Biography
Rouzie Hassanova is a Bulgarian-born film director, writer and producer. She grew up in Kazanluk and later moved to London before settling in New Zealand with her husband. Her early career included roles in post-production, international sales and development at companies such as HanWay Films and the New Zealand Film Commission.
Hassanova’s debut feature Radiogram (2017), a Bulgarian–Polish–Turkish co-production based on family stories from communist-era Bulgaria, premiered at festivals including the Sofia International Film Festival, where it won the Audience Award, and the Golden Rose Bulgarian Feature Film Festival, where it received the Best Debut Award. She has also directed award-winning short films including Tree Without A Root and The Border.
She is a producer on the New Zealand gothic horror Mārama (2025), directed by Taratoa Stappard. Hassanova has participated in development programmes such as Script to Screen and co-directed the web series Ahi Wānanga.
