Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedon ...

has been producing films since 1915. Bulgarian cinema is known for the pioneering work of directors like Donyo Donev in the field of

animation Animation is a method by which image, still figures are manipulated to appear as Motion picture, moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent cel, celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited ...

. The filming and screening of

Vasil Gendov Vasil Gendov (Bulgarian: Васил Гендов. Born Vasil Dimov Hadzhigendov (Bulgarian: Васил Димов Хаджигендов); 24 November 1891 – 3 September 1970) was a Bulgarian film and stage actor, film director and screenwriter. ...

's film '' Bulgaran is Gallant'' (1915) is considered to be the beginning of Bulgarian cinematography. Historically, Bulgarian films have been noted for their realism, social themes and technical innovation. From 1915 to 1948, when film production was nationalized, 55 films were made, but production slowed down after the beginning of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. During the time of the Fatherland Front government, films with a historical focus were given bigger funding. The biggest studio at that time was the Boyana Film Studio. Notable Bulgarian film directors are

Rangel Vulchanov Rangel Valchanov ( bg, Рангел Вълчанов; 12 October 1928 – 30 September 2013) (also seen as Vulchanov) was a Bulgarian cinema actor and director. He finished theater directing at the Krastyo Sarafov National Academy for Theatre an ...

Christo Christov Christo Christov ( bg, Христо Христов; 11 April 1926 – 16 April 2007) was a Bulgarian film director and screenwriter. He directed 19 films between 1969 and 1997. In 1973 he was a member of the jury at the 8th Moscow Internatio ...

Georgi Djulgerov Georgi Djulgerov ( bg, Георги Дюлгеров) is a Bulgarian film director, screenwriter, producer and professor at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts. Career Djulgerov was born in Burgas, Bulgaria, on 30 September 1943. Aft ...

. Other filmmakers of note are

Kristina Grozeva Kristina Yordanova Grozeva ( bg, Кристина Йорданова Грозева; born January 26, 1976) is a Bulgarian filmmaker. She is best known for her cinematography on feature films such as '' The Lesson'' (2014), '' Glory'' (2016) and ...

and

Petar Valchanov Petar Valchanov ( bg, Петър Вълчанов; born May 15, 1982) is a Bulgarian filmmaker. He is best known for his cinematography on feature films such as '' The Lesson'' (2014), '' Glory'' (2016) and '' The Father'' (2019). Biography Valch ...

, who directed the Crystal Globe-winning film '' The Father'' (2019), and

Theodore Ushev Theodore Asenov Ushev ( bg, Теодор Асенов Ушев; born 4 February 1968) is a Bulgarian animator, film director and screenwriter based in Montreal. He is best known for his work at the National Film Board of Canada, including the 2 ...

whose film '' Blind Vaysha'' (2016) was nominated for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

. Bulgarian actors who have accrued critical success and worldwide recognition include

Nina Dobrev Nikolina Kamenova Dobreva ( bg, Николина Каменова Добрева, ; born January 9, 1989), credited professionally as Nina Dobrev ( ), is a Canadian actress. She is best known for portraying Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce on ...

and

Maria Bakalova Maria Valcheva Bakalova, . ( ; born 4 June 1996) is a Bulgarian actress. She is the recipient of various accolades, including a Critics' Choice Award, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Gl ...

. The

Golden Rose Film Festival The Golden Rose Bulgarian Feature Film Festival ( bg , Фестивалът на българския игрален филм „Златна роза“) is held in Varna in September or October. Also known as Golden Rose National Film Festival o ...

was first held in 1961 and was the biggest Bulgarian film festival throughout the 20th century. In 1997, the Sofia Film Fest was held for the first time. In 2007, ''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' included it in its list of 50 best film festivals.

Directors

:''See''

List of Bulgarian film directors The following is a list of Bulgarian film directors. {{European film directors * Bulgarian Film directors ...

Actors

:''See also

List of Bulgarian actors The following is a list of Bulgarian actors. * Maria Bakalova *Nikolay Binev *Vasil Binev * Radina Borshosh * Ivaylo Brusovski * Adriana Budevska * Georgi Cherkelov * Stefan Danailov * Mariana Dimitrova * Tanya Dimitrova * Ivan Dimov *Nina Dobrev ...

