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinematography and Television named by Ivan Karpenko-Kary summa cum laude. Now Iryna works as film director and screenwriter and mostly known for the award-winning "The Earth Is Blue as an Orange", "Rock, Paper, Grenade", "Invisible Battalion" projects.
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, Greek, Italian, Danish; were presented at various international literary festivals and events, such as Zebra poetry film festival, Ledbury Poetry Festival, Poesiefestival Berlin, Vilenica International literary festival, book fairs in Prague, Vienna, Leipzig, Frankfurt, Vilnius 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]
Iryna Tsilyk is based in Kyiv together with her family. At the moment, Iryna's husband and writer Artem Chekh is serving in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Iryna and their son Andrii (born in 2010) stay in Kyiv.[citation needed]
