MUNICIPAL COUNCILOR Bulgaria, 2026, 58 min, color, documentary
Municipal councilor offers a revealing look at democracy in action at the local level – where it is most visible, and where every vote and every decision leaves a lasting mark. In a small provincial town, the Municipal Council becomes an arena of fierce clashes, long-standing rivalries, and emerging ambitions. Political debate often descends into personal attacks, while decisions about the budget, infrastructure, and the town’s future are made against a backdrop of scandals and deepening mistrust.
The film follows the rise of Kosto Tomov, the youngest municipal councilor in Bulgaria, as he enters politics in the shadow of his grandfather – a long-time politician and influential local figure. Caught between expectations, party loyalty, personal ambition, and pressure from the system, Kosto gradually confronts the complex and often disillusioning reality of local government.
Adela Peeva, Antoniy Donchev
ADELA PEEVA
Adela Peeva is a renowned Bulgarian documentary filmmaker – director and producer. Her films have attracted wide audiences and received numerous prestigious awards at film festivals across Europe, Asia, and the United States. They are included in the collections and video libraries of leading European and American universities, including institutions in Paris, Amsterdam, Chicago, as well as Harvard and Yale. Her films Whose Is This Song? (2003) and Divorce, Albanian Style (2007) were the first Bulgarian and Balkan productions to be nominated for the European Film Academy’s Prix Arte for Best Documentary.
ANTONIY DONCHEV
Antoniy Donchev is a director / screenwriter of more than 20 documentaries and feature films, which have been screened at numerous festivals and won prestigious awards, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor.
ADELA PEEVA
1999 The Unwanted / doc.
2003 Whose Is This Song? / doc.
2007 Divorce, Albanian Style / doc.
2010 The Mayor / doc.
2017 Long Live Bulgaria / tv., doc.
2020 Silence with Dignity / doc., co-dir.
2026 Municipal Councilor / doc., co-dir.
ANTONIY DONCHEV
1997 Turkish March / short
2009 Private Investigation / doc.
2010 The Mayor / doc.
2015 The Woman of My Life
2020 Silence with Dignity / doc., co-dir.
MUNICIPAL COUNCILOR Bulgaria, 2026, 58 min, color, documentary
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