SOFIA: Bulgaria’s National Film Center has decided to cut by nearly half the total funding available to new film projects applying for support in 2016. The main reason for reduced funding for new applicants is the backlog of older, previously approved projects that have announced that they plan to go into production in 2016.
The Bulgarian National Film Center will be present at the forthcoming European Film Market with an official stand in the Martin Gropius Bau. The country’s participation became possible after a decision by the NFC acting director and Head of Creative Europe Desk - Bulgaria Kamen Balkanski to finance the setup of a stand for the second consecutive year. The decision eliminated the possible cancellation of Bulgaria’s presence at the EFM.
SOFIA: Bulgaria’s National Film Center is organising the 12th National Cinema Day on 13 January 2016. A Memorandum will be signed with the National Palace of Culture aimed at turning the Palace’s Lumiere theatre into the country’s first screen for Bulgarian films.
SOFIA: During its December session the Bulgarian National Film Center decided to support the production of six feature films and five shorts. Furthermore, seven projects will receive funding for development. The total amount of the support is 2.557m EUR.
Various events celebrating the 100th anniversary of Bulgarian cinema have marked 2015. They started on the official Day of Bulgarian Cinema, 13 January 2015, and went on throughout the year. The Bulgarian National Bank issued a Silver Commemorative Coin and Bulgarian Post released an exclusive stamp.
SOFIA: The staff of the Bulgarian National Film Archive has joined the protests against the on-going underfunding of the cultural sector, which started on 24 November 2015 in Bulgaria.
SOFIA: The longstanding head of the EU Media Desk in Bulgaria Kamen Balkanski was appointed as acting director of the Bulgarian National Film Center at the beginning of October.
VARNA: Ivaylo Hristov’s feature film Losers took three awards including Best Film at the 33rd Golden Rose Film Festival. The Bulgarian Critics Guild also awarded his ironical black and white “provincial anecdote" and Elena Telbis, the young lead in the film, was named Best Actress.
VARNA: Boris Despodov’s debut feature Twice Upon a Time in the West will screen in the main competition of the 33rd Golden Rose NFF (6-11 October 2015). The film will have its premiere on 7 October 2015, three days before the Varna screening.
VARNA: Award winning documеntary director Gueorgui Balabanov’s feature debut The Petrov File was originally scheduled to compete at the Golden Rose NFF in 2014, but because of technical reasons the screening was cancelled. This year the film will screen in the main competition of the festival which takes place from 6 to 11 October 2015.
