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Haitian director Raoul Peck has an impressive filmography, dominated by works with political themes focusing on various social and historical issues concerning the struggle for independence and equality of emblematic figures from different races and continents. His family fled the dictatorship in Haiti, and Peck studied in Kinshasa (DR Congo), New York, and Orleans (France) before beginning his studies at Humboldt University in Berlin. His film "I'm Not Your Negro," dedicated to civil rights activist James Baldwin, won the People's Choice Award for Documentary Film in Toronto, two awards at the Berlinale, the BAFTA and César Awards for Documentary Film, and was nominated for an Oscar. His latest work is dedicated to the work of George Orwell and his remarkable novel " 1984 ," with a special emphasis on conclusions about political reality that are still sadly relevant today with the rise of authoritarianism in various parts of the world. " Orwell: 2+2 = 5 " was nominated for the Golden Eye Award, presented in Cannes for best documentary film. Here is what the author shares about Orwell, who inspired his new film: " His name has become an emblematic adjective – 'Orwellian' – denoting authoritarian mechanisms and changing aspects of our modern world: surveillance, censorship, political corruption, fake news, class struggles, the temptations of power, algorithms, drones, constant wars, distraction as an obvious way to underestimate and ignore repression in the modern world. His literary phrases and ideas are everywhere in new versions or in their original forms: "Big Brother," "thought police," "memory hole," "incivility," "thought crime," and so on. He is all around us. And today, in times of uncertainty, is the right moment to contrast myth with reality, in light of the clear and present danger in which 2+2 definitely equals 5. " * * * Tarik Saleh is a well-known author in the world of cinema – the premiere of his feature debut "Metropia" was part of the Venice Film Festival program in 2009, and after the first part of his Cairo Trilogy – "The Nile Hilton Incident" – won the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, the sequels " Boy from Heaven " (2022, winner of the Best Screenplay award) and " Eagles of the Republic " (2025) were presented in the competition program at Cannes. In Saleh's latest work, the tradition is upheld – actor Fares Fares plays one of the leading roles, and the genre is once again a thriller, full of tension, exposing the peculiarities of society, religion, and power in the country. The plot revolves around the complex relationships between politicians and extremely popular figures – an actor and his colleagues, who are blackmailed into participating in anti-government conspiracies. Under the threat of losing everything valuable in his life, the most beloved actor in the country is forced to accept an offer that will lead to unpredictable consequences and twists in the plot. A skilled storyteller and defender of justice in his ancestors' homeland, Saleh has devoted nearly a decade to his trilogy, which exposes religious fanaticism, political machinations, and the quest for total power over the inevitable changes in society. * * * We're WAITING for you at the #CINEMA! #30SofiaIFF

Mira Staleva, Executive Director of Sofia Film Fest and Head of Sofia Meetings, has been re-elected as a member of the EFA Board This Saturday, the European Film Awards will be presented for the 38th time. Among the nominated films are some of the most important works of the past year, premiered at prestigious film forums around the world. The festive ceremony for the presentation of the most prestigious awards for European cinema will take place on January 17 in Berlin, organized by the European Film Academy and European Film Academy Productions. For the fifth consecutive year, the EFA board includes a representative of the Bulgarian film community – Mira Staleva , executive director of Sofia Film Festival and head of Sofia Meetings. Her re-election to the board of the European Film Academy reaffirms the international recognition of the importance and prestige of the Sofia Film Festival and Sofia Meetings by European film organizations. SIFF is the only Bulgarian film festival accredited by FIAPF, and festival director Stefan Kitanov has been among the experts advising the EFA on nominations for the European Film Awards for over 10 years. The EFA awards ceremony honors the achievements of European cinema and welcomes special guests and representatives of the European Film Academy. The Bulgarian audience can be part of the celebration by watching the ceremony LIVE on the Sofia Film Festival's website on Saturday, January 17, starting at 7:00 p.m. Liv Ullmann will be honored with an award for her outstanding achievements throughout her long creative career. The great actress will be a guest of honor at the 38th ceremony in Berlin, the capital of Germany, where the European Film Academy is based. The award for European contribution to world cinema will be presented to director Alice Rohrwacher . The event will be broadcast live on www.europeanfilmawards.eu and www.siff.bg. The European Film Academy was created on the initiative of a group of 40 of Europe's most influential filmmakers, who gathered in November 1988 for the first European Film Awards ceremony. The Academy was founded in 1989, with Ingmar Bergman as its first president. He was followed by Wim Wenders, who served as president for many years, and the current president is actress Juliette Binoche. The EFA supports and connects its 5,400 members, paying close attention to their work, promoting it and educating audiences of all ages. Detailed information about the nominations in the various categories can be found at www.europeanfilmawards.eu.

