One of the most significant directors of contemporary cinema – David Mackenzie will be among the dearest guests of the 30th Sofia Film Festival and will receive the SIFF Special Award.
David Mackenzie was born in 1966. The audience of Sofia Film Festival knows him well since his debut film “The Last Great Wilderness” (2002), included in the competition program of the festival in 2003. A year later, he captivated film lovers with his existential drama “Young Adam”, which brought him worldwide popularity. A film adaptation of the novel by the Scottish poet Alexander Troki, the film won the “Michael Powell” award for best British film at the Edinburgh festival.
Mackenzie’s next two films – “Asylum” (2005) and “Hallam Foe” (2007) were nominated for the “Golden Bear” at the Berlin festival. This was followed by "Spread" (2009) and the captivating "Perfect Sense" (2011) starring Ewan McGregor and Eva Green, dedicated to the meaning of love in our troubled times. In 2016, his film "Hell or High Water" premiered in Cannes, starring Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine and Ben Foster, based on a screenplay by Taylor Sheridan, which received four Oscar nominations and more than 40 awards from around the world.
In 2012, David Mackenzie was the chairman of the International Jury of the Sofia Film Festival, and now he comes with his two latest films - "Relay" (2024) and "Fuze" (2025), demonstrating his ability to combine genre traditions with dramatic human stories.
Lily James and Oscar winner Riz Ahmed compete for the attention of the audience in the thriller "Fuze" - the main character helps potential whistleblowers deal with corporate offenders, while keeping his identity completely secret. One of his clients is a former employee of a biotechnology company who wants to return stolen documents in exchange for compensation. While the deal is being negotiated, the two are faced with the difficult choice between anonymity and the desire for personal contact, with one of the important questions being how to live in a world where it is increasingly difficult to remain unnoticed. According to the Financial Times, the film is a "stylish thriller that recalls 1970s classics," with "impressive work from actor Riz Ahmed."
"Fuze" is a gripping and suspenseful thriller, full of unexpected twists, surprises and fast-paced action. After a World War II bomb is discovered on a construction site in a busy area of London, the authorities react in a flash, determined to protect the many innocent bystanders nearby. Time runs out and it gradually becomes clear that no one can be trusted. The fast-paced "Fuze" is written by Ben Hopkins. The cast includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Sam Worthington, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Theo James. In the tradition of gritty thrillers, combining elements of a crime mystery with the tense rhythm of skillfully constructed action, "Fuze" will captivate the attention of viewers in the program of the 30th Sofia Film Festival in March.
David Mackenzie's visit to the 30th Sofia Film Festival is in partnership with the British Council, Sofia and marks the 35th anniversary of an exceptionally fruitful collaboration.
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