Michaela Vatcheva

Filmmaker

In the Middle

Michaela Vatcheva is a Bulgarian-Turkish visual storyteller. Currently a student at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, Michaela has lived a few lives.

Born and raised in Bulgaria during the last years of the Communist regime, she started migrating from country to country at the age of 18. Her scrappy background and unique path inform her vulnerable and authentic storytelling. She captures the life she lives: stories about migration, erasure, gender equity, and the presence or absence of family. An interpreter at heart, Michaela still believes in empathy.

Participating Sessions

STUDENT PITCH

In today’s competitive market, learning how to effectively pitch your documentary is just as important as honing your writing and editing skills. And who better to learn from than the experts? Four college students enrolled in film and journalism programs across the U.S. will present their projects to a panel of industry professionals. Judith Helfand, independent filmmaker and co-founder of Chicken & Egg Pictures, will moderate and provide pitch training.