Galery

1

Anastasia Balezdrova

For the 17^th year, the International Film Festival Opening Nights offers Athenians and visitors to the capital an intriguing selection of films, including anticipated premieres of films, unknown directors, "weird" films and music documentaries.

Among the featured premiere films are George Clooney’s The Ides of March, The Conspirator by Robert Redford, Machine Gun Preacher by Mark Foster, the musical comedy Killing Bono, and the Greek film Milk directed by Giorgos Siugas which in fact is a successful theatrical production transferred on the big screen.

An international jury composed of young professionals will judge the films participating in the competition section. Among them is the 21-year-old Bulgarian Svetoslava Lapcheva who GRReporter presents to its readers.

Who is Svetoslava Lapcheva?

I have been studying film making at King's College in London for two years. Before that, I graduated the American College in Sofia in the field of literature and history, so it was quite natural to study cinema. Actually, my main idea was to study something related to art, but because I was not quite sure until the last moment, things went in that direction. The truth is that I am very pleased with my choice, because I intended to study photography, art or design and I decided that the cinema combines all these things somehow.

How did you become part of the jury of the festival? How did the organizers invite you?

In the university, we receive a newsletter related to art and I stumbled on the international festival in Athens by accident. I thought I should try, because I knew it was about an international jury with the participation of young people. I assumed that all members of the jury will be students and because I have been studying cinema the last two years in London, I visited many festivals as a spectator of course. Therefore, I was very interested to see if there is still a chance to come. Furthermore, I wanted to see Athens. I applied. There was no contest, but I had to write a short essay on a preferred topic and a film. Just then, I saw the new Werner Herzog film for the Chauvet cave in France, which is his first 3D-movie. It provoked strong feelings in me, it almost made me cry. Although it is a documentary, it was made beautifully. I wrote an essay on this topic. A little later, the organizers sent me an invitation. Of course, I accepted it and here am I in Athens.

What does it feel like to be a member of a jury, despite your short your experience?
 
It is very nice. I would be very happy if this or something related to it could be my profession. We arrived two days ago and attended the opening of the festival that evening. The film was The Artist directed by Michel Hazanavisious. A new, beautifully made film in the style of the 1920s, during the transition from silent films to films with voice. I could say it was a very interesting premiere. Then there was a party where we met different and very nice people.

In fact, I am very pleasantly surprised by Greece, I feel very good here. It is especially nice for me to be acquainted with people. All are very nice and smiling, and we liked each other with the other members of the jury too. Every morning we watch two films for the competition and we choose what to watch in the afternoon.

Are you eager to see a particular film by a particular director?

It was slightly unprofessional, but I decided not to check what films are in the competition, or their contents. I do not like the advertisements, describing a film, because they spoil the pleasure mainly from the photography work. Therefore, I'm constantly surprised that I like a lot. I think nothing better could happen to you in cinema than to be surprised.

All images that I looked were interesting. I expect the tomorrow's screening of an English film titled Submarine by Richard Ayuade. This is his first film as far as I know. My interest comes from his participation in an English series some years ago, which I like for subjective reasons. Moreover, I saw a few frames that made the film, which anyway is involved in the competition, even more interesting to me. So far, there are other movies that I liked, but I will not say which ones.

What should a film contain to impress you and give it your highest rating?

Because I have been doing photography for many years, I value cinematography very much. The more interesting, abstract and strange it is as well as the cutting, the more I like the film. However, every film is so different. In recent years, I have seen things that I have not expected that I would like. I have never been a fan of the American cinema, but I liked very much the musicals from the 1930s and 1950s contrary to my expectations. So I try not to be very biased or to have any serious expectations, because I have been very rarely disappointed so far.

Share a case of disappointment still.

The Sofia International Film Festival this year for some reason focused on the Black Swan, a highly commercial film. At one point, I realized that the organizers were able to show Pina by Wim Wenders immediately after the festival in Berlin, which was a great opportunity for the Bulgarian audience. The film was not shown and thus Wim Wenders did not attend the festival. I'm disappointed because if there is a festival in Bulgaria that could become a major event this is precisely the Sofia International Film Festival. Moreover, if there is an opportunity an artist like Wim Wenders to take part in it, the organizers should do their best to make this happen, not because he is great, or a celebrity, but because he is an interesting person who could draw the interest of the audience.
 
I lived in Sofia five years and I know many people who would like to watch films, which for some reason do not reach Bulgaria. There was a European cinema, something like a house of art, which showed Pedro Almodovar’s films for months. No matter how much the audience like Almodovar, it cannot watch the same films every time. I think new things are on the way. In addition, there are many young people studying abroad and are interested in theater and cinema. Many of them return to Bulgaria. So, there is audience for valuable things.

Would you return?

I do not know. It depends on the circumstances. If they allow me – I would. But if I have a good opportunity for any other type of work abroad, I would not return probably. I am not going to live somewhere in particular and to settle there forever. Perhaps this is the most interesting in the cinema: you constantly see things that are in other countries, different cultures, a real exchange of emotional and spiritual information in fact. On the other hand, the people I meet are in constant movement, they come from different countries, have different interests and this is what I like most. That is why I like this festival and I have not yet managed to see even a small part of Athens.

How would you rate the organization?

Everything is wonderful. I was at major festivals in London, but the scale there is different as well as the funding. Here in Athens they take care of us, guide us and help us in many ways, which is unusual for me. And people are more relaxed, more southerners in the best sense.

What do you think of the contemporary Bulgarian cinema?

Recently I watched Mission London and Love.net. There is another film, but I am not aware of it. I could say Mission London is among the films that I could not understand because the humor in it is more or less connected with something I have not experienced. Love.net did not surpass my expectations, but it was well shot.

I think when people make films, and successful ones, I cannot criticize them, because personally I do not like them. Every job and every team are for themselves. The fact that someone is from Bulgaria could not reach worldwide recognition. In this sense, I think that more and more films will be made. In no case we should be susceptible to any type of bad feelings that "we do not have films in Bulgaria" and the like. This was the course of things. The question is what will happen in the future.

Yavor Gurdev’s ZIFT was released a few years ago. A film noir, very well made, a kind of crime film that I liked a lot. Of course, it had nothing to do with the Bulgarian reality in the 1960s but it is ultimately an interesting look of the history.

The creativity and the sense of creativity have nothing to do with from where a man comes. In cinema, always something can be done with or without a budget. So let's wish to have many new and interesting films.