site.btaSpanish-Bulgarian Co-production "Vasil" Starring Bulgarian Actor Ivan Barnev to Premiere Jan. 27

Spanish-Bulgarian comedy Vasil starring Bulgarian actor Ivan Barnev in a lead role, will premiere on January 27, 2023. Avelina Prat's film also stars Susi Sanchez, Alexandra Jimenez, and Karra Elejalde, Alexandra Films said.

Vasil focuses on friendship, warmth, and the unusual way we find the path to each other. The film was inspired by real events where the director one day learned her eccentric father was housing a Bulgarian migrant without documents in his home. That stirred trouble in the family as no one had heard of Bulgaria before then. 

In the film, Vasil (Ivan Barnev) is a fist-class chess player living in the streets of Valencia. Alfredo (Karra Elejalde) is also passionate about chess so he welcomes Vasil in his home, much to the astonishment of his daughter Luisa (Alexandra Jimenez). Despite their many differences, Alfredo soon realizes that Vasil has forever changed his life.

Barnev and Elejandre received the best actor award at the Valladolid International Film Festival. Vasil then snagged six Berlanga Awards in the categories for best film, best film director, best screenplay, best original music, best sound, and best support role. The Spanish-Bulgarian co-production is nominated in the best comedy and best actor categories of the Feroz Awards, and Avelina Prat is nominated for a Gaudi Award for Best New Director.

Vasil is Prat's debut with producers Miriam Porte from Distinto Films, Barcelona, and Mina Mileva and Vesela Kazakova from Activist38, Sofia. The film was made with the support of the Bulgarian National Film Center.