'' *

Stefan Valdobrev Stefan Kostadinov Valdobrev ( bg, Стефан Костадинов Вълдобрев; born 20 May 1970) is a Bulgarian actor, film/theatre composer, singer-songwriter and filmmaker. He received classical training at the National Academy of Thea ...

Nikolay Binev Nikolay Binev ( bg, Николай Бинев; 5 July 1934 - 8 December 2003) was a Bulgarian theater and film actor. During most of his career he was the soul and history of the Mladezhki Theater, Sofia and remained devoted to it until the end ...

Stoyan Bachvarov Stoyan ( Bulgarian): Стоян is a Bulgarian name derived from the verb ''Stoya'' (Стоя, to stand). The variant Stoian also appears in Romanian, and in northern Greece as Stogiannis (Greek: Στογιάννης). Given name *Stoyan Stoyano ...

Rusi Chanev Rusi or RUSI may refer to: Places in Romania * Ruși River, Romania * Ruși, a district in the town of Zlatna, Alba County * Ruși, a village in Bretea Română, Hunedoara County * Ruși, a village in Slimnic, Sibiu County * Ruși, a village in Fo ...

Georgi Cherkelov Georgi Cherkelov (Георги Черкелов); 25 June 1930 – 19 February 2012) was Bulgarian stage and film actor. One of the most prominent names in the Bulgarian theater and cinema in the last decades. He became widely popular after the r ...

Stefan Danailov Stefan Lambov Danailov ( bg, Стефан Ламбов Данаилов; 9 December 1942 – 27 November 2019) was a Bulgarian actor who served as Minister of Culture of Bulgaria (August 2005 – July 2009). The first film Danailov took p ...

Itzhak Fintzi Itzhak Fintzi (Izko Finzi) ( bg, Ицхак Финци (Ицко Финци)) (born 25 April 1933) is a Bulgarian film and stage actor. He was born in Sofia, where he graduated from the dramatic art academy. He graduated from the Bulgarian Nat ...

Georgi Georgiev-Getz Georgi Georgiev-Getz ( bg, Георги Георгиев-Гец; October 4, 1926 – September 2, 1996) was a Bulgarian film and stage actor. Best known for portraying valiant and honest conservative men, Getz was among the prominent names i ...

* Anton Gorchev *

Kiril Gospodinov Kiril Ivanov Gospodinov ( bg, Кирил Иванов Господинов) (1934–2003) was a Bulgarian theater and film actor. His acting created one of the eminent characters in the Bulgarian film art. Biography and career Gospodinov was b ...

Stanislav Ianevski Stanislav Ianevski (; born Stanislav Rumenov Yanevski, bg, Станислав Руменов Яневски; on 16 May 1985), is a Bulgarian actor best known for playing Viktor Krum in the 2005 fantasy film '' Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' ...

Georgi Kaloyanchev Georgi Todorov Kaloyanchev ( bg, Георги Калоянчев; January 13, 1925 – December 18, 2012) was a Bulgarian actor. He was born in the city of Burgas. He studied in the former theatrical school in Sofia. Immediately after graduati ...

Velko Kanev Velko Kanev, also known as Velko Kynev (31 July 1948 – 11 December 2011) was a Bulgarian comedic Comedy is a genre of fiction that consists of discourses or works intended to be humorous or amusing by inducing laughter, especially in t ...

Apostol Karamitev Apostol Milev Karamitev ( bg, Апостол Милев Карамитев) (1923–1973) was a Bulgarian actor, popular throughout the 1960s. He finished acting under the guidance of B. Danovski. Later he specialized in Moscow, Leningrad, Prag ...

Asen Kisimov Asen Kisimov ( bg, Асен Кисимов, also known as Asen Angelov (Bulgarian: Асен Ангелов), 3 May 1936 – 13 July 2005) was a Bulgarian stage and film actor, singer and radio presenter. He is best known for the famous song ...

Nevena Kokanova Nevena Kokanova ( bg, Невена Коканова) (12 December 1938 – 3 June 2000) was a Bulgarian film actress. She was known as the "first lady of Bulgarian cinema." Her mother was from a well-known Austrian aristocratic family, and he ...

