Bulgarian cinema

The French-speaking spectator on little occasions to discover the Bulgarian cinema , whose films are seldom projected in France for example, except for some cycles suggested by the rooms of art and test, whereas the international festivals however greeted a certain number of them.

History of the Bulgarian cinema

An embryonic existence before the war

Even if the first projections of the cinematograph Lumière took place as of 1897, the cinema knew rather hard beginnings in Bulgaria, in particular by comparison with other adjoining countries, and one counts only 55 feature-length films before the nationalization of cinema industry in 1948.

It is not easy to identify tendencies or movements before the Second world war. Many films seem to have been of the summary literary adaptations or of the middle-class comedies, such this pochade of Vasil Zendov, the Bulgarian one is a gallant man (1915) or the Devil in Sofia in 1923. Zendov is also the author of first sound Bulgarian film, the Revolt of the slaves ( Bunt Rabov ), in 1933.

In fact the Bulgarian ones are submerged then by foreign films (especially German, and, to a lesser extent at this moment, American, even French).

Some titles of this period:

1923: Under the sky of antan of Nicola Larin; the Rock of the young girls of Boris Grezov
1931: Tombs without cross of Boris Grezov
1936: Tumulus of Aleksandar Vazov
1938: Strahil Voïvode ( Strahil Vojvoda ) of Iosip Novak

A very controlled cinema

April 5th, 1948 a law nationalizes Bulgarian cinema industry. The documentary ones, the historical and ideological films are then encouraged. This tendency attenuates after 1956.

Some titles of this period:

1950: the Eagle Kaline ( Kaline Orelat ) of Boris Borozanov
1951: Alarm ( Trevoga ) of Zacharie Jandov
1958: Favorite n° 13 ( Lubimetz N° 13 ) of Vladimir Yantchev; On an small island ( Na Malkia Ostrov ) of Rangel Valchanov
1961: We were young ( has biahme mladi ) Binka Jeliazkova
1962: the Tobacco ( Tyutyun ) of Nicola Korabov (nominated for the Palm of gold to the Cannes festival of 1963)
1964: the Robber of fishings ( Kradetzat Na Praskovi ) of Vulo Radev
1968: Birds and greyhounds ( Ptitzi I Khratki ) of Georgi Stoianov
1969: Iconostase ( Ikonostassat ) of Christo Christov and Todor Dinov

Diversification of the production

The problems cntemporains start to be approached and one perceives even a certain form of social criticism.

Some films of this period:

1972: the Horn of the goat ( Kozijat Rog ) of Methodi Andonov
1973: Men without work of Ivan Terziev; Affection ( Obitch ) of Ludmil Staikov
1974: the Last Summer ( Posledno Liato ) of Christo Christov
1975: Osadeni Dushi of Vulo Radev
1975: Svatbite Na Yoan Asen of Vili Tzankov
1977: the Advantage of Georgi Djulgerov; virile Times of Edouard Zakhariev
1978: Panteleï of Georgi Stoianov; Toplo
1979 : varnished Shoes of the unknown soldier of Rangel Valchanov; the Barrier of Christo Christov
1980: Illusion of Ludmil Staikov; Dami Kanyat of Ivan Antonov

Historical interlude and contemporary problems

In 1981 the Bulgarian State celebrates the 1300ème birthday of its foundation and orders from this occasion a series of epic spectaculars celebrating such or such episode of the history of the country. However the Bulgarian cinema - influenced by the new waves of Western Europe - also leans on the evolution of the company.

Some films of this period:

1981: Ell for ell of Georgi Djulgerov; Aszparuh of Ludmil Staikov
1982: white Magic of Ivan Andonov; Orkestar Bez Ime
1983 : central Hotel of Veselin Branev; Gospodin za Edin Den of Nicolai Volev
1984: Opasen Tank of Ivan Andonov
1987: Return to earth of Rumyana Petkova
1988: Ivan and Alexandre of Ivan Nicev; Vchera of Ivan Andonov; Vreme Na Nasilie of Ludmil Staikov
1989: Me, the countess ( Az, grafinyata ) of Peter Popzlatev
1990: the Camp of Georgi Djulgerov

After-Communism

The collapse of the Communism in 1990, with the political upheavals which follow, is added to the phenomena that one observes in the other Western countries: compete with television, frequentation in fall, hegemony of the American cinema. All that hardly supports the rise of the Bulgarian cinema.

However this new freedom makes it possible to approach topics until there taboos and to denounce former excesses.

1993: Something in the air ( Necto vav vazducha ) of Peter Popzlatev
1995: the black Swallow of Georgi Djulgerov

Today

2001 : Opashkata Na Diavola
2001: Pismo C Amerika

Without speaking about the coproductions, the current Bulgarian production is of three or four films per annum. Largest national film successes in Bulgaria were for the year 2004: Patuvane kam Yerusalim of Ivan Nitchev, Izpepelyavane of Stanimir Trifonov and Mila ot Mars of Zornitsa Sophia.

The best results of 2005 are: Georgi I peperudite of Andrey Paounov, Mila ot Mars of Zornitsa Sophia, Otkradnati ochi of Radoslav Spasov and Leydi Zi of Georgi Djulgerov.

The cinema of animation

In Bulgaria the Cinéma of animation appears with Todor Dinov in the years Années 1950 and 60, followed by Donio Donev and Stoian Dukov in the Années 1970.

With the International festival of cartoon film of Annecy of 2006, Andrey Tsevtkov gains the Prix UNICEF for its short film Cherno Na byalo ( Black one White ), a protest against a company which rejects the differences.

Actors and actresses

Stoyan Bachvarov - Rusi Chanev - Georgi Cherkelov - Stefan Danailov - Itzhak Fintzi - Georgi Georgiev - Stanislav Ianevski - Georgi Kalojanchev - Velko Kanev - Apostol Karamitev - Nevena Kokanova - Todor Kolev - Marius Kurkinski - Tatyana Lolova - Georgi Mamalev - Hristo Mutafchiev - Stoyanka Mutafova - Lyubomir Neikov - Georgi Partsalev - Katya Paskaleva - Pavel Popandov - Petar Popyordanov - Krastiu Petrov Sarafov - Josif Sarchadjiev - Hristo Shopov - Naum Shopov - Petar Slabakov - Kosta Tsonev - Grigor Vachkov - Martina Vachkova - Ani Valchanova

Festival

International festival of film of Sofia

Festival " Glances on the Bulgare" cinema; Paris: from January 31st to February 5th, 2007. Cinema " The Médicis" Reflection;.

Formation

the University of the theater and cinema (VITIS) is created in Sofia in 1973.

Reviews of cinema

Kinoiskousstvo (founded in 1945)
Filmovi Novini (founded in 1954)
Bulgarski Filmi (founded in 1963)

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