Ministry of Culture DIRECTOR 7-year-old Petyo is looking Petrinel Gochev forward to growing up, count- SCREENPLAY ing the days to the start of the Gergana Zmiicharova, Petrinel Gochev school year, when on a sunny CAST morning his mother lies to Mihail Mutafov, him that his father has gone Alen Angelov, abroad. Petyo is sent to his Hristyan Manolov grandfather’s village for a “va- PRODUCERS cation by force”. There, Petyo Galina Toneva, Kiril Kirilov discovers friendship in the PRODUCTION COMPANY Gala Film person of 6-year-old Philip and the two of them face the Gang and the truth. WORKS IN PROGRESS – FEATURE FILMS FEATURE – PROGRESS IN WORKS A BULGARIAN SHIP IS SINKING... , 2021, 100 min

DIRECTOR After finishing university, Hel- George Ovashvili en comes back to her home- SCREENPLAY land from New York. The life George Ovashvili, was following its own route Roelof Jan Minneboo CAST in her absence. Helen tries Natia Chikviladze, not only to find her place - but Dimitri Khvtisiashvili, also to find herself and find Darejan Kharshiladze, the keys that fit the locks of Lia kapanadze, the main existential questions Ana Makharadze of life. Her encounter with film PRODUCER director Gabo is the start of an George Ovashvili PRODUCTION COMPANY adventure that takes us into Wagonnet Films the minds and souls of a man and a woman. BEAUTIFUL HELEN Georgia, 2020, 100 min

DIRECTOR When you are seventeen, you Valery Iordanov think you know everything; SCREENPLAY only later you realize, you Valery Iordanov didn’t and you didn’t want CAST Zahari Baharov, to know. What happens to Vladislav Stoimenov, a boy of seventeen who has Vasil Iliev, two great talents – writing Eleonora Ivanova, and fist-fighting – and has to Serafim Todorv, make his choice as to which of Meglena Karalambova, them should prevail in his life Doroteya Toleva and help him save the life of PRODUCER Borislav Chouchkov his closest friend? PRODUCTION COMPANY The Chouchkov Brothers

NO CHANCE FOR STRAY DOG (CALL ME SHAKESPEARE) Bulgaria, 2020, 110 min

DIRECTOR Svetla is a widow who has re- Ivaylo Hristov cently lost her job as a teacher SCREENPLAY because of school closure. Ivaylo Hristov CAST The village in which she lives Svetlana Yancheva, is close to the border of Bul- Michael Fleming, garia with Turkey and refu- Ivan Savov, Stoyan Bochev, Krasimir Dokov, gees often appear nearby, try- Miroslava Gogovska ing to reach Germany. One PRODUCER day, while hunting in a forest, Assen Vladimrov Svetla comes across a migrant PRODUCTION COMPANY from Africa. This brings about Profilm a dramatic turn in her life. She is forced to rebel against the people she has lived with as they urge the black refugee to FEAR leave the village immediately. Bulgaria-France, 2020, 102 min

17th MEETINGS WORKS IN PROGRESS 2 DIRECTOR The film traces the life of a Kamen Kalev man - when he is eight, eight- SCREENPLAY een, and eighty-two years old. Kamen Kalev In his home village and out- CAST Ivan Nalbantov side of it, out in the heat and PRODUCER in the snow. Life seems prede- Filip Todorov, termined and monotonous, Kamen Kalev, but in spite of its apparent Celine Chapdaniel, meaninglessness, an invis- Diane Jassem ible force always seems to be PRODUCTION COMPANY there, inhabiting us and mys- Waterfront Film, Koro Films teriously pulling us forward, towards the death. WORKS IN PROGRESS – FEATURE FILMS FEATURE – PROGRESS IN WORKS FEBRUARY Bulgaria-France, 2020, 125 min

DIRECTOR Camping by the sea. Ivo, the Dragomir Sholev concessioner of the beach, re- SCREENPLAY fuses to bury the corpse of yet Dragomir Sholev, another dead dolphin that the Emanuela Dimitrova, Georgi Merdzhanov sea has brought, beause it has CAST holes, as if from bullets. All in- Deyan Donkov, habitants of the camping get Suzy Radichkova involved, in one way or anoth- PRODUCERS er, in the war that breaks out Rossitsa Valkanova, with the institutions, which Ada Solomon can’t or don’t want to handle PRODUCTION COMPANIES KLAS Film, Hi Film the case. Ivo has to bury the Productions dolphin in the end.

