2001

It is not only a musical documentary about singer Yuldiz Ibrahimova, though music is everywhere to be found: jammed versions of Gypsy songs, of Bulgarian and Turkish folksongs in the brilliant, profound, warm, grievous but optimistic interpretation by concert performer Yuldiz. She gathers full houses both in Turkey and France, as well as in Bulgaria. Yuldiz suffered the humiliation and anguish of the gross assimilation – her own and of her family, and of the entire minority community she belongs to. The dramatic destiny of the Balkans is focused in her: violence against minorities, two neighboring countries distrusting each other, the hard destiny of a gifted woman trying to make a career, and eventually – music bridging people and countries in the name of peace and love.

Kardzhali, the summer of 2001. No election campaigns. No shocking news. Several personal stories of women between 15 and 83. From different ethnic groups and religions, sometimes in unusual combinations. They have different – or perhaps the same – dreams. In that region of diminishing population life carries on its silent battle.

A documentary about the great love of Japanese journalist Yoshinori Maeda and Bulgarian girl Anastasia Makrelova-Maeda. They were brought together during the hard times of the WWII in Plovdiv. Against the background of the stormy events in Bulgaria’s and Japan’s history in the 20th c., the film reveals the major role the Maedas played in developing the Bulgarian-Japanese relations. Few years after their marriage Yoshinori Maeda became President of NHK.

A film about Alexandar Vutimski – one of the most confessional and tragic Bulgarian poets, who passed away at the age of 24. He, who foreboded his forthcoming end, and captured with the perspicacity of a clairvoyant the spirit of the totalitarian times that came to reign only a year after his death, aristocratic to the marrow of his bones, he flashed thunder-like but is never to be forgotten.

A “science” film about the “flora” and “fauna” as well as the life down the river valley of Perlovetz – the river symbolic of Sofia. A grotesque metaphor of the “river of life”.

This is a cinematographic tale of the days, nights and the years in a Convent. It is a documentary of the other point of view, the other life, the one we haven’t chosen but we can see our sinful and divine existence in this world reflected. It is an attempt to go deeper into human psychology and community laws, looking for a metaphoric resemblance to the model of our ailing society. A film about guilt and redemption, about the choices we make and the meaning of existence. A cinematographic essay on the philosophy of devotion and the healing power of faith.