The second feature film by German screenwriter and director Mascha Schillinski , " The Sound of Falling " ( The Sound Of Falling ) received one of the most prestigious awards in May 2025 – the Jury Prize at Cannes – and was included in the shortlist for the international Oscar as Germany's nominee. The story is dedicated to four girls – Alma (from the 1910s), Erika (in the 1940s), Angelika (from the 1980s) and Lenka (in the 2020s), who spend their youth in different eras but on the same farm in northern Germany. As the house evolves and changes over more than 100 years, echoes of the past remain within its walls. Although separated in time, the girls' destinies reflect each other and reveal unexpected details that have been kept secret. * * * The award for best screenplay and the Ecumenical Jury Prize at Cannes '25 were presented to the legendary brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne for their latest film, " Young Mothers ". Through an almost documentary-like narrative, the experienced Darden brothers introduce the audience to the problems and struggles of five teenage girls living in a shelter for young mothers, who hope for a better life for themselves and their babies. Here is what David Rooney writes for The Hollywood Reporter: " There is not a false note in the young actors' performances, and they all participate in genuinely touching scenes. Young Mothers is captivating even when the focus is on the daily responsibilities of parenthood – feeding, changing diapers, bathing – or when it captures the wonder and joy of a mother gazing at the tiny face of the child she has created ." Greeted with ovations in Cannes, the Dardenne brothers' new film will be a special highlight in the program of the 30th anniversary Sofia Film Fest in March. * * * We're WAITING for you at the #CINEMA! #30SofiaIFF

On January 6, Epiphany (Theophany), filming began on “ Cold ”, a new feature film co-produced between Bulgaria and Italy. “Cold” is the debut for director Ana Kitanova , screenwriter Iliana Kitanova, and cinematographer Angel Balakchiyiski. The screenplay is based on stories from “A Fiery Dance” (“Ogneno Horo”), an unpublished book by Bone Rusinov. “ Cold ” follows the stories of the residents of a small boarder village in the Trun region in Bulgaria. They were recorded over a period of three decades at the end of the 20th century by Daskal Yordan, the local teacher who found himself rejected by society. The collection includes stories of dancing among wolves, love and loneliness, the Bulgarian folk boogeymen or karakondjuli, and humanity. Will they survive when the snow melts and the village falls silent? The cast consists of leading actors: Ivan Barnev, Ivana Papazova, and Alexander Triffonov. Other actors include Krasimir Dokov, Alek Alexiev, Yana Titova, Ivan Savov, Dobrin Dosev, Vladimir Mihaylov, Alen Kermac, Jordan Russin, Anna Manolova, Ljubov Ljubcheva, Andrian Petrov and Jordan Bikov. Special appearences make Georgi Todorov-Jozi, Kiriakos Argiropoulos and the folk singer Lilly Galevska. The musical score is to be composed by Stefan Valdobrev, and the production designer is Ivelina Mineva. The consultant on the authentic Tran dialect, in which the film is shot, is Zhana Solarova. The production manager is Rosen Ignatov. The film is a coproduction of RFF International, Bulgaria (Stefan Kitanov), and Pilgrim, Italy (Andrea Magnani and Chiara Barbo). “ Cold ” is made with the support of the National Film Centre (Bulgaria), the Ministry of Culture and the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Fund (Italy), as well as the Creative Europe MEDIA programme of the European Union, in partnership with Dolly Media Studio and Magic Shop (Bulgaria). Filming will continue until mid-February in the picturesque villages in the Smolyan and Rudozem areas, as well as in the vicinity of Sofia.

