Welcome to Sveti Vlas Film Fest
The glamorous event that pays tribute to the richness and diversity of Bulgarian cinema. Here, under the starry sky of Sveti Vlas, you will have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the unique world of Bulgarian films, meet your favorite actors and experience unforgettable moments. Come and enjoy this cinematic journey!
The passion for the seventh art
For the third year in a row, Dinevi Group in partnership with New Boyana Film Studios organizes an event with a varied program of screenings and events to satisfy the tastes of all cinema enthusiasts. Gathering filmmakers, critics and fans in the atmosphere of a shared passion for the seventh art, Sveti Vlas Film Fest not only promotes the work of established professionals, but also serves as a platform for emerging talents.
Competition for a short film shot with a Samsung phone
For anyone who has a passion for cinema and a desire to get involved, regardless of age, education, professional orientation.
PRIZES:
- 1st place – SAMSUNG Galaxy S24 Ultra
- 2n place – SAMSUNG Galaxy S24+
- 3rd place – SAMSUNG Galaxy S24
Wingless
Bulgaria | 2024 | 107 min | Directed by: Niki Iliev
Windless
Bulgaria | 2024 | 93 min | Directed by: Pavel G. Vesnakov
Tarika
Bulgaria, Germany, Luxembourg | 2024 | 83 min | Directed by: Milko Lazarov
Gundi: Legend of Love
Bulgaria | 2024| 165 min | Directed by: Dimitar Dimitrov
We are delighted to present the SVFF program of films, premieres and events. Choose your titles, we are waiting for you!
Expect soon the program and the titles that will participate in the upcoming edition of Sveti Vlas Fim Fest 2024
Jury
This year again, the jury of the Sveti Vlas Film Fest features a team of eminent cinema experts, including award-winning directors, famous actors and influential figures in the film industry.
Eli Skorcheva
Eli Skorcheva graduated in Acting from the Krastyo Sarafov National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (then known as VITIZ) in the class of Professor Nadezhda Seikova. Her star career began with the film Adaptation (1982). She went on to appear in The Queen of Tarnovo, Constantine the Philosopher, In the Name of the People, and Eva on the Third Floor. She remained active in Bulgarian cinema until 1992, with her final screen appearance in Vampires, Goblins.
With the film Blaga’s Lessons, Eli Skorcheva made a triumphant return to the big screen, earning acclaim and awards for Best Actress at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the Golden Rose Festival, the Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers’ “Vasil Gendov” Awards, and the Sveti Vlas Film Fest.
Lachezar Avramov
Lachezar Avramov graduated in Film and Television Directing from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in the class of Professor Vladislav Ikonomov. He directed the television film The Chaser (2008), the BNT documentary series A Hitchhiker’s Guide to History, the show Friday at Five Sharp, as well as numerous commercials and music videos.
In 2018, he made his feature film debut with A Picture with Yuki, followed two years later by the comedy Yellow Oleander.
Dimitar Kotzev-Shosho
Dimitar Kotsev–Shosho is a writer and director. He holds a degree in English Philology from Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and studied Film and Television Directing at the Krastyo Sarafov National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts. He is the author of the novels Lora from Morning Till Evening and Shrimp. He directed the TV series Fourth Estate and Alpha, as well as the feature films Lora from Morning Till Evening and Monkey, along with short films and commercials. In 2018, he won the Golden Rose Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film Living Chimneys. In 2022, Dimitar Kotsev–Shosho directed the documentary film based on the autobiographical novel The Watched Man by screenwriter, director, and author Veselin Branev. This year, his third feature film, The Answer to All Questions, premiered on the big screen.
Eleonora Ivanova
Eleonora Ivanova graduated in Drama Acting from the Krastyo Sarafov National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in the class of Dr. Ivaylo Hristov. She is a member of the Sofia Theatre ensemble and gained wide recognition for her role as Poli in the TV series Brothers. Her film credits include Fear, Shakespeare Like a Street Dog, and Chalga. Her most recent appearances are in The Hunter’s Autumn and Devilish Games. For her performance in the film The Platform, she received the “Vasil Gendov” Award from the Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers for Best Supporting Actress.
Georgi Kostov
Georgi Kostov is a Bulgarian director, producer, and screenwriter with over 25 years of experience in film and television. Founder of the production company Media Productions, he is behind some of the most distinctive contemporary Bulgarian films, skillfully blending genre cinema with social and cultural themes. He made his feature film debut with A Gun, a Suitcase and Three Stinking Barrels, followed by 11A, Sex Academy: Men, The Rebellious, The Rest Is Ashes, and Stock Players. His latest film is The Pulse of Dance.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deyan Statulov
Dr. Deyan Statulov is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Art Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS). His academic interests focus on the history of Bulgarian cinema, censorship, and propaganda during the socialist period. He has worked as a screenwriter and editor for television programs and formats, editor-in-chief of the festival newspapers for the Sofia International Film Festival and the Golden Rose Festival, and served as the Program Director of the “House of Cinema” in Sofia (2013–2015). He teaches film history at the Lyuben Groys Theatre College in Sofia. In 2022, he received the “Vasil Gendov” award for critical writing from the Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers (UBFM). He is also the recipient of the 2022 Institute of Art Studies award for outstanding scientific achievement for his book ”(Im)possible Freedom: Ideological Censorship in Bulgarian Feature Film (1948–1989).” In 2024, he was again awarded the “Vasil Gendov” prize by UBFM for his book ”(Re)commended Films.”