FISHBONE Bulgaria/Romania, 2020, 111 min

DIRECTOR Nicola, a former sinner is leav- Pavel G. Vesnakov ing his homeland, but the SCREENPLAY separation with his family Pavel G. Vesnakov forces him to ask questions CAST Julian Vergov, Vasil Banov, about his lost identity. Can he Elena Telbis, Gerasim cut off his roots or the connec- Georgiev-Gero, Stefka tion is unbreakable. Yanorova PRODUCERS Monica Balcheva, Orlin Ruevski, Sebastian Weyland PRODUCTION COMPANY Moviemento, Heimathafen Film & Media PRODUCTION COMPANY Moviemento GERMAN LESSONS Bulgaria-Germany, 2020, 100 min

DIRECTOR Johnny helps Cranky escape Konstantin Burov from prison but after that he SCREENPLAY haunts him forever. Cranky Marin Damianov falls in love with Niya but CAST Deyan Georgiev, Johnny hates love. To get rid Georgi Kermenski, of Johnny, you have to either Hristiana Stoimenova, die or kill him. Todor Tanchev, Petia Silianova PRODUCER Dobromir Chochov PRODUCTION COMPANY Doli Media Studio with the support of Bulgarian National Film Center GOOD-BYE, JOHNNY Bulgaria, 2020, 115 min

17th SOFIA MEETINGS WORKS IN PROGRESS 3 DIRECTOR Vassil (41) is a documen- Svetoslav Draganov tary film director, who has SCREENPLAY not achieved the success he Svetoslav Draganov, dreams of. He puts all his en- Bogomil Dimitrov ergy filming the broken rela- and Nevena Borisova tionship between a monk and CAST his mother. Meanwhile Vassil’s Hristo Petkov, Atanas Bachorski, wife and their 14-year-old Detelin Benchev, Miroslava daughter take second place in Gogovska, Yana Draganova his life. The director learns that PRODUCER the monk is in psychiatry, while Svetoslav Draganov and his mother has to undergo a Katya Trichkova (Bulgaria), cancer surgery. To bring them Calin Peter Netzer together to forgive each other and Oana Iancu (Romania) is Vassil’s long awaited finale for PRODUCTION COMPANIES WORKS IN PROGRESS – FEATURE FILMS FEATURE – PROGRESS IN WORKS his film. He faces a dilemma - to Cineaste Maudit Production shot “life as it is” or to show hu- (Bulgaria), Parada film HUMBLE man compassion and empathy. (Romania) Bulgaria, Romania, 2020, 112 min

DIRECTOR This is a story of two sixteen- Alexander Hant year-old Romeo and Juliet Al- SCREENPLAY exandra Makarova and Danila Vladislav Malakhov, Krasnov who are fighting for Alexander Hant CAST their love and their right to be Evgenia Vinogradova, themselves. Igor Ivanov PRODUCER In order to be together, they Maxim Dobromyslov must escape from their homes, PRODUCTION COMPANY go into hiding and lead a dou- IP Maxim Dobromyslov ble life. Trying to protect their freedom of choice and their individuality, they cross the line and turn into Bonnie and Clyde on the run trying to avenge the world that has no IN LIMBO room for them. Russia, 2020, 110 min

DIRECTOR Boris Robič is, as we say, an Darko Sinko ordinary man. But one night, WRITER he is brutally attacked and it is Darko Sinko not quite clear by whom. The CAST Radoš Bolčina, investigation shows he has no Dejan Spasić, enemies – Boris seems to be a Mirel Knez highly unlikely murder target. PRODUCERS When the police suspend the Vlado Bulajić, investigation, Boris begins Lija Pogačnik investigating himself. In his PRODUCTION COMPANY search for the potential cul- December prits unfolds a tragicomedy of a man that discovers he can- not trust anyone, not even the people closest to him. INVENTORY Slovenia, 2020, 95 min

DIRECTOR Waiting for Godot meets The Andrey M Paounov Shining in this story of two SCREENPLAY men and a bird, trapped in a Alex Barrett snowstorm in the middle of and Andrey M Paounov CAST nowhere, who try to solve a Samuel Finzi, mystery, while is slowly de- Iossif Sarchadzhiev, vours them. Zachary Baharov, Leonid Yovchev Inspired by the eponymous PRODUCER play by Yordan Radichkov, Vanya Rainova and reinterpreted for world PRODUCTION COMPANY Portokal audiences by Andrey Paou- nov, it is a bold fiction debut of a director who has made a name by exploring the exis- tential absurdities of the post- JANUARY socialist state in the language Bulgaria-Portugal-Luxembourg, 2020, 107 min of cinema.

