36. Golden Rose Festival of Bulgarian film | Official Awards
Ága and Dimo’s Forest scooped Golden Roses
The two international juries gave the awards at Golden Rose Bulgarian Feature Film Festival 2018, Varna
At the Closing Gala in Hall 1 of the Festival & Congress Centre awards were presented as follows:
The Short Film International Jury:
President: Alek Popov (Bulgaria),
and Jury members:
Andronika Martonova (Bulgaria),
Raya Peeva (Bulgaria),
Pavle Vučković (Serbia),
Watching the full competition programme of short films and holding the due debates, decided to bestow as follows:
Golden Rose Award for Best Short Film to Dimo’s Forest, 2018, 28’, dir. Hristo Simeonov, production: Trivium Films
For the entire artistic vision, significance of the subject matter and organic actorly presence. A nuanced building of the dramatic character of the protagonist, a hero beyond the black and white clichés. The film convincingly represents the compromise of surviving leading to an inevitable failure, but then again the end provides a silver lining to it, hoping against hope to find a way out and salvation trough the power of
human. A good point in the interpretation of the subject is in that it avoids didacticism, proficiently striking the right balance
between the stark realism and the discreet poetry of the environment.
The Jury gave two Special Mentions for Concrete Achievements to:
- 1). Whole, 2018, 21’, dir. Slava Doytcheva, production: Ralitza Petrova
For the ingenious viewpoint on the problem of attraction beyond stereotypes. The film poses a challenge to the hypocrisy and kitsch of the philistine environment. An elegant act of rebellion against parvenu self-complacency.
- 2). The Bridge Within, 2018, 39’, dir. Yavor Vesselinov, production: Gala Film
- For masterly cinematographic work in presenting a foreign environment and building complicated psychological conditions.
- A Special Jury Mention (certificate) went to
- Diagnosis, 2018, 28’, directorial debut of Kamen Kolarov, production: Concept Studio
For good casting and brilliant screen presence of Meglena Karalambova and Slava Racheva.
The Feature and TV Film International Jury:
President: Diana Dobreva
and Jury members:
Wojciech Todorow,
Ilian Djevelekov,
Rudi Teichmann
Heleen Gerritsen,
Bestowed as follows:
Golden Rose Award for Best Feature Film to
Ága, dir. Milko Lazarov; screenwriters: Milko Lazarov, Simeon Ventsislavov; cinematography: Kaloyan Bozhilov; production: Red Carpet – Veselka Kiryakova
For the philosophical view of the relationship between humans and nature told in a minimalist way and with stunning visuals.
The winner receives also Danny Lerner Award (€50,000 in services and €5,000 in cash) provided by Nu Boyana Film Studios.
The Jury gave a Special Award to Heights, dir. Victor Bojinov; screenwriters: Nelly Dimitrova, Victor Bojinov, Milen Ruskov; production: Serpentine Ltd – Ivan Doykov, Victor Bojinov
Special Award on behalf of Varna Municipality went to Away From the Shore director and producer Kostadin Bonev, Script: Nicola Petkov, Evgeny Kuzmanov, Kostadin Bonev, Cinematography: Konstantin Zankov, Orlin Ruevski
Special Award for a TV film to 8’16, screenwriters: Georgi Gospodinov, Peter Valchanov, Lubomir Mladenov, Theodor Ushev, Nadejda Koseva, Vladimir Ljuckanov, Kristina
Grozeva; dirs. Peter Valchanov, Lubomir Mladenov, Theodor Ushev, Nadejda Koseva, Vladimir Ljuckanov, Kristina Grozeva; production: BNT.
Best Director Award went to Milko Lazarov for Ága
Best Screenplay was not awarded.
Best Cinematographer Award went to Kaloyan Bozhilov for Ága.
Best Actress Award went to:
Martina Apostolova for her role in Irina
Eglė Mikulionytė for her role in Miracle.
Best Actor Award went to:
Aleksander Aleksiev for his role in Heights.
Best Supporting Actress Award went to:
Angelina Slavova for her role in Living Chimneys.
Best Supporting Actor Award went to:
Dimitar Kotzev – Shosho for his role in Living Chimneys.
Best Feature Film Debut went to:
Irina, dir. Nadejda Koseva.
The Jury gave two Special Mentions for Concrete Achievements to:
Vesselin Mitev for original music (Living Chimneys)
Maria Veselinova for an ingenious idea of a children’s film (Smart Christmas).
This year the Golden Rose award for lifetime achievement went to GEORGI DJULGEROV.
Filmauthor Award for an inventive approach went to:
Miracle, dir. Eglė Vertelite.
At the 36th edition of Golden Rose Festival of Bulgarian Feature Film, awards were also given as follows:
The Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers Award to Irina, dir. Nadejda Koseva.
The Critics Guild Award (UBF) to feature film Ága, dir. Milko Lazarov and the short Dimo’s Forest, dir. Hristo Simeonov.
The People’s Choice Award went to Smart Christmas, dir. Maria Veselinova.
Accredited Journalists’ Award went to Ága, dir. Milko Lazarov.
