site.btaBulgarian Culture Has Achieved Great Progress Thanks to Creative Freedom, Former President Petar Stoyanov Says

Bulgarian cinema has achieved significant success over the past decade, disproving claims that the country's culture has been in decline, former President Petar Stoyanov (1997-2002) told reporters in the seaside town of Sveti Vlas ahead of the closing ceremony of the Sveti Vlas Film Fest.

Stoyanov stressed the importance of supporting cultural events outside the capital, arguing that Bulgaria's cultural life remains overly concentrated in Sofia. He said festivals held elsewhere in the country deserve greater recognition and institutional backing.

He added that he feels a personal connection to the festival, having witnessed its launch five years ago, and said he was pleased to see how it has grown and established itself over time.

Asked about the development of Bulgarian cinema over the past decade, Stoyanov described it as an enduring pillar of the country's cultural identity. He said the industry's achievements in recent years directly challenge the often-repeated assertion that Bulgarian culture has failed to develop during difficult times.

According to Stoyanov, the positive trend extends beyond cinema to literature and the arts more broadly. He attributed the progress of Bulgarian culture to the creative freedom enjoyed by artists, saying that freedom is the essential condition for cultural development and artistic achievement.