17th SOFIA MEETINGS WORKS IN PROGRESS 4 DIRECTOR A decrepit old man living in Dimitar Kutmanov an abandoned village in the SCREENPLAY mountain is forced to abandon Dimitar Kutmanov his solitary life. The world that CAST Mihail Iliykov, he enters opens up to him Rumen Traykov, in a vision of human cruelty, Mariana Krumova, pain and compassion. Brought Martina Apostolova, to the limits of physical and Simeon Aleksiev moral resistance, the old man PRODUCER is about to lose the last thing Poli Angelova that he is left with – his human PRODUCTION COMPANY Screening Emotions dignity. LAMENT FOR THE SILENT FOOL Bulgaria, 2020, 73 min WORKS IN PROGRESS – FEATURE FILMS FEATURE – PROGRESS IN WORKS DIRECTOR A girl is to be saved from Ivaylo Penchev suicide by the power of love SCREENPLAY but the whole process will Bozhan Petrov, be accompanied by a series Ivaylo Penchev, of comical events. When the Vesel Tsankov tabloids fabricate a false sen- CAST sational news that a 70-year Vasil Banov, Maria Bakalova, Filip Avramov, Malin Krastev, old writer is about to marry a Anton Radichev, 23-year old girl. There’s no way Yana Marinova, that a priest appear with his Stefan Denolubov, “re-educated” Sunday-school Gerasim Georgiev-Gero mates from prison, a former PRODUCER naval captain in the company Stoyan Stoyanov of crazy elders and hostile sis- PRODUCTION COMPANY LAST CALL ters keen for inheritance. Urban Media Bulgaria, 2020, 115min DIRECTOR Ducu is a a 45-year-old Roma- Valentin Hotea nian writer facing a midlife cri- SCREENPLAY sis. He leaves Bucharest to be Ileana Muntean, part of a creative residence in Valentin Hotea Berlin and to rebuild his life. He CAST swings between two countries Mimi Branescu, and two women: Andra, his Ioana Flora, hot-tempered wife, who wants Ana Covalciuc PRODUCER a divorce, and Giulia, Ducu’s Ada Solomon, love from his youth, who lives Diana Paroiu in an eco-village in Germany PRODUCTION COMPANY – Lebensdorf. Looking for an Hi Film Productions answer, he goes through a se- ries of strange, funny and even LEBENSDORF eye-opening events. Romania, 2020, 97 min DIRECTOR Anna spends more time in Andrei Kureichik the basement of her coun- SCREENPLAY try house than in the living- Andrei Kureichik, Dmitry rooms. Who does she keep Marinin locked up? The investigator CAST Svetlana Anikei, Leon is ready to risk his life to Jean Marc Birkholz unravel this mystery. PRODUCER Valeria Lediaeva PRODUCTION COMPANY Bezbuslou Arts LIBERTE Belarus, 2020, 100 min DIRECTOR Once left without his broken Vardan Tozija and paranoid father, eight SCREENPLAY years old Marko leaves the Vardan Tozija, Magical Forest for the first time Darijan Pejovski and embarks on a quest for CAST Matej Sivakov, answers in a dangerous dysto- Aleksandar Ničovski, pian world of our near future. Sasko Kocev, Toni Mihajlovski, Kamka Tocinovska, Bojana Gregorić Vejzović PRODUCER Darko Popov PRODUCTION COMPANY M Focus Pocus Films NorthNorth Macedonia,Macedonia, 2020,2020, 100100 minmin

17th SOFIA MEETINGS WORKS IN PROGRESS 5 DIRECTOR Kamil lives with his mom and Aleksandra Terpińska teenage sister. Having no per- SCREENPLAY spectives, does casual jobs. Aleksandra Terpińska He is overwhelmed by the CAST grey reality of the anonymous Jacek Beler, Sonia housing estate, the repeat- Bohosiewicz, ing rhythm of everyday life. Sebastian Fabijański PRODUCER Iwona, in her early 40ies, can- Klaudia Śmieja- not cope with her marriage in Rostworowska, which she feels invisible. Her Beata Rzeźniczek world seems perfect, but it PRODUCTION COMPANY hides a dark truth about loneli- Madants ness and dullness. The two start a romance desperatly seeking OTHER PEOPLE for any sence in their existance. Poland, 2020, 110 min WORKS IN PROGRESS – FEATURE FILMS FEATURE – PROGRESS IN WORKS DIRECTOR Two friends from a small vil- Dominik Mencej lage decide to transform their SCREENPLAY mopeds into choppers and em- Boris Grgurović, Dominik bark on a journey. Looking for Mencej freedom and love, they travel CAST through dreams of the past and Timon Šturbej, Petja visions of the future. But with Labović, Anja Novak, Nikola Kojo the sudden death of a com- PRODUCER panion friendship is at stake Miha Černec and pain is unbearable without PRODUCTION COMPANY someone to blame. Their road Staragara trip is not what they expected and to break free they must en- dure a quest for identity which RIDERS irrevocably changes their lives. Slovenia, 2020, 105 min DIRECTOR The story is about a six-year- Nicolae Gaburici old girl who lives with her ill SCREENPLAY mother. When her mother Nicolae Gaburici dies, the villagers feel respon- CAST Villagers of Loganesti sible for the little girl and won- PRODUCER der who is going to adopt her. Nicolae Gaburici and Alex This film explores the way a Burlac child perceives loneliness and PRODUCTION COMPANY death (of a parent). Wonder Film Production

