People and Events

The Jury of the International Competition at the 29th Sofia International Film Festival

Three women and two men, all dedicated to the art of cinema, will evaluate the contenders for the Grand Prize Sofia – City of Film, provided by the Sofia Municipality in the International Competition for First and Second Films at the 29th Sofia International Film Festival.

"Flow" Wins the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film - Bulgarian audiences will see it for the first time at Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture during the gala screening on the night of the awards at the 29th Sofia Film Fest

29th SOFIA International Film Festival | March 13–31, 2025

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Georgi Dyulgerov to Receive the FIPRESCI “Platinum” Special Award at the 29th Sofia Film Fest

The latest film by the legendary director, “Fault”, will have its special screening as part of the SIFF

Oscar-Nominated Iranian Director MOHAMMAD RASOULOF to Present His Award-Winning Film The Seed of the Sacred Fig at the 29th Sofia International Film Festival

The director will receive the FIPRESCI Platinum Special Award and will host a masterclass.

Iossif Surchadzhiev will be Awarded with the Sofia Municipality Award for his Contribution to the Art of Cinema

For several generations, audiences have known and cherished the unforgettable roles of Iossif Surchadzhiev.

Hungarian director Szabolcs Hajdu returns to Sofia with a retrospective of his films and a Special Award at the 29th Sofia Film Festival

One of the most successful Hungarian directors of his generation, Szabolcs Hajdu, will be a guest at the 29th Sofia Film Festival in March with his latest film "Vulture’s Wake"

“The Shameless” by Konstantin Bojanov – with a Gala Screening at the 29th Sofia Film Fest

Director Konstantin Bojanov’s new film “The Shameless” was met with enthusiastic applause from both audiences and film professionals at the Cannes Festival ‘24

The opening film of 29th Sofia Film Festival is the new Bulgarian film "Bet" by the director Svetoslav Ovcharov

Starring Zahari Baharov, Asen Blatechki, Deyan Donkov and Romanian actress Ofelia Popii

Rajko Grlić will be presented with the Sofia Municipality Award for his contribution to the art of cinema

THE AWARDS * 28th SOFIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

The 28th Sofia International Film Festival presents in 2024 a total of 170 films from 53 countries. Special selection of the films is available ONLINE from anywhere in Bulgaria till 14 April at neterra.tv+. The festival welcomed over 300 international guests.

Malgorzata Shumovska with the special award FIPRESCI Platinum at the 28th Sofia International Film Festival

The famous Polish director will meet her fans film lovers at the FIPRESCI Masterclass at the Polish Institute in Sofia

28th SOFIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

OPEN THE DOORS TO WORLD CINEMA!

Nadejda Koseva's "The Trap" officially opens the 28th Sofia International Film Festival on March 13 in Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture

Kottarashky and the Rain Dogs open the 28th Sofia Film Fest

Expect the premiere of the film "Balkan Black Box", dedicated to Nikola Gruev-Kottarashky

Tsvetana Maneva will receive the Sofia Prize of Sofia Municipality for her contribution to the art of cinema

On 30 January, she will celebrate her 80th anniversary, and on 23 March, at the award ceremony of the 28th Sofia Film Fest, the actress will receive the Sofia Municipality Award in recognition of her contribution to the art of cinema.

Jessica Woodworth and Peter Brosens with the Special Award Sofia Film Fest

After the premiere of "Luka" in Sofia, the festival will present a special retrospective of the directors

The world-famous German director Margarethe von Trotta will be a 28th Sofia Film Festival's special guest and will receive the Sofia Municipality Award

The first lady awarded with the "Golden Lion" will present her latest film "Ingeborg Bachmann - Journey Into the Desert"

Radivoje Andric with the Special Award at 28th Sofia Film Festival

Bulgarian audience's favorite director will present the sequel to his hit "Munje" in March 2024

The "Golden Bear" from Berlinale '23 and new films by Aki Kaurismäki and Agnieszka Holland are in 28th Sofia International Film Festival's programme (13 - 31 March 2024)

Introducing the new festival theme and the teaser - "Open doors to the world of cinema"

Radoslav Spasov with the Sofia Award at the 27th Sofia Film Festival

"The Good Driver" by Tonislav Hristov and "The Art of Falling" by Orlin Milchev will have their premieres in the International Competition of the 27th Sofia International Film Festival

The Sofia Film Festival's International Competition for first and second feature films traditionally includes 12 features from around the world and they will be judged by an international jury. In 2023 the selection includes two Bulgarian films - "The Good Driver" and "The Art of Falling".