* Todor Kolev *

Konstantin Kotsev Konstantin Kotsev ( bg, Константин Коцев; June 4, 1926 – August 4, 2007) was a Bulgarian stage and film actor. Kotsev was amid the most popular Bulgarian actors from the last decades of 20th century. He is best known for hi ...

Tatyana Lolova Tatyana Lolova ( bg, Татяна Лолова; 10 February 1934 – 22 March 2021) was a Bulgarian stage and film actress. She was best known for her comedy roles that she played for more than 40 years, bringing her the reputation as one of the m ...

* Georgi Mamalev * Hristo Mutafchiev *

Stoyanka Mutafova Stoyanka Mutafova (née StoyanKa Mutafova; bg, СтоянКа Мутафова; 2 February 1922 – 6 December 2019) was a Bulgarian actress. During her career, she starred in over 53 theatrical plays and 25 films Nicknamed ''Ms. Natura ...

Lyubomir Neikov Lyubomir Neikov ( bg, Любомир Нейков; born 7 February 1972, in Cherven Bryag) is a Bulgarian comedian and actor. He is known for his work on television and in theatre. He graduated from the Technical School of electrical engineering a ...

Dimitar Panov Dimitar Panov ( bg, Димитър Панов; July 18, 1902 – November 15, 1985) was a Bulgarian film and theater actor and director. Biography and career Panov was born on July 18, 1902, in the town of Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria. He made his ...

Georgi Partsalev Georgi Ivanov Partsalev ( bg, Георги Иванов Парцалев; 16 June 1925 – 31 October 1989) was a Bulgarian theatre and film actor mainly known for his roles in comedies. Born in Levski, Pleven Province in 1925, Partsalev finish ...

Katya Paskaleva Katya Paskaleva ( bg, Катя Паскалева) was a Bulgarian film and stage actress, born in 1945, deceased in 2002. She is best known for her performance as Maria in the Bulgarian film classic ''The Goat Horn'' (1972), for which she recei ...

Pavel Popandov Pavel (Bulgarian language, Bulgarian, Russian language, Russian, Serbian language, Serbian and Macedonian language, Macedonian: Павел, Czech language, Czech, Slovene language, Slovene, Romanian language, Romanian: Pavel, Polish language, Po ...

* Petar Popyordanov *

Georgi Rusev Georgi Iliev Rusev ( bg, Георги Илиев Русев; 7 May 1928 – 1 April 2011) was a Bulgarian actor. He created a gallery of colorful characters for a four-decade career, and became famous as a master of the so-called "second plan ro ...

* Krastyu Sarafov * Yosif Sarchadzhiev *

Hristo Shopov Hristo Naumov Shopov ( bg, Христо Наумов Шопов; born 4 January 1964) is a Bulgarian actor. Shopov's father, Naum Shopov, was a famous Bulgarian actor as well. He is most noted for his 2004 portrayal of Pontius Pilate in Mel Gi ...

Naum Shopov Naum Hristov Shopov ( bg, Наум Христов Шопов; 27 July 1930 – 18 April 2012) was a Bulgarian actor. He appeared in more than thirty films since 1960. His son Hristo Shopov Hristo Naumov Shopov ( bg, Христо Наумо� ...

* Petar Slabakov *

Nikola Todev Nikola Todev ( bg, Никола Тодев, ; 13 June 1928 – 30 March 1991) was a Bulgarians, Bulgarian theater and film actor. Todev is best known with his performances of characteristict types most notably the village mayor in ''The Hare ...

Kosta Tsonev Kosta Tsonev ( bg, Коста Цонев; 10 June 1929 – 25 January 2012) was a Bulgarian actor starring in theatre, TV and cinema. He was born on 10 June 1929 in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia. He studied at the National Academy for Theatre a ...

Grigor Vachkov Grigor Vachkov, often called Grishata ( bg, Григор Вачков - Гришата; 26 May 1932 – 18 March 1980) was a Bulgarian theater and film actor, honored with the award of "People's actor" in the People's Republic of Bulgaria. He had ...