SCENE LOGANESTENE Republic of Moldova-Romania, 2020, 75 min DIRECTOR Jana and Maya are inseparable Dina Duma friends. Jana, the stronger one, SCREENPLAY takes the lead while Maya always Dina Duma, Martin Ivanov follows. One night Maya witness- CAST es her best friend pushing an- Antonija Belazelkoska, other girl over a cliff by accident. Mia Giraud Maya wants to call the police but PRODUCER Jana doesn’t let her. Their friend- Marija Dimitrova ship becomes strained and turns PRODUCTION COMPANY List Production into the most toxic experience for Maya who now must find a way to escape this destructive relationship and work out what SISTER to do about the secret. North Macedonia, 2020, 90 min DIRECTOR A young single mother of an Natalija Avramovic 8-year-old boy, director work- SCREENPLAY ing in Filmske Novosti, is trying Natalija Avramovic, to get her life back on track and Ljubinka Stojanovic provide a happy childhood for CAST Mihaela Stamenkovic, her son, following her divorce Ivan Djordjevic Dzudi, Danica and death of her father. At the Maksimovic, same time, she is renovating Svetozar Cvetkovic, her apartment and working Radovan Vujovic, on a documentary film. Ana Mandic, Milan Kolak, Djordje Djokovic, Rada Djuricin SONG OF SPRING is a based PRODUCER on real-life events portrait of Natalija Avramovic, a woman, trying to break free Nada Savic SPRING SONG and live her life despite every- PRODUCTION COMPANY , 2020, 76 min one, in search for true love. Nacija, Besne slike

17th SOFIA MEETINGS WORKS IN PROGRESS 6 DIRECTOR Bulgarian ‚seagull‘ Ivan, 58, Tonislav Hristov used to chase wealthy foreign SCREENPLAY ladies at Sunny Beach resort. Tonislav Hristov & He has seen Soviets coming Kaarle Aho PRODUCER and leaving, Westerners Kaarle Aho flooding in and leaving again. PRODUCTION COMPANY Now, with his EU-passport, the Making Movies hunter has become the bait.

THE LAST OF THE SEAGULLS Finland-Bulgaria, 2021, 85min DIRECTOR The film is a documentary Peter Marchev recounting the stories of the

WORKS IN PROGRESS – DOCUMENTARY FILMS DOCUMENTARY – PROGRESS IN WORKS SCREENPLAY last surviving who Peter Marchev witnessed Stalin’s Holodomors, PRODUCER the deliberately engineered Peter Marchev famines between 1932-1934, PRODUCTION COMPANY and 1946-1947, in which over Santa Maria Media 7 million people perished. 100,000 of these were Bulgar- ians living in Ukraine and Mol- dova. To date, Bulgaria has not accused the genocide and bru- tal atrocities of Stalin’s Com- munist dictatorship. The fear of UNFORGETTABLE the Big Brother is still alive. Bulgaria, 2016, 50 min DIRECTOR On Easter day, when her girl- Slava Doytcheva friend picks family over her, SCREENPLAY Nevena sets on a journey to Slava Doytcheva meet her own estranged fa- CAST Stela Stoynova, ther. Ivan Doytchev PRODUCER Rossitsa Valkanova PRODUCTION COMPANY Klas Film WORKS IN PROGRESS – SHORT – PROGRESS IN WORKS EGGSHELLS Bulgaria, 2020, 15 min DIRECTOR Caught between tradition, Mihai Gavril Dragolea modernity and mounting SCREENPLAY money problems, a young Mihai Gavril Dragolea Roma family embarks on an CAST epic survival journey that will Kalo, Amalia, Riana PRODUCER take them through Europe Mihai Gavril Dragolea, and test their unity, strength Ioana Lascăr and way of life. PRODUCTION COMPANY Vagabond Film, Defilm

EVERYTHING FOR RIANA Romania, 2019, 27 min DIRECTOR The generations today in the Stephan Ganoff distant villages of Bulgaria SCREENPLAY - can they be cut together? Stephan Ganoff The film does this through PRODUCER parallel edits and split screens. Ekaterina Voinova CREATIVE PRODUCER The film creates an actuality Enno Endlicher between memory, reality and PRODUCTION COMPANY self-expression; it is an inten- Prodeka Eood sive documentary narrative that combines modern media formats with cinematic style. GENERATION LOST Bulgaria-Germany, 2020, 29 min

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