Bulgarian success at Cannes 2017
The 70th anniversary edition of the Cannes International Film Festival is over.
For the first time since many years Bulgaria was represented with a film in The Official Selection of the festival. The world premiere of Directions by Stephan Komandarev took place on the 26th of May at the prestigious Debussy Hall. At the end the audience honored the cast and crew of the film with standing ovation. Stephan Komandarev, Katya Trichkova, Simeon Ventsislavov, the actors Stefan Denolubov, Borislava Stratieva, Dobrin Dosev, Ivan Barnev, Irini Zhambonas, Dimitar Banenkin, Vesselin Hristov – DOP, Nina Altaparmakova – editor, Kamen Balkanski – executive director of Bulgarian Film Center and Sevda Shishmanova – director of programming of Bulgarian National Television, were present on stage. “I also made that film for my two children and their future in Bulgaria”, Stephan Komandarev said.
Directions has been acclaimed by the French and international critics and is already sold for distribution in 10 countries with France, Italy and China among them. Its Bulgarian premiere will take place at the Golden Rose Festival of Bulgarian Film in Varna (29.09-08.10, 2017).
The coproduction Western by Valeska Grisebach also premiered in Cannes Un Certain Regard. Mr. Angel Cholakov, the Bulgarian ambassador to France and Monaco, Kamen Balkanski – executive director of the Bulgarian Film Center, Victor and Borislav Chouchkov – the Bulgarian co-producers of the film, eight Bulgarian non-professional actors from rural Bulgarian areas, where the film was shot, and Bulgarian producers, journalists and film critics were present at the Official screening.
The Bulgarian stand at the Marché du Film attracted many visitors. Film professionals from all over the world made contacts with their Bulgarian colleagues and were informed about our new films, production companies, co-production options, service and distribution companies and film festivals.
Bulgarian representatives took part in the conference organized by European Audiovisual Observatory, the General Assembly of the European Film Promotion and EFADs roundtable discussion.
