The Balkan Competition at Sofia Film Fest traditionally features 12 of the most outstanding films from the region, which will be judged by a jury consisting of Ukrainian screenwriter and director Roman Bondarchuk, Austrian producer Oliver Neumann, and film critic Petia Alexandrova.
The films announced so far include:
* "The Erl-King" (Serbia-Bulgaria), directed by Goran Radovanović
* "Waterdrop" (Albania-Italy-Romania), directed by Robert Budina
* "Luna Park" (Albania-Italy-Croatia-Greece-Kosovo), directed by Florenc Papas
* "Mother Mara" (Serbia-Slovenia-Switzerland-Bosnia & Herzegovina-Montenegro-Luxembourg), directed by Mirjana Karanović
* "Traffic" (Romania-Belgium-Netherlands), directed by Teodora Ana Mihai
* "Triumph" (Bulgaria-Greece), directed by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov
* "Giannis in the Cities" (Greece), directed by Eleni Alexandrakis
Here are the remaining five films in the competition:
***
Veteran Turkish director and screenwriter Tayfun Pirselimoğlu, with over 20 years of experience and numerous awards, has chosen Sofia for the world premiere of his latest project, iDEA. This gripping thriller follows a security guard who stumbles upon a book titled iDEA. Soon after, he finds himself mysteriously accused of a crime and branded as the leader of a secret organization bearing the same name. The greatest surprises in life can often be found in the most unexpected places.
***
Presented at the Cottbus, Cairo, and Jaipur Film Festivals, where it won a Cinematography Award, The Tower of Strength is the third feature by Montenegrin filmmaker Nikola Vukčević. Set during World War II in Yugoslavia, the story follows a Christian boy fleeing Albanian and Muslim fascist forces who have burned his village. He finds shelter in the home of an Albanian clan leader, known for his strength and sense of justice. However, the man faces a serious dilemma—should he hand the boy over to his pursuers, violating the sacred code of hospitality, or risk his own family’s safety by protecting a stranger from a different faith? The story remains highly relevant today, serving as a powerful reminder that universal human values can triumph over even the deepest divisions.
***
After premiering in the "Bright Future" section at Rotterdam, Rezan Yeşilbaş brings his feature debut The Flying Meatball Maker to the Balkan Competition in Sofia. A co-production between Turkey, Germany, and Bulgaria (Alaz Film – Kamen Velkovski), the film tells the story of a small restaurant owner and meatball maker obsessed with a dream—he wants to fly. Determined to defy gravity, he buys a motorized paraglider, but his family strongly disapproves of his ambitions, leading to unexpected challenges. Yeşilbaş, who gained valuable experience as an assistant to Zeki Demirkubuz, won the Palme d’Or for Best Short Film at Cannes 2012 with Silent. His feature debut is crafted with delicate storytelling and a keen sense of drama.
***
Acclaimed Greek director Penny Panayotopoulou’s latest film, Wishbone, won the Audience Award at the Thessaloniki Film Festival and the Best Cinematography Award at the Lecce European Film Festival. This powerful social drama follows a young man forced to take care of his niece after the sudden death of his brother, which raises suspicions of medical negligence. While entangled in questionable dealings, the protagonist struggles to hold on to his faith in human goodness.
***
With over 20 years of experience in independent Turkish cinema, Pelin Esmer presents her seventh feature, And the Rest Will Follow. The film follows a young hotel maid in a rural town who shares her personal story with a renowned Istanbul filmmaker. As the filmmaker becomes entangled in the tale, communicated through voice messages, he finds himself confronting his own past. This cinematic hide-and-seek—where stories dictate the rules—reshapes not only the future but also the past. A co-production between Turkey, Bulgaria ("Screening Emotions"), and Romania, the film showcases Esmer’s signature storytelling style, blending intimacy, suspense, and profound emotional depth.
***
SEE YOU AT THE #CINEMA!
#29SofiaIFF