* Martina Vachkova * Ani Valchanova * Philip Trifonoff *

* Nick Stanchev

Animators

* Donyo Donev

Festivals

Sofia International Film Festival Sofia International Film Festival (SIFF) (Bulgarian: ''Международен София Филм Фест, София Филм Фест''), also known as Sofia Film Fest, is an annual film festival in Sofia, capital city of Bulgaria, taking pla ...

* In The Palace International Short Film Festival * Sofia Documentary * Cinelibri

Notable films

: *(1910) '' Bulgaran is Gallant'' - ''The Bulgarian is Gallant'' (considered the first Bulgarian movie) *(1917) '' Baronat'' - ''Baronet'' *(1917) '' Lyubovta e ludost'' - ''The Love is Crazy'' *(1921) '' Dyavolat v Sofia'' - ''The Devil in Sofia'' *(1922) ''

Bay Ganyo Bay Ganyo ( bg, Бай Ганьо, ; also transliterated as ''Bai Ganio'' or ''Baj Ganjo'') is a fictional character created by the Bulgarian author Aleko Konstantinov (1863–1897). He is considered an exemplary image of an anti-hero: an uneducated ...

'' - ''Bay Ganyo'' *(1929) '' Nai-vyarnata strazha'' - ''The Most Loyal Guard'' *(1958) ''

Lyubimetz 13 Lyubimetz 13 ( bg, Любимец 13, en, Favourite 13) is a comedy movie released in Bulgaria in 1958. It was directed by Vladimir Yanchev and written by Lyuben Popov and Vladimir Yanchev. The film tells an amusing story about the efforts of t ...

'' - ''Favourite #13'' *(1962) ''

Tyutyun ''Tobacco'' ( bg, Тютюн, italic=yes) is a 1962 Bulgarian drama film written and directed by Nikola Korabov, and based on Dimitar Dimov's 1951 novel of the same name. The film deals with the conflicts and contradictions in Bulgarian society ...

'' - ''Tobacco'' (nominated for a

Golden Palm The Palme d'Or (; en, Golden Palm) is the highest prize awarded at the Cannes Film Festival. It was introduced in 1955 by the festival's organizing committee. Previously, from 1939 to 1954, the festival's highest prize was the Grand Prix du Fe ...

award at the

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...

in 1963) *(1964) '' Kradetzat Na Praskovi'' - ''The Peach-Garden Trespasser'' *(1970) '' Kit'' - ''Whale'' *(1970) '' Bash Maystorat'' - ''The Past-Master'' *(1972) '' Kozijat Rog'' - ''The Goat Horn'' *(1973) '' Prebroyavane na Divite Zaytsi'' - ''The Hare Census'' *(1973) '' Siromashko Lyato'' - ''Indian Summer'' *(1974) '' Selyaninat s Koleloto'' - ''A Peasant on a Bicycle'' *(1975) '' Osadeni Dushi'' - ''Doomed Souls'' *(1975) '' Svatbite na Ivan Asen'' - ''The Weddings of King Ivan Assen'' *(1976) '' Shturets v Uhoto'' - ''A Cricket in the Ear'' *(1976) '' Dva Dioptara Dalekogledstvo'' - ''Farsighted for Two Diopters'' *(1978) ''

Toplo ''Toplo'' ( bg, Топло) is a comedy film released in Bulgaria in 1978. It was written and directed by Vladimir Yanchev. The film satirizes the eternal fear of all Bulgarians to have contractors fixing problems in their houses. The story develo ...

'' - ''Warmth'' *(1980) '' Dami Kanyat'' - ''Ladies Choice'' *(1981) ''

Asparuh Asparuh (also ''Ispor''; bg, Аспарух, Asparuh or (rarely) bg, Исперих, Isperih) was а ruler of Bulgars in the second half of the 7th century and is credited with the establishment of the First Bulgarian Empire in 681. Early life ...

