The festival program includes film works that will have special screenings and will be presented by their creators to the audience in Sofia.
The Bulgarian film Nothing Can Stop You by director Nikolay Urumov will premiere at Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture on March 25 at 7:00 PM. The film follows the activities of three of the largest volunteer organizations in the country, three smaller initiatives, and a spontaneously created children's cause in the town of Zlatitsa. The documentary highlights the personal examples of inspiring individuals such as Nikola Rahnev, the founder of Gorata.bg; Lazar Radkov with his initiative Caps for the Future; Kremena Kuneva, co-founder and chair of the For the Good foundation; and actress Luiza Grigorova-Makariev. Nothing Can Stop You is a story about those who, despite the absurdities of our times, do everything in their power to create good.
The World Will Tremble is an impressive co-production between the UK, Israel, and Bulgaria (UFO company), directed by Emmy and Academy Award-nominated screenwriter and director Lior Geller. The film transports viewers to the time of the Holocaust, where millions of Jews lost their lives in German concentration camps, with only a few managing to escape. Historical documents confirm the escape of four prisoners from the horrors of Chelmno, Poland. The World Will Tremble tells the true story of two of them—Michal Podchlebnik and Solomon Weiner — who, on January 19, 1942, became some of the first eyewitnesses to testify about the atrocities of the Nazi regime. The special premiere screening of the film is on March 22, at 8:00 PM in the Lumiere Cinema.
Schindler Space Architect (USA) marks the directorial debut of Valentina Ganeva. The film is dedicated to architect Rudolph Michael Schindler, whose work transformed perceptions of space and laid the foundations of what is now considered the California lifestyle—blending indoor and outdoor environments. His life story unfolds alongside the development of modern architecture. The film follows Schindler’s journey from Vienna through Chicago to Southern California, capturing his perspective through his own camera and eyes. It incorporates narratives, interviews, Schindler’s theoretical works, correspondence, photographs, and visualizations of his numerous designs, exploring his creative legacy influenced by early 20th-century Vienna, the early works of Frank Lloyd Wright, and the architecture of 20th-century Southern California. The author of the film, who is also a member of the documentary jury of the festival, will present her work in person on March 23, at 4:00 PM in the Odeon Cinema.
The feature debut of Brooklyn-based Bulgarian sisters Marina and Biliana Grozdanova, Eastern Western (USA-Bosnia and Herzegovina-Bulgaria), tells the story of a son raised by two fathers—one from Eastern Europe and the other from the American West. Set at the turn of the 20th century in the vast American frontier, the film follows Igor, a recently widowed immigrant, as he struggles to raise his two-year-old son, Ivo, alone. When his American friend and mentor, Duncan, decides to relocate his horse-breeding business and young family to California, Igor and Ivo join the caravan heading west. The film will have two screenings in Sofia, presented by its creators—on March 14 at 8:30 PM at Odeon Cinema and on March 15 at 6:00 PM at the G8 Cultural Center.
John Vardar vs. the Galaxy (North Macedonia-Croatia-Hungary-Bulgaria) is the first Macedonian feature-length animated film and the largest animation co-production in the Balkans. Directed by Goce Cvetanovski, who studied film in Paris, the film combines action and imagination to deliver important messages about bravery and responsibility. John Vardar’s troubles begin when he is abducted by his future best friend—the self-absorbed robot Z’ark. This adventure takes him to thrilling intergalactic destinations, including alien-infested space zoos, prison sewers, cosmic whales, and black holes. Along the way, he encounters hungry cannibal natives, evil hackers, friendly inmates, space parties, and numerous extraterrestrial beings. The screening will take place on March 15, Saturday, at 4:00 PM at Odeon Cinema, with the film's team presenting it to the audience.
The Black Sea (Bulgaria-USA) is a collaboration between American director Crystal Moselle and rapper, artist, curator, actor, and filmmaker Derrick B. Harden. The cast includes Irmena Chichikova, Samuel Finzi, and Stoyo Mirkov. The film follows Khalid, a charismatic young man from Brooklyn trying to earn a living as a gigolo in a small seaside resort town on the Black Sea. When circumstances leave him stranded without money in a place where he is the only Black man, he must navigate cultural differences in a town rich in traditions yet deeply influenced by American hip-hop. As he desperately tries to return home, he embarks on a transformative journey filled with new connections and unexpected love. The Black Sea will be presented by its producer Isabella Tsenkova and the Bulgarian team, and the premiere screening is scheduled for March 23, at 4:15 PM in the Lumiere Cinema.
The Spiritualization of Jeff Boyd is a Swiss-Bulgarian-Indian co-production directed by Uwe Schwarzwalder. The film explores the search for truth in various aspects of life. It follows a psychiatric clinic patient seeking refuge with a friend and striving for a new beginning, all while encountering the daughter of an Indian guru. The film’s screenings, presented by its director, are scheduled for March 15 at 6:00 PM at Odeon Cinema and March 16 at 6:30 PM at the G8 Cultural Center.
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