site.btaTwo New Bulgarian Films to Premiere at Sofia Film Fest

The “Good Driver” by Tonislav Hristov and “The Art of Falling” by Orlin Milchev will premiere at the Sofia International Film Festival  (SFF), Art Fest said. SFF is the biggest competitive film festival in Bulgaria, accredited by FIAPF. The festival presents the best of the world contemporary cinema, including works of masters, discoveries and retrospectives.

The two new Bulgarian films have been entered in the international competitions for feature films. Traditionally it includes 12 films from all over the world, which will be assessed by an international jury. 

The feature film debut of Tonislav Hristov "The Good Driver" recreates part of the tribulations of taxi driver Ivan, who is trying to right the wrongs of the past - saving money at the Golden Sands resort in order to go back to Finland to meet his wife and son. The problems multiply and  if he even gets to another side of Europe, is it possible to fix what has once been broken?

The main roles are entrusted to Malin Krastev, Gerasim Georgiev-Gero, Slava Doycheva, Alma Pöysti (we recently saw her in "Tove"), Amos Brotherus and others.  One of the producers of the film - Kaarle Aho, Konstantin Bojanov ("Ave", "Light Thereafter") and the director Tonislav Hristov worked on the script of the co-production between Finland, Sweden and Bulgaria, presented at Sofia Meetings; the cinematographer is Orlin Ruevski.

The feature film debut of the director Orlin Milchev “The Art of Falling" follows the evolution of the reserved but sensitive 17-year-old Bori, who lives alone with her caring grandfather and her artistic but alcoholic mother. The film was presented in the official U18 Youth Film competition at the 32 Cottbus IFF and in the Cinema of the World selection at the 21 Dhaka IFF, as well as at the 40 Golden Rose Bulgarian Feature Film Festival it received the prize for Best feature-length cinema debut.

“The Art of Falling" was written by Neda Filcheva and Marin Damianov, the cinematographer is the master Emil Christov, and the cast includes Elena Zamyarkova, Aleksandra Sarchadjieva, Ivaylo Hristov, Ivan Barnev, Valery Yordanov.

The fourth feature film by Zornitsa Sophia, who traditionally takes on the roles of screenwriter, director and producer of her films, "Mother", a co-production between Bulgaria, Germany and Croatia, was awarded four prizes at the 40 Golden Rose Bulgarian Feature Film Festival in Varna.

The 27th SFF will be held March 16-26, 2023 (main programme) with an additional programme until the beginning of April.

The programme includes the following sections: International Competition for First or Second Feature Films; Balkan Competition; International Documentary Competition; Bulgarian Short Films Competition; Cinema Today – Masters; Kaleidoscope; Special Screenings; New Bulgarian Cinema; Documentary Programme – out of competition; VR Screenings (by invitations only); Tributes and Retrospectives; Cinema Gourmet; Cinema and Fashion; SFF Nature; SFF Teen; SFF for Kids; SFF for Blind People.