Bulgarian-Only Entries Open Sveti Vlas Film Fest

Galya Teneva, Diana Dukovska

Opening of the Sveti Vlas Film Fest, July 6, 2023 (BTA Photo)

Sveti Vlas, on the Black Sea,

07.07.2023 14:48

(BTA)

Director Alexander Kossev's Petya of My Petya opened the Sveti Vlas Film Fest on Thursday. The film ranks second among the 10 most viewed Bulgarian films in 2022 with a viewership of nearly 100,000. Other films in the competition programme include Anna, Speculators, Dante's Heaven, Out of Season, Escape, Shakespeare Like a Street Dog, Jiguli Movie and Yellow Oleander.

The festival's second edition is devoted to Bulgarian films.

The films were selected by Toni Dobrinska, film critic Deyan Statulov, actor Bashar Rahal, producer and director of photography Dimitar Gochev, actress and TV host Diana Lubenova, and journalist and TV host Ivan Garelov.

Actor Marian Valev, producer of the Sveti Vlas Film Fest, said festivals like it are "extremely important for the national spirit, for the people, for our country" because in this year's edition only Bulgarian films will be screened. He said that festivals, the cinema and art bring people together.

The event's organizer, Daniela Nedelcheva representing Dinevi Group, said the festival, which was first organized in 2022, has become a tradition. "The Bulgarian cinema is on the upgrade and deserves our admiration. The film selection is very impressive."

Film director, screenwriter and producer Martin Makariev said this was the first in a long series of proposals to chair a jury that he had accepted.

Nikolay Urumov, producer of Petya of My Petya, stressed that the Bulgarian cinema needs the viewers' support. He said that Petya of My Petya took eight years to make.

President Petar Stoyanov (1997-2002) and BTA Director General Kiril Valchev were special guests at the festival.

The Sveti Vlas Film Fest is organized by Dinevi Group with support from Sveti Vlas Town Hall and Nu Boyana Film Studios. BTA is a media partner of the event.

Nu Boyana Film Studios announced their 15-minute short film script competition, which is part of the Film Forge professional training program. The winner will get equipment and filmmaking services worth EUR 50,000.

The festival is on until July 9.

/LN/