Oscar winner Jan Sverák will present his latest film "Betlémské svetlo" at the 27th Sofia International Film Festival

Jessica Woodworth's latest film "LUKA", a co-production with Bulgaria, will have its world premiere at the Rotterdam International Film Festival 2023

The film will participate in the "Big Screen" competition of the festival

The world famous director Milcho Manchevski will be the president of the International jury of 27th Sofia International Film Festival 2023

He will present his newest film "KAYMAK". The Bulgarian audience will have the opportunity to see a retrospective of his films in Sofia in March.

Mira Staleva, Sofia IFF's executive director and head of Sofia Meetings is among the newly elected members of the EFA's board

The new board of European Film Academy was assembled and started work in March 2022

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT & INNOVATION ONLINE LAB - Europa Cinemas

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE!

Sofia International Film Festival's statement about the war in Ukraine

With a screening of "MOON BLOW" The 26th Sofia Film Festival will celebrate 100 years since the birth of the legend NINO MANFREDI

26th International Film Festival SOFIA FILM FEST | March 10-31, 2022

Angel Wagenstein will receive the Sofia Award at the 26th Sofia Film Festival

"Women in Cinema" at the 26th Sofia Film Festival

Фестивалът ще представи специална програма с филми на български жени-режисьори

Oleg Sentsov's new project - "RHINO" with a special screening at the upcoming 26th Sofia Film Festival

Oleg Sentsov's new project - "RHINO" with a special screening at the upcoming 26th Sofia Film Festival

„Brighton 4th“ with three awards at Cottbus FilmFestival

During the prestigious Cottbus FilmFestival, focused on the Eastern European cinema, „Brighton 4th“ was presented with three awards - for outstanding individual performance to Levan Tediashvili as well as FIPRESCI Prize and Prize of the Ecumenical Jury

Cristi PUIU will receive FIPRESCI 96 Platinum Award at the 25th Sofia International Film Festival

The famous German director Andres VEIEL will be a special guest at the autumn edition of the 25th Sofia International Film Festival

„Women Do Cry“'s Bulgarian Premiere will be in the 25th Sofia Film Festival's Programme

The first screening of the Cannes selected film by Mina Mileva and Vesela Kazakova will be on the Sofia Summer Fest's film screen

Kornél Mundruczó will receive the Special Award of the anniversary 25th Sofia Film Festival

The Hungarian director will present in person his 2020 hit "Pieces of a Woman" this September

Mika Kaurismäki with the Sofia Municipality Award at 25th Sofia International Film Festival

The celebrated Finnish director will be a special Sofia Film Festival guest in September. The Cinema House will present a retrospective with the most significant Kaurismäki's films

THE AWARDS 25th SOFIA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Cristi PUIU and Terry GILLIAM to receive FIPRESCI 96 Platinum Award at the 25th Sofia International Film Festival

Both directors will be recognized with the special award by the International Federation of Film Critics at 25th Sofia International Film Festival 2021

25-th SOFIA International Film Festival

The 25th Sofia Film Festival will take place in two parts. The main festival is in its traditional period in March, when the films from the programme will be presented both online (in partnership with the world's leading platforms Festival Scope / Shift 72) and in cinemas in compliance with all anti-epidemic measures, and international guests will be exceptions. The focus of the first part of the festival will be the competition programs, the presentation of the new Bulgarian feature and documentary films, current films of established directors and young talents, festival favorites in the last year, and films from special anniversary sections.

The new LUX European Audience Film Award

Agnieszka Holland with the special “FIPRESCI 94 Platinum Award” at the 24th Sofia International Film Festival

The PROGRAMME of 24 Sofia Film Festival - AUTUMN

Farewell, Jirí Menzel!

24 Sofia Film Festival AUTUMN starts with the latest Milcho Manchevski's film "WILLOW"

The famous Macedonian director will present his film in Sofia and will receive the special Sofia Film Festival award on September 25th at the Sofia Summer Fest platform

Farewell, Sir Alan!

24th Sofia International Film Festival - Summer #RESTART

ONLINE * OPEN-AIR * CINEMA HOUSE >>> 25th of June – 19th of July 2020 >>> SIFF AUTUMN is Coming Soon

IMAGINE

On Friday, Day 16, we present to you the special video message by the legend of Polish and world cinema, the director Krzysztof Zanussi. From this day's program we present another film from the “New Bulgarian Features” section – “Wildlings” by Martin Makariev, with video message by the actor and producer Aleksander Sano. We have selected two short films by Drago Sholev – “Before Life, After Death”, Jameson Award winner in 2005 and then selected at the “Semainde de la Critique” in Cannes, and also the film “I Have Something to Tell You”. You'll see also an interview by the Italian director Alice Rohrwacher.