Maya Deren Painting

My discovery of Maya Deren coincides with the years 2005-2006. I was in my last year at Anadolu University, and I was interested in pursuing a post graduate degree in cinematography due to my interest in women directors. When I researched, with the most established and strong academic staff in Europe I came across the FAMU Film School in Prague, Czechia. After six months of portfolio preparation, I applied for a master's degree. I was accepted to the school with a “Maya Deren” scholarship and so my fascination began. ------------------------------- Maya Deren: Born on April 29, 1917 in Kiev, Eleanora Derenkowsky she moved to America with her mother, Italian actress Eleonora Duse, and became an American citizenship changing her name to Maya Deren. She was a film director, film theorist and founder of avant-garde cinema, while at the same time she was also a choreographer, dance artist, poet, writer and photographer. Maya Deren was a pioneer in modern experimental cinema in the USA and thus contributed to the strongest period of American experimental cinema. Her life was tragically cut short by malnutrition caused by financial difficulties which ultimately triggered a brain haemorrhage and death in 1961 when she was only 44 years old.