Sofia International Film Festival

After 15 successful editions of the Sofia International Film Festival, what more can surprise the viewers and loyal moviegoers?

Stefan
Kitanov: Contrary to the economic stagnation, we remain true to
ourselves –over-ambitious and responsible in the selection of movie
titles and guests. The viewers will be surprised by the huge choice of
quality films and numerous guests of the festival, including “Oscar”
winners and the most prestigious film awards. There is no turning back.
When you play in the Champions League of the film festivals you are
expected to score goals, but also to play nice... But most important
thing is the team. Our team is very strong – I had the great luck to
work with such qualinternationally ity young people! They can easily
play in the teams of Cannes, Berlin, Venice. This year again two
Bulgarian films are included in the international competition.

Is this a trend or only a good coincidence?

Stefan
Kitanov: There is nothing accidental. Bulgarian cinema is booming. This
year we present 12 new  films created since March 2011. I would like to
remind that two Bulgarian films participate in the Balkan competition
as well. One – in the documentary... I wish them success. The
competition is very strong. The films will be judged by exceptionally
qualitative juries.

Did you find some positive change in
the state policy towards the production and promotion of Bulgarian
cinema during the last year?

Stefan Kitanov: I’ll start
with the promotion. Still no government strategy for the promotion of
Bulgarian cinema exist. A recent example is the financing of the Sofia
International Film Festival. The Ministry of Culture thinks it
participates in the organization of the festival with funding through
the National Film Centre, which is wrong. Such European and global
practice does not exist. Nationally significant cultural events,
including in filmmaking, have the national targeted funding other than
the line institutions as a film center or others. We consider the
Ministry of Culture a co-organizer and a partner who is responsible for
the national policy of culture. The practice from the recent years
urgently needs to be changed and our cultural institution needs to know
how much capital it has and consciously to participate in its
development. The same is valid for the promotion of the Bulgarian cinema
abroad. There is an urgent need of establishing the Bulgarian film
promotion which, by funding and organizational resources, to care for
the Bulgarian film presentation at world film events such as Cannes and
Berlin as well as to support the promotion of Bulgarian films at other
important film festivals. We hope this to underlie in the new strategy
for Bulgarian cinema. After the inexplicable pause in funding the
filmmaking and the risk the Law of film industry to be changed and not
observed, the process is slowly recovering. Compliance with this Act
will ensure the sustainability of the process. This year we have a total
of 15 feature films. The question is what will we show next year!

Do you think a Bulgarian film may soon win an “Oscar” or “Golden Palm”?

Stefan
Kitanov: Yes, why not! The next Five-Year Plan of the Sofia
International Film Festival – to 20th anniversary, this is one of the
goals we set for ourselves... I mean it! But that is a joint work. The
inclusion of The World is Big... in the shortlist of 9 titles nominated for an “Oscar” for a Foreign Language Film, the success of Eastern Plays at Cannes and Georgi and the Butterflies
in Amsterdam crowned the efforts of all in the past decade. The new
starts strongly! Two of the five Eastern European films at Cannes were
Bulgarian! It is logical to have even greater success. It is important
to be consistent and to appreciate the talented people you have. Let’s
wish this decade the world to talk about a New wave in the Bulgarian
cinema...

Read the whole interview on SIFF's website.