Kalman Szegvary, a Canadian filmmaker, was born in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. His fascination with filmmaking began at a tender age of eight years old when his father gifted him a super-8 camera to shoot family movies in Budapest. This marked the start of his creative journey, which would eventually lead him to become a skilled filmmaker.
As a young boy, Kalman began shooting short stories with his sisters and little brother, honing his skills and experimenting with editing and cutting the stories together. His passion for filmmaking only grew stronger with time, and he continued to produce super-8 sound films in high school. He would often hold screenings of his films during lunch breaks in the library, showcasing his work to his peers.
One of his notable films, a forty-minute action-film titled 'Silver Deep', was used as a portfolio piece for his application to York University. This film demonstrated his capabilities as a filmmaker and helped him secure a spot at the prestigious institution.
During his film school years, Kalman directed a film entitled 'E-Plus', which received critical acclaim at various student film festivals. He also collaborated with Andrew Currie on the short film 'The Strange Story of Jacque Leplante', which won the Famous Players Best Student Film Award of Canada.
Kalman graduated from York University in 1990 with a specialized honors degree in film & video production. He then began his professional career as an assistant director at Mafilm Studios in Budapest, Hungary, where he worked on a West-German Television Series.
Upon his return to Canada, Kalman produced and/or directed several television commercials and music videos, including 'Sooner or Later', a music video for 'The Spoons', for Anthem Records. He also directed the 'Shane Minor: Mr. U.S.A.' workout video and assisted on low-budget creature features shot in New York in the mid-nineties.
Kalman's determination to create his first feature film led him to produce and direct 'Cannibal Rollerbabes', despite facing challenges in securing distribution due to the film's content. The film has since become a cult classic, with shock jock Howard Stern discussing it on his radio show and featuring the star, Lisa Heughan, on his TV show.
With his success in the film industry, Kalman went on to produce the feature thriller 'Solid Cover', starring Canadian model sensation Danielle House. He also produced a TV show entitled 'Wheel Love TV', which showcases his passion for restoring vintage cars and his small collection.
In recent years, Kalman has been involved in various projects, including directing a low-budget horror film, 'Abattoir', written by American James McClung. Kalman continues to pursue his passion for filmmaking, claiming that it is his "bad habit".
