"Out of Season" is the debut feature film of actor and director Ivan Panev. The plot of this unusual love story is constructed around the feelings of a charming owner of a small restaurant and guest rooms in a beautiful Black Sea bay. Her faith that her missing lover will return breaks another man's heart - he falls in love with Stella but leaves without a word because he dares not destroy her fragile peace of mind...
"The main theme of the film is about how a woman cannot overcome her illusions about love. She prefers to stay living in these illusions instead of starting on a new path and reaching her freedom. Staying in the familiar, in the warm, in the memories, always seems safer and that is why the choice to step forward is never easy", says Ivan Panev before the presentation of his film in the program of the Bulgarian Feature Film Festival "Golden Rose" 2022. "I can define “Out of Season” as a chamber film that does not involve many actors and in which viewers will not encounter hard-to-understand symbolism and provocations. I hope it will appeal to a wide Bulgarian audience and leave a warm feeling in everyone's heart."
This story is told by actors Ioana Bukovska-Davidova, Penko Gospodinov, Kalin Vrachanski, Krasimir Dokov, and Veselin Anchev; the script is by Marin Damyanov and Docho Bodjakov, and Hristo Genkov is behind the camera. " Out of Season" was created with the support of the National Film Centre.
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"Scent of Linden" is the debut film of director Sisi Denkova - the first Bulgarian feature film made entirely in the USA. The story follows the trials and tribulations of Stefan, an immigrant who moves to a Bulgarian enclave in suburban Tennessee, where it seems everyone is conspiring with each other to stand between him and the realization of the eternal American dream. The filmmaker describes it as a "dramedy" but also as an art-house film with elements of "black comedy."
The background begins with the beginning of Bulgarian immigration and the formation of a small society in a town with almost no Bulgarians. In search of happiness and prosperity, our compatriots respect the American way of life, but at the same time, they cling to Bulgarian traditions. All preparations for the film - script creation, financing, meetings with the actors - are being carried out between 2019 and 2020, with Denkova securing visas for all the actors - Ivan Bernev, Albena Koleva, Toncho Tokmakchiev, Ioana Bukovska-Davidova, Albena Mihova, Renny Vrangova, Ivan Petrushinov, and Georgi Zlatarev - in 2021.
"It's important to speak the actor's language, to build trust, to anticipate what they expect from you in order to prepare. During the filming they showed a lot of patience, a sense of humor, and the most favorite part for me - a huge desire with which they do their job," says Sisi Denkova. She adds, "The audience of this film will be not only the immigrants but also the Bulgarians in Bulgaria. We have a very strong root, regardless of where we live. There is a very delicate relationship between those who left and those who stayed... The film is made with love for Bulgarians, despite the questions I ask - about the attitude towards each other, about the idealization of bigger and stronger countries, about our identity..."
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