For several generations, audiences have known and cherished the unforgettable roles of Iossif Surchadzhiev. He is Karaibrahim from "A Time of Violence" (1988); Emperor Constantine IV “Pogonatos” in "Asparuh" (1981); Andro in "The Black Angels" (nominated for the Crystal Globe at Karlovy Vary in 1970); The Defender in "The Pack" (1972); and Yosif Karasuliev in "The Lottery" (1993) by Ivanka Grăbcheva; Velizar Karadushiev in "Bon Chance, Inspector" (1983); Kozarev in "Wolf Hunt" (2000); the anarchist Alexander Ivanov in "Ashes" (2004); Asen Valchev in "The Tree of Life" (2013); and the Old Man in "January" (2021) based on Radichkov. He is Iossif Surchadzhiev — a man whose talent and charisma have left a lasting imprint on the history of Bulgarian cinema and theater.
The Sofia International Film Festival will honor this great artist with the Sofia Municipality Award for his exceptional contribution to the art of cinema.
“Every five or six years I would discard quite a few unnecessary elements of my craft, believing that something new was coming — for both me and the audience. Even though the great value of our art has remained ‘unchanged’ since time immemorial. I experimented with both ‘pro’ and ‘anti’ in my acting, yet I could never reach the Divine. My current position is simply not to kill Homo Ludens. The mad players are what make life worth living,” Iossif Surchadzhiev told Bogdana Kosturkova in an interview. “At various moments I have ‘stolen’ from my teachers; from life; from myself — and above all, from my inability to be ‘the pinnacle’; from the stupid directors or from the best; from the disagreeable or the tender, sensitive audience; from age... and from God... and from the devil.”
His roles embody the image of the fragile, vulnerable, sensitive, and unpretentious man who despises pathos, striving to maintain his integrity while still yielding to temptation. Born on 2 May 1945 in Sofia into the family of the eminent Bulgarian director Stefan Surchadzhiev, he first stepped onto the stage in 1960 at the National Theatre. The production was Edmond Rostand’s "Cyrano de Bergerac", staged by his father, Surchadzhiev. He made his debut at the Sliven Theatre in the play "The Servant of Two Masters". Later, he performed on the stages in Kyustendil, at the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, the Bulgarian Army Theatre, the Burgas stage, and the Small City Theatre “Zad Kanala”. His film career spans over fifty roles, with his first film appearance dating back to 1952.
“There are artists who are a true inspiration. There are people who are beyond their time, beyond human potential, in one of the most challenging professions — acting. That is Iossif Surchadzhiev — in his role as a bearer of culture. He is exceptional, exceptional, exceptional… steadfast and strong in the face of everything life has thrown at him,” actor Vladimir Penev told "Trud" newspaper.
Iossif Surchadzhiev will receive the Sofia Award at the opening of the 29th Sofia Film Fest on 13 March in Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture.
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