Kiril Kirkov

I am a visual ethnographer, documentary filmmaker, photographer, and creative media educator. My research and creative practice focus on transnationalism, migrant integration, social identity, and community-based media production, with long-term projects developed both in Europe and the American Southwest. Since 2016, I have led the research initiative New Roots in Vienna, Austria, in collaboration with Ega Frauen im Zentrum, working with migrant and refugee communities through participatory photography, documentary filmmaking, and self-representation practices. Alongside my academic work, I develop creative media curricula centered on photography, mobile filmmaking, and social media communication. My teaching experience includes visual communication theory, documentary cinema, mobile filmmaking, and photojournalism in international higher education environments. I currently serve on the executive committee of Ethnografilm Festival in Paris and am an active member of the International Visual Sociology Association. My collaborative documentary films have been screened in France, Germany, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Austria, and the United States. My photographic work has appeared in international publications, including Arizona Highways magazine, and a permanent public installation at Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. Throughout my international academic and community-based projects, I have served as a liaison between universities, nonprofit organizations, community partners, and diverse stakeholder groups, facilitating collaboration across cultural and institutional contexts. I have also advised and mentored students on academic pathways and career development, supporting their transition into higher education and professional careers. My experience includes designing and delivering online, face-to-face, and hybrid learning environments, with proficiency in digital teaching and collaboration platforms such as Canva and Blackboard Learn. I bring strong advisory and solution-oriented capabilities, including needs assessment, curriculum design, and practical implementation of educational and community engagement initiatives.