There is a record number of Bulgarian films included in the 20th anniversary edition of the Sofia Film Festival. This is the biggest film festival in this country, taking place in the capital city, dubbed Creative City of Film by UNESCO. The Sofia International Film Festival is part of the list of strategic cultural events, says Malina Edreva, chair of the Education, Culture, and Science Committee in the Sofia Municipality. According to her, the role of local authorities was to provide conditions for people to create art. The festival is supported by the Sofia Municipality and the Ministry of Culture through the National Film Center. The Centre also supports the Sofia Meetings project, which will bring together a number of representatives of film markets, sales companies, film funds, TV buyers and film makers. Here is what National Film Center head Kamen Balkanski told the festival’s team.

“If the Sofia Film Festival had not existed, people would not have seen so many Bulgarian films supported by the NFC. This year the program of the festival includes 26 films that received state support. 11 out of them are feature films; there are 9 documentaries and 6 co-productions. This is a big number and it shows how the state supports the Bulgarian cinema through NFC. I wish happy 20th anniversary to the Sofia International Film Festival, which this year offers a very rich program to its guests, thus making the event even more exceptional. I wish success to the organizers and I am sure the cinema halls will be full of people. It is a true festive event when you see the joy and excitement of people, caused by the films they see.”

The festival starts on March 1 and will continue until the end of the month. On the first day of March, people shall see the premiere of “Prez Sulzi” by Stanimir Trifonov, telling about the consequences of the Armenian Genocide. The official opening of the film marathon will be given on March 10 in Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture with a film by director Iglika Trifonova entitled “The Prosecutor the Defender the Father and His Son.” Famous director of Bulgarian origin Ted Kotcheff who has been living overseas will receive the Prize of Sofia. A day later renowned film trio: Georgi Stoev - Jackie, Georgi Penkov - Johnny and Hristo Iliev – Charlie will also receive the same prize. They would present their latest film "Good Morning, Captain."

The selection of films in the recently-created "New Bulgarian Cinema" category is also uge. Here's what director Stefan Kitanov told us:

"A total of 13 Bulgarian full-length feature films produced after the end of the previous edition of the festival will be presented. Three of them will have their premieres during the festival, and four films will take part in international competitions. 16 Bulgarian documentaries will be shown for the first time in Sofia and eight of them will have their world premieres. Other 8 co-productions will have their premieres at the festival. If we add the movies from the ‘Jameson’ short film competition, as well as the finished and unfinished works that will be shown in closed screenings, we have about 55 Bulgarian films. I do not know whether we would be able to repeat this feat but now we should enjoy it.”

English: Alexander Markov