Bashar Rahal
Bulgarian actor, present in the ranks of the “Tear and Laughter” theater. Bashar Rahal became 100% recognizable by Bulgarian viewers after his participation in the series “Glass House”, he also received one of the main roles in the series “The Tree of Life”, and entered the house of the comedy series “House Arrest”. He also successfully coped with his role as the host of the popular sci-fi series “Great Mysteries” in Los Angeles, where he appeared in more than 20 American productions, among them “Unit”, “The Squad”, “Frozen Death” and one of the most the most watched and most expensive series of all time – “24”.
Niki Iliev
Niki Iliev is the director and screenwriter of the films “The Foreigner”, “Living Legends”, “Knockout or Everything She Wrote”, “The Return”, “The Return Part 2” and “Wingless”, which is expected to premiere in 2024 .
Director of the TV series “House Arrest”, “Dear Heirs”, “Downtown Cops”, “The Closet”, “Brothers”, “With a River in the Heart” and “Walk of Fame”.
He participated as an actor in Bulgarian and foreign productions such as “Ashes on the Sun”, “The Pulse of the Dance”, “It’s Never Just Sex”, “The Foreigner”, “Living Legends”, “Return” and others.
Since 2015, he has been a main lecturer in film directing at the New Bulgarian University.
Dimitar Gochev
Dimitar Gochev is a director and producer, among his projects are the films “Ave”, “Stoichkov”, “Revolution X”, as well as the series “Undercover”, “Glass House”.
Ivan Garelov
Bulgarian journalist and TV presenter. He started working as an editor in “Narodna Vladje” v., and then gained experience in BTA. In 1973, he joined BNT as a reporter. During these years, he realized a number of documentaries from hot spots on the planet.
SELECTION COMMITTEE
The audience of Sveti Vlas Film Fest will once again enjoy a selection of films carefully curated by a team of professionals with high standards for the art of cinema, led by Associate Professor Dr. Deyan Statulov.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Deyan Statulov
Dr. Deyan Statulov is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Art Studies at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS). His academic interests focus on the history of Bulgarian cinema, censorship, and propaganda during the socialist period. He has worked as a screenwriter and editor for television programs and formats, editor-in-chief of the festival newspapers for the Sofia International Film Festival and the Golden Rose Festival, and served as the Program Director of the “House of Cinema” in Sofia (2013–2015). He teaches film history at the Lyuben Groys Theatre College in Sofia. In 2022, he received the “Vasil Gendov” award for critical writing from the Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers (UBFM). He is also the recipient of the 2022 Institute of Art Studies award for outstanding scientific achievement for his book ”(Im)possible Freedom: Ideological Censorship in Bulgarian Feature Film (1948–1989).” In 2024, he was again awarded the “Vasil Gendov” prize by UBFM for his book ”(Re)commended Films.”
Egor Sharay
Egor Sharay is a Dubai-based journalist and cultural analyst with over 16 years of experience across the UAE’s creative industries. He held editorial leadership at titles like Concierge Magazine, Aviamost, and Rush, and is among the first Russian-speaking editors in Dubai’s media landscape. Currently editor of Buro 247 Dubai, he was awarded the UAE Cultural Golden Visa in 2021 for his contribution to the arts. He has interviewed prominent Emirati figures and is the author of Dubai – The Art of Wealth (2025), exploring the intersections of art, technology, and cultural identity.
Toni Dobrinska
Toni Dobrinska holds a Master’s degree in Sociology and has over 20 years of experience in the film industry. For more than a decade, she has managed her own company focused on the distribution of Bulgarian and international films, as well as on cultural project development. She has collaborated with leading cinemas, institutions, and alternative film networks, and plays a key role in the festival’s selection committee. Dobrinska is a strong advocate for independent cinema and cultural engagement in Bulgaria.
on actual events
We present to you our extensive program of accompanying events to complement the exciting atmosphere of the Sveti Vlas Film Fest.
AH, this Vlas!
Saint Vlas is the pearl of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, where nature meets history in an unforgettable experience. With its gorgeous beaches, crystal clear waters and captivating sea views, it offers the perfect scene for your next vacation.
See how from its humble beginnings, Sveti Vlas Film Fest has grown into an event that is eagerly awaited by audiences and critics alike, and today is a true celebration of the best of Bulgarian cinema.
Immerse yourself in the magic of the event through the lens of our photographers and enjoy the visual narrative of the Sveti Vlas Film Fest.