The programme "The Engine Of Truth" of the 29th Sofia Film Festival includes the following films.
"Antidote" by director James Jones, premiered in Toronto, is a film that continues to change – with added facts and commentary on reality, it was included in the programme of one of the world's largest documentary forums in Copenhagen in March. This is a unique story of people who, by revealing extremely important pieces of information, oppose with their knowledge and journalistic skills Putin's quest to destroy anyone who dares to challenge him. Among the film's characters are an informer who was involved in a program to develop powerful new poisons, political activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, who survived two attempts to be poisoned and was subsequently imprisoned while his wife did her best to get him released, and the Bulgarian journalist Hristo Grozev, who for years revealed in the community of independent investigative journalists “Bellingcat” some of Putin's darkest dealings. The lives of all three are in danger, but the most important thing for them is to uncover the secrets of the Russian authoritarian ruler. Events on a global scale are unfolding in a critical direction for world peace – which is why it is vital that we present documentary works like "Antidote", dedicated to people willing to risk everything to change the course of history. The film will be presented by the producer Vivien Jones, and the Bulgarian audience will be the second in the world, after the audience of the CPH:DOX festival, which will have a chance to see the work in the new, enriched version. Immediately after the screening in Sofia, there will be a discussion with the producer.
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Sergei Loznitsa's latest film is dedicated to the persistence and resilience of the Ukrainian population in the face of Russian aggression. "The Invasion" was filmed for two years, with Loznitsa using the rhythm of the changing seasons and the most important events in people's lives - births, weddings, deaths. The director does not focus on the fighting on the front lines, but almost invisibly observes everyday life and conveys what is happening, regardless of the looming shadow of war. And it finds its place in every scene – sirens interrupt daily tasks, and at any moment someone somewhere could be in danger.
Through "The Invasion," the audience can see the core of a nation – a shared spirit that cannot be easily broken. Loznitsa sheds much-needed light on Ukraine's plight, providing viewers with a glimpse into a country that has resisted the occupation. His film is a tribute to the power of Ukrainians and their right to live freely.
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The latest film by Ukrainian director Oleh Sentsov, who survived years in Russian prisons and became one of the symbols of the struggle against Putin's authoritarian lawlessness, is titled "Real" and was shot by a strange coincidence. At the time when Sentsov was serving as a lieutenant in the Ukrainian Defence Forces and was involved in devastating battles at the beginning of the war against Russia, the accidentally turned-on camera he wore on his helmet captured the horror and claustrophobia in the trenches. Such a clash with everything that happens at the front cannot compete with any high-budget war film! Sentsov himself does not define this harsh view of reality as a documentary and as a film – the footage shot in one continuous frame ends when the camera battery is exhausted. The premiere of "Real" was in the programme of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in a completely unedited form – according to Variety, Sentsov's film can be cited alongside "20 days in Mariupol" as an irrefutable testimony to the nightmare of the ongoing war. Sentsov presented for the first time in 2011 at Sofia Meetings his project "Rhino", which won the award for best project. Shortly after his release from the Russian prison, Sentsov was part of the jury at the 2022 Sofia International Film Festival, but was unable to attend the festival due to the outbreak of war.
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"From Ground Zero" is an extremely powerful film that the audience in Sofia will have the chance to see on the big screen after its presentation at festivals such as Toronto, Taormina, Thessaloniki, Palm Springs and others. It was the official Oscar proposal of Palestine to the American Film Academy and is a mosaic of 22 short documentaries about the reality in which the population of the Gaza region lives. The initiative for the creation of this project is on the part of the famous Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi, who takes on the role of producer, together with Laura Nikolov. "From Ground Zero" becomes a platform for young artists to express themselves, with each film lasting from 3 to 7 minutes and presenting a unique perspective on what is happening in Gaza, the strength of spirit, the challenges and tragedies faced by the population.
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Director and screenwriter of "Moria Six" is Jennifer Mallmann, a graduate of the film academies in Darmstadt and Baden-Württemberg. In her projects so far, she has focused on topics such as the protection of human rights and the representation of marginalized groups of people in society. The full-length documentary debut was premiered in the program of the Leipzig documentary and animated film festival at the end of 2024 and participates in the documentary competition of the 29th SIFF. The story is dedicated to a tragedy that occurred in the autumn of 2020, when a fire destroyed the refugee camp "Moria". Six teenagers were arrested on arson charges – one of them corresponding with the truth-seeker Mallmann, talking about his daily life in prison, his fears and dreams. The problem of the countless refugees who find themselves stranded – in inhumane camp conditions or in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea - is still one of the cases for which a suitable and just solution has yet to be found, especially for the territory of the countries in Europe.
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"The Editorial Office" is the second feature film of Ukrainian director Roman Bondarchuk, who is known as an author of documentaries. He presents history in the form of media and political satire, in which the distortion of information is the basis for the creation of a new world. After witnessing an arson attack, the main character tries to attract media attention, but his efforts prove futile and he gets into an absurd situation with a provincial sensation website. Shot just before the Russian invasion and finished in the middle of the war, with almost no direct connection to the fighting and yet extremely topical, the film captures the elusive humanity that is inevitably at stake in this nightmarish reality. Roman Bondarchuk will present his film to the Sofia audience and will participate in a discussion after the screening. He is also a member of the Balkan jury of the festival.
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The film of the special Sofia Film Festival's gest, Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof, "The Seed of the Sacred Fig", is included in the program "The Engine of Truth" as irrefutable proof of the power of the creative spirit and the aspiration to interpret our modern day, in which often the driving forces are authoritarian and undemocratic regimes. For years, Rasoulof was subject to persecution and restrictions imposed on him by the authorities in his native country, but despite all this, he continued to create stories through which the truth would be presented to the world. That's exactly what happened with his latest film at the Cannes Film Festival, where it was awarded five prizes in the Official Competition Program, one of which is the Special Jury Prize. "The Seed of the Sacred Fig" is an insightful analysis and allegory of the reality in which he and his fellow citizens are forced to live, with outright distortion of the truth by totalitarian regimes. The story, which turns into a tense thriller, is about the fate of a family changed by the involvement of the father in the political regime of the country. The film has received more than 20 awards and more than 50 nominations, including "Oscar", "BAFTA" and "Golden Globe" nominations for Foreign Language Film. Mohammad Rasoulof will arrive in Sofia in person to present his film and talk to the audience. The director will receive the prestigious Special FIPRESCI Platinum Award and will give a Masterclass.
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