Yeşim Ustaoğlu’s film “What Remains”, a co-production between Turkey, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Bulgaria, was, as expected, among the favourites in the national competition at the 63rd “Golden Orange” Film Festival in Antalya. The jury, chaired by director Derviş Zaim, awarded the film four prizes – Best Director (Yeşim Ustaoğlu), Best Actress (Öykü Karayel), Best Cinematographer (Kiril Prodanov) and Best Production Designer (Osman Özcan and Görkem Canpolat).
Of particular importance to us is the award won by Kiril Prodanov, who was up against many of Turkey’s leading cinematographers. The prize is by no means a coincidence. Ever since the film’s world premiere in the competition programme at San Sebastián, the most prestigious film publications (Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Screen Daily) have been full of praise for the work of the Bulgarian cinematographer.
... Against the backdrop of the stunning landscapes of wild and remote Turkey, captured in magnificent detail by cinematographer Kiril Prodanov, Elif rediscovers her muse... (Variety)
Cinematographer Kiril Prodanov captures this beauty in exquisite widescreen panoramas, framing Elif against snow-covered landscapes and soft natural light. Although centred on a poet and a musician, the film "What Remains" emphasises not so much the words they speak as the images that surround them... (The Hollywood Reporter)
Kiril Prodanov’s cinematography possesses an extraordinary atmosphere and is often breathtaking – whether he is capturing vast landscapes with sculptural precision..., or envelops them in an intoxicating impressionistic glow, in which the streaming sunlight transforms mountains and plains into pseudo-abstract fields of colour. He also transforms Karayel’s alert, inquisitive face – often captured in close-up – into an enigmatic landscape in its own right... (Screen Daily)
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"What Remains" was produced with the support of the Bulgarian National Film Centre. The Bulgarian producer is Stefan Kitanov, the executive producer is Svetla Tsotsorkova, and the production coordinator is Vihrena Ninova; in partnership with Doli Media Studio (Dobromir Chochov, Lyubomir Chochov), visual effects by Boris Trayanov and Leith Ridley, gaffer – Alexander Benev, and head make-up artist – Rositsa Gerasimova.
The film will have its Bulgarian premiere at a special screening as part of the programme of the 31st Sofia International Film Festival in March 2027. Yeşim Ustaoğlu will lead a masterclass, and the exceptional actress Öykü Karayel will be a member of the International Jury.
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Bulgaria is also a co-producer of the film "The Moon Is a Father of Mine" by Georgian director George Ovashvili, which won the international competition at the Antalya Film Festival! The film is a co-production between Georgia, Germany, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg and Turkey, with the support of the National Film Centre. The Bulgarian producer is Filip Todorov (Waterfront).