Rene Karabash (Irena Ivanova) gravitates between the arts of literature, cinema, and theatre. Between the city and the village. Between the others and herself.

She’s awarded with the prestigious prize "Elias Canetti" for her novel "Ostaynitsa" (2019) as well as two nominations for Novel of the Year – of the National Fond "13 Century Bulgaria" and Literature Awards "Peroto". "Zorbas’ Cousin" (2020) is also nominated in two categories for Literature Awards "Peroto" and for the National Award for Poetry "Ivan Nikolov". Rene is the winner of the First Prize for Fiction at the National Literary Competition "Boyan Penev". She is among the most translated Bulgarian contemporary poets and writers.

Karabash is the founder of and a mentor at the Academy of Creative Writing “Rabbit’s Hole”, which brings together some of the best Bulgarian writers, screenwriters and playwrights.
For her role in “GODLESS” (dir. Ralitsa Petrova) Rene receives a number of prestigious cinema awards – Silver Leopard (Locarno), Sarajevo’s Heart (Sarajevo), Aluminium Horse (Stockholm), Golden Rose (Varna), and is nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role by the Bulgarian Cinematic Academy.