site.btaStara Zagora Hosts Bulgaria’s Cinema and Psychotherapy Festival

Stara Zagora is hosting for the first time Bulgaria’s international festival combining cinema and psychotherapy as an innovative approach to personal and social development, the local administration said Friday. The forum is organized by Rumen Rachev, Chair of Cinema Psychology at the Bulgarian Psychological Society.

Starting on Friday, the two-day event will present authors, lecturers and specialists from various countries, offering new perspectives on the potential of art and technology in support of mental health.

The festival is intended for professionals such as psychologists, educators, social workers, special education teachers, and art therapists, and anyone working with children, adolescents, or adults. It gives participants the chance to explore and experience firsthand the benefits of modern, innovative methods that are increasingly used in therapy and education.

A central part of the programme is cinematherapy, an innovative approach that uses films to support emotional release, self-awareness and personal growth. The festival features carefully selected films designed to connect with participants’ experiences and emotions. This method helps people recognize and understand their feelings, encourages reflection, and offers new ways to cope with life’s challenges, the organizers said.

The festival also includes training on using technology, digital platforms and mobile devices in a healthy and constructive way for therapy and personal development. Other topics address ethics, values, and morality in the education of children and young people in today’s digital world.

Stara Zagora Municipality is a partner of the festival, supporting the initiative as part of its ongoing efforts to promote mental health, education and social innovation.