Starring Zahari Baharov, Asen Blatechki, Deyan Donkov and Romanian actress Ofelia Popii
Sofia International Film Festival cherishes the tradition of presenting Bulgarian films to the widest and most diverse audience. The new feature film "Bet" by the master of storytelling Svetoslav Ovcharov is proof of the constant pursuit of stories that arrange important elements of the puzzle of Bulgarian national psychology. Its premiere screening is in Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture on March 13, 2025.
"Bet" relies on well-known and beloved Bulgarian actors, on an honest and fascinating recreation of facts from our history, whose lessons have not yet been learned by several generations. "Bet" also captivates with the turbulent feelings that are capable of taking strong personalities through the Bulgarian National Revival and the liberation wars to participate in building the new Bulgaria. The main roles in the film are entrusted to Zahari Baharov, Asen Blatechki, Deyan Donkov and Romanian actress Ofelia Popii, the cast also includes Ivan Savov, Valentin Ganev, Malin Krastev, Stefan Mavrodiev, Gergana Pletnyova. The film's cinematographer is Veselin Hristov, the set designer is Mira Kalanova, the costume designer is Gabriela Kardzhilova, the sound was made by Valeria Popova. The producers and editors of the film are Svetla Tsotsorkova and Svetoslav Ovcharov.
Here is what the screenwriter and director of "Bet" Svetoslav Ovcharov writes about the film's path to its audience:
"It was 1991. The cinema center was closed, the state did not allocate any funds for culture. At that time, we often met with Zako Heskia, we were friends. It's a bit strange: he was thirty-five years older, but we talked for hours - he about the past, I about the future. The special thing was that in these conversations Zako was an optimist, and I was a pessimist. Once Zako came home and told me: “You have to make a feature film about Stambolov, Panitsa and Ferdinand!” I laughed: how could a feature film be made at a time when there was no money for bread in the country. Zako insisted. “I will come every day and sit on the sofa until you write it!” – said Zako. And so he did. He came every day at eight, sat on the sofa until I finally wrote the script. “Well, - I was joking, - probably when I get to your age, Zako, I will make this film!” This bitter joke turned out to be true. Today I am Zako’s age when we had this conversation.
In 1986 I made the documentary film "Kosta Panitsa", in 1990 - "Stefan Stambolov - the Creator and the Devastator", in 1994 - "Ferdinand the Bulgarian". In the following years, I co-authored with friends three books with scientific research dedicated to Stambolov, Ferdinand and their time. During all this time, I kept thinking about "Bet".
We can think: why are we turning to events from 140 years ago? Aren't there important and worrying topics today? There are, of course, but one of the most worrying is that a century and a half later, Bulgaria is still a half-European, half-Asian country. Still "half". The geopolitical orbits in which it revolves are the same. The deficit of personalities is the same. The mediocrity is the same.
I am convinced that telling stories about people who pierce the dark sky under which we live with their heads brings light. I believe that this is necessary for our society. We must know ourselves as a people. Turning our backs on the past deprives us of a future.
The characters in the film have no names. Their names are the Major, the Prime Minister, the Prince, the Woman… “Bet” is a film about love. Between two men. And one woman. And Bulgaria. About a love that is so strong that it can only be measured by death… Caught up in their passion, the two men do not notice that they are turning their backs on the woman of their lives. Their love for Bulgaria is so all-consuming that it eats up simple human love. And in the end, after all the fiery feelings and actions, what remains is… an ash heap… “Bet” is filled with love for our characters; we wanted the film to be intimate, but without sentimentality.
We shot it during Covid, but not a single person from the cast and crew got sick in the film. It was bitterly cold, snow up to your knees, wind that would blow your ears off, but no one complained: neither the actors, nor the dogs, nor the horses. It even says in the captions – no animals were harmed.
After so many years, “Bet” is coming to the screen. I’m sure Zako is looking down at me from heaven and smirking with his sly smile. “Did I tell you that one day you’d do it?!”
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