Four films supported by the Bulgarian Film Center selected at Toronto IFF 2017
Directions by Stephan Komandarev and Western by Valeska Grisebach have been selected for the Contemporary World Cinema Programme at the Toronto International Film Festival 2017. The programme offers a variety of filmmakers’ voices and perspectives from around the world, the lineup draws from Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Israel, India, Japan, Mozambique, Spain, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Canada and more. Both Directions and Western premiered in Cannes Official Selection Un certain regard section and have achieved international success.
Directions is the fourth feature film directed by Stephan Komandarev, the script is written by Stephan Komandarev and Simeon Ventzislavov and the cast recently awarded with Special Mention of the Jury at the Sarajevo IFF includes Vassil Vasilev – Zuek, Ivan Barnev, Assen Blatechki, Dobrin Dossev, Gerasim Georgiev, Irini Jambonas and Stefan Denolyubov.
Western is co-produced by Germany, Bulgaria and Austria and was shot almost entirely in Bulgaria with the participation of Bulgarian non-professional actors. The Bulgarian co-producer is Chouchkov Brothers.
Tiff’s Discovery Programme includes Ilian Metev’s feature debut ¾ – a touching portrait of a family during their last summer together. ¾ won the Golden Leopard in Filmmakers of the Present competition at the Locarno IFF 2017.
The world premiere of the Bulgarian minority co-production Miracle (Lithuania/Bulgaria/Poland) will also take place in the Discovery Programme of TIFF. In the Lithuanian director’s Egle Vertelyte feature debut, the owner of a struggling post-Soviet pig farm finds a surprising benefactor in a visiting American investor, whose “good” intentions upend the gentle rhythms of small-town life. The Bulgarian co-producer of the film is Geopoly film and behind the camera is the renowned Bulgarian DOP Emil Christov.
This year TIFF’s Discovery Programme includes 45 first and second feature films by up-and-coming filmmakers from around the world.
The Toronto International Film Festival was founded in 1976 and has grown to become one of the most respected film festivals across the globe.
