The film festival starts with Nikolay Rusakiev’s “On the Other Side”, with the participation of Martin Georgiev and special guests from the film’s team
the team of “Sofia Film Fest” and Veliko Tarnovo municipality invite the residents and guests of the old capital city to the 13th edition of the popular film festival. And this year “SFF Veliko Tarnovo” continues the tradition of presenting the latest works of Bulgarian, European and world film art to the widest possible audience throughout the country and with the aim of cultivating a taste for valuable cinema with selected titles.
the 13th “SFF Veliko Tarnovo” is part of the project of Art Fest “SFF on the road 2024”, realized together with Veliko Tarnovo municipality and with the support of IA “National Film Center”, Vivacom and the pan-European cinema chain Europa Cinemas. The screenings take place over three days – April 26, 27 and 28 (Friday, Saturday and Sunday), in the period 6-10 p.m. on Friday and 4-10 p.m. during the weekend.
Eight films will be presented to the Veliko Tarnovo audience, and according to the decision of the organizers and the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo, admission will be free.
The beginning is in Friday, April 26 at 18:00 with the documentary of Nikolay Rusakiev “ON THE OTHER SIDE“, which premiered in the program of the 28th “Sofia Film Fest”. In the spring of 2023, a journalist from Bulgaria was admitted to the other side of the front in Ukraine. Martin Georgiev was already in Odessa, Nikolaev and Kiev at the beginning of the war. And even then he decided that he should see the other side as well – Russia, Donetsk, and why not Mariupol. Since it is from a NATO member country – declared by Russian President Putin an “enemy state” – its admission there seems impossible. But exactly one year after the beginning of the conflict, the journalist from Bulgaria received a visa and accreditation, after which he spent two weeks on the other side. Thus, Martin turns out to be probably the only person who was at the front on both the Ukrainian and Russian sides, and with military credentials from both belligerents. He was certainly the last foreigner to visit the headquarters of the Private Military Company “Wagner” before Prigogine’s riot and his death. On the other side – is there either propaganda or not? This film tries to fill in the gaps, and in place of the white spots, to paint the pictures of war.
The main character and the director of the film will personally meet the audience in Veliko Tarnovo and will be available for a conversation after the screening!
*We continue on April 26 (Friday) in 20:00 hours with the director’s hit new film Sofia Coppola “PRISCILLA“. With the prestigious Volpi Cup for Best Actress awarded to the exquisite Kaylee Spaney, Coppola’s new film has been capturing the interest of moviegoers since its premiere in the Venice Film Festival program, where it received a Golden Lion nomination. The director creates the script for the biography “Elvis and Me” with the blessing of Priscilla Presley and the book’s co-author Sandra Harmon, with the center of the story being the innocent and charming young girl with whom the legendary and irresistible Elvis falls in love. This challenging role is entrusted to one of the most sought after young actors – Jacob Elordi. Through the perspective of Elvis’ lover, Coppola tells the unknown side of a great American myth.
*During the second festival day April 27 (Saturday) we are waiting for you in 4:00 p.mto watch the premiere in Veliko Tarnovo “FALLEN LEAVES‘ – the latest film from the iconic Finnish director Aki Kaurismaki. The film is one of five works nominated for the LUX Audience Award, presented with ENTRANCE FREE in front of the audience in our country, in partnership with the European Parliament. Honored with a Jury Prize and a Palme d’Or nomination, “Fallen leaves” was one of the most discussed works in Cannes. Two loners meet by chance one night in Helsinki and try to find the love of their lives. The film is another delightful Kaurismaki story, with a serious rock and roll soundtrack.
*The program continues in Saturday, April 27in 18:00 hours with screening of the new film by the famous German director Margarete von Trotta “INGEBORG BACHMANN – JOURNEY IN THE DESERT“. The work was nominated for the “Golden Bear” at the Berlinale 2023 and is dedicated to the relationship between the Austrian poet and writer Ingeborg Bachmann and the Swiss playwright and writer Max Frisch. The coexistence of love and suspicion is the deepest unspoken truth in the director’s fascinating film narrative, and her greatest strength is her ability to bring out this paradox in the relationship between men and women.
*For 20:00 hours on April 27 (Saturday) the meeting of the audience in Veliko Tarnovo with the new work in the rich filmography of the legend is planned Wim Wenders – “WONDERFUL DAYS“. At Cannes, the film was nominated for the Palme d’Or and awarded the Ecumenical Jury Prize, and Koji Yakusho received the prize for best actor. “Wonderful days” was also among the contenders for the Oscar for the best international film. The plot follows a toilet cleaner in Japan who commutes between his various jobs, his life soundtracked by classic rock music handpicked by Wenders. “The film’s narrative is disarming with its absolute lack of cynicism – a unique work of an experienced master who has long and deeply thought about everything that gives meaning to our lives.,” writes David Rooney for The Hollywood Reporter.
*The start of the Sunday movie day April 28 is dedicated to the memory of an emblematic Bulgarian director – Lyudmil Todorovpresenting his wonderful film filled with a special sense of humor and warmth “THE PALAMUD MIGRATION“. The main roles in it are entrusted to the beloved Bulgarian actors Hristo Mutafchiev and Stefan Valdobrev, and the young Vladimir Zombori and Nikola Stoyanov play the roles of their on-screen sons. The story is about two fathers who are friends and their children who live in a village. The ways in which they make a living are quite unusual. Simo is an icon painter, and Raicho made a cross for the Ahtopol church and sold it for bonito. They take the cross, two icons and go to the sea… The film makes a humorous but accurate portrait of modern Bulgaria. It also stars Itzhak Fintsi and Velko Kanev (in his last role in front of the camera), the cameraman is Rali Ralchev. The screening starts at 4:00 p.m – do not miss!
*Screenings continue on April 28 (Sunday) in 18:00 hours with the winner of the “Golden Bear” from the Berlinale 2023 “ON BOARD THE ADAMAN” of the master documentarian Nicolas Philibert. The film is one of five works nominated for the LUX Audience Award, presented with ENTRANCE FREE in front of the audience in our country, in partnership with the European Parliament. Nicolas Philibert is an author with an enviable filmography and authority in documentary cinema. His latest work follows the lives of the patients and doctors at the Adamant Psychiatric Center, which operates on a unique floating structure on the Seine River, in the very center of Paris. The methods of treating the mentally ill, applied with great warmth and enthusiasm, are presented, as well as portraits of several patients who are capable of creating original, exciting works of art.
*We’re wrapping up Sunday’s movie day April 28 and the program of the 13th SFF in VELIKO TARNOVO with a screening in 20:00 hours of the award-winning German director’s new film Christian Petzold “FIRE“. One of the most admired films in the Berlinale ’23 official selection recreates the turbulent emotions between a group of acquaintances who share a holiday villa on the shores of the Baltic Sea. The characters of this story are Leon (Thomas Schubert), Felix (Langston Uibel), David (Eno Trebs) and Nadia (Paula Beer, who has been Petzold’s star in recent years). Everything happens against the background of a forest fire, and the audience’s attention is riveted by the dynamics of the relationship between the characters. “A firewon the “Silver Bear” – the grand prize of the jury in Berlin.
*The Thirteenth Edition of “SFF Veliko Tarnovo” is realized in partnership with the Municipality of VELIKO TARNOVO and with the support of the cinema chain Europa Cinemas, IA “National Film Center”, LUX Audience Award – EU and Vivacom.