Panahi's talent as a master of fascinating stories has long been recognized in the world of cinema - the director has in his collection the Venice's "Golden Lion" (for "Circles", 2000), the Berlin's "Golden Bear" (for "Taxi", 2015) and the "Golden Palm" for his latest film " It Was Just an Accident ", which big screen premiere in Bulgaria will be in the 30th anniversary Sofia Film Festival's programme. The latest film by the renowned Iranian director has been included as France's entry in the shortlist for the Oscar nominations for Best International Film. Among the Golden Globe nominations, " It Was Just an Accident " competes in four categories - for best picture, director, screenplay and film in a non-English language. The prestigious prize received by Panahi from Cate Blanchett and jury president Juliette Binoche in Cannes marks a new stage in his work, after all the hardships, restrictions, censorship and years of imprisonment in his native country Iran. " It Was Just an Accident " is Jafar Panahi 's first film since his release from prison and follows a man, his pregnant wife and their daughter who had a car crash, and this accident transforms into a series of events with important personal and societal consequences. True to his approach to film narratives, Panahi uses a deceptively simple plot twist and gradually delves into complex moral cases, critiques of social order, and the fragility of humanity and existence. Panahi is a key figure in the Iranian New Wave. His socially engaged films explore themes such as repression, social injustice and restrictions on freedom in Iran. His feature debut "The White Balloon" (1995) won the Camera d'Or at Cannes, the first major recognition for Iranian cinema at that festival. Despite his numerous arrests and bans, he continues to create films that pose sharp social and political issues. In the immediate aftermath of the latest sentence against him by the Iranian government, he dedicated several of his film's awards to " the creators who continue to shoot in silence, without support, often risking everything they have for their belief in truth and humanity ." Jafar Panahi is among the best friends of Sofia Film Festival, having been a special guest at the 2002 and 2004 editions, and in 2021 he was awarded with the Sofia Award for his contribution to the art of cinema. * * * We're WAITING for you at the #CINEMA! #30SofiaIFF

Sofia International Film Festival has been traveling in Bulgaria for years now and has had editions in 20 towns so far: Burgas – since 2003 Plovdiv – since 2006 Russe – first screening in an open air in 2007, Sofia Film Fest on the Road edition in 2009 Kozlodui – singular screenings since 2009 Stara Zagora – since 2010 Varna – since 2010 Blagoevgrad – since 2010 Gabrovo – since 2010 Sliven – since 2010 Dobrich – since 2010 Sozopol – since 2010 Malko Tarnovo – a special screening in 2011 Godech – a special screening in 2011 Chernomorets – a special screening in 2011 Targovishte – since 2012 Veliko Tarnovo – since 2012 Kazanlak – since 2012 Pomorie – since 2012 Lozenetz – since 2012 Tran – a special screening in 2012

20 selected international festivals, which the Sofia International Film Festival visits through the year: Rotterdam – January Berlin – February Istanbul – April Wiesbaden – April Cannes – May Cluj – June Moscow – June Karlovy Vary – June Sarajevo – July Yerevan – July Jerusalem – July Locarno – August Venice – August/September San Sebastian – September Warsaw – October Ghent – October London – October Cottbus – November Thessaloniki – November Talinn – November/December SIFF's director Stefan Kitanov and SIFF's deputy director and head of Sofia Meetings, Mira Staleva, travel mostly on those festivals. In some years, the list varies and the festivals in the following cities could be visited instead some of the above mentioned: Trieste, Plzen, Vilnius, Vologda, Odessa, Sankt Peterburg, London, Mar De Plata, Gijon, Lece, Bari, Adana, Torino, etc.

The garden in the courtyard of the building where Kita lives is an oasis in the centre of Sofia. Only 5 minutes away from the NPC, the garden will make someone believe that it is actually in a small town. After the yard was cleaned, a wall was built and a grass was planted, the actor Mihail Bilalov, who is also a landscape arcitect, suggested which plants where to be arranged, during the shooting of Which Way Today. There is a variety of plants in the garden, such as: a magnolia, three hibiscuses, two leanders, a yew, a maple tree, two cypresses, two euonimuses, two thujas, a boxshrub, a barberry,virgin's bowers, an Oregon grape, Ilex vomitoria, forsythia, roses, hortensia, fuchsia, Impatiens and begonias, lilium, tulips, daffodils, crocuses, snowdrops.