About the Filmmaker

Tanya Chuturkova

Originally from Sofia, Bulgaria, and now based in New York, Tanya Chuturkova is a director and creative producer with film and television credits. She wrote, produced and directed six short films before embarking on Chocolate Road, her debut feature documentary.

Additionally, she has a background as an editor with credits on numerous award-winning variety TV programs, reality series and commercials. Her work has won five Communicator Awards, one DV Award and four Telly Awards. Tanya holds a BA in Audiovisual Communications from the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain, and an MFA in Filmmaking from New York Film Academy, Los Angeles.

FILMMAKER STATEMENT

“For me, Chocolate Road is above all about people. The people who farm the cacao, the people who bring science and technology to improve production, the people who collect and distribute it, the people who create chocolate from it, the people who sell it and the people who taste it. It is all about the human connection within the chocolate production chain.

“I felt that it’s important to trace chocolate back to its root, because knowing the history of something makes you appreciate it more. Fine chocolate is a luxury product, but behind it hides the reality of the hardship that sustains the chocolate industry. The first and most important part of the production chain starts with the farmers growing the trees. These farmers live in constant uncertainty. Climate change, pests and diseases, a volatile market in a world moving towards urbanization, where future generations stray away from family traditions and prefer a comfortable city life—these are all obstacles in the way of the farmers to achieve a better life. In the film we meet the farmers face to face, the distance between us is shortened, their voices are heard; we have put a face and a name to the unsung heroes of the industry.

“Chocolate has the power of bringing people from different cultures and backgrounds together. With Chocolate Road, I want to show that there is more to chocolate than just great flavor, and that it’s possible to make the world a better place, one cacao pod at a time.”

—Tanya Chuturkova