'' - ''Khan Asparoukh'' *(1981) '' Orkestar bez ime'' - ''A Nameless Band'' *(1983) '' Gospodin za Edin Den'' - ''King for a Day'' *(1984) ''

Opasen Char ''Opasen char'' () is a comedy/crime film released in Bulgaria in 1984. It was directed by Ivan Andonov and written by Svoboda Bachvarova. The story is about a highly educated and charming gentleman, who is actually a brilliant con artist, who rob ...

'' - ''Dangerous Charm'' *(1988) '' Vreme na nasilie'' - ''Time of Violence'' *(1988) ''

Vchera ''Yesterday'' ( bg, Вчера, italic=yes) is a 1988 Bulgarian drama film directed by Ivan Andonov and based on Vlado Daverov's semi-autobiographical novel of the same name. It stars Hristo Shopov, Sofiya Kuzeva and Georgi Staykov as students at ...

'' - ''Yesterday'' *(2001) '' Pismo do Amerika'' - ''Letter to America'' *(2001) '' Opashkata Na Diavola'' - ''Devil's Tail'' *(2004) '' Mila ot Mars'' - ''Mila from Mars'' *(2005) '' Otkradnati Ochi'' - ''Stolen Eyes'' *(2006) '' Razsledvane'' - ''Investigation'' *(2008) '' Dzift'' - ''Zift'' *(2010) ''Misiya London'' - ''

Mission London ''Mission London'' is a 2010 comedy film directed by Dimitar Mitovski and starring Alan Ford, Lee Nicholas Harris and Ralph Brown. Plot A concert to celebrate Bulgaria joining the EU is planned at the Embassy in London. Varadin, the new ambassad ...

'' *(2010) '' HDSP: Lov na drebni hishtnici'' - ''HDSP: Hunting down small predators'' *(2011) ''

Tilt Tilt may refer to: Music * Tilt (American band), a punk rock group, formed in 1992 * Tilt (British band), an electronic music group, formed in 1993 * Tilt (Polish band), a rock band, formed in 1979 Albums * ''Tilt'' (Cozy Powell album), 1981 * ...

'' - ''TILT'' *(2012) '' Sofia's Last Ambulance'' *(2014) ''

The Lesson (2014 Bulgarian film) ''The Lesson'' ( bg, Урок, translit. ''Urok'') is a 2014 Bulgarian drama film written and directed by Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov. It was screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festiv ...

'' *(2014) '' The sinking of Sozopol'' *(2015) '' The Girl From The Vile Land'' - ''Момичето от НиЗката Земя'' *(2015) '' 11"А"'' *(2016) ''

Slava Slava may refer to: Ships * ''Slava'' class cruiser, a modern Russian warship ** Soviet cruiser Slava (1979), now Russian cruiser ''Moskva'', a ''Slava'' class guided missile cruiser sunk during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine * Russian ba ...

'' - ''Glory'' *(2016) '' Singing shoes''-''Пеещите обувки'' *(2016) '' Holidaymakers (2016 Bulgarian film) ''-''Летовници'' *(2016) '' Voevoda (2016 Bulgarian film)''-''Воевода'' *(2017) '' Elevation (2017 Bulgarian film)''-''Възвишение'' *(2017) '' The Omnipresent (2017 Bulgarian film)''-''Въздесъщият'' *(2017) '' 12"A"'' *(2017) '' Radiogram (2017 Bulgarian film)''-''Радиограмофон'' *(2017) '' NoOne (2017 Bulgarian film)''-''Никой'' *(2018) '' All she wrote (2018 Bulgarian film)''-''Всичко което тя написа'' *(2018) '' Revolution X (2018 Bulgarian film)''-''Революция X'' *(2020) '' Yatagan (2020 Bulgarian film)''-''ЯТАГАН'

References

External links

Sofia International Film Festival WebsiteNew Bulgarian Cinema
(College Gate Press, 2008) by

Dina Iordanova Dina Iordanova (born 1960) is an educationalist and Professor of Film Studies at the University of St. Andrews. A specialist in world cinema, her special expertise is in the cinema of the Balkans, Eastern Europe, and Europe in general. Her research ...

KinoKultura Special Issue on Bulgarian Cinema
edited by

and Ron Holloway. Special Issue 5: Bulgarian Cinema (Dec. 2006) {{DEFAULTSORT:Cinema Of Bulgaria