15th Edition of Sofia Film Fest in Veliko Tarnovo – The Tradition Continues!
🏆 We open with the Palme d’Or winner “An Ordinary Accident” by Iranian director Jafar Panahi.
The team of Sofia Film Fest and the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo invite residents and guests of the historic capital to the 15th edition of SFF Veliko Tarnovo. Our goal is to continue the established tradition of bringing world cinema to the widest possible audience across the country and to cultivate a taste for quality films with a curated selection for true cinephiles.
🎥 The 15th edition of SFF Veliko Tarnovo is part of the Art Fest project “SFF On the Road 2026”, organized in partnership with the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo and with the support of the National Film Center, Vivacom, and the pan-European cinema network Europa Cinemas.
📌 Screenings will traditionally take place over three days – May 8, 9, and 10 (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday).
🎯 There are EIGHT FILMS, and admission is FREE.
📌 The festival begins on Friday, May 8 at 18:00 with the latest feature film by Iranian director Jafar Panahi, “AN ORDINARY ACCIDENT”, which opened the 30th Sofia Film Fest in March with its Bulgarian premiere. This is Panahi’s first work after his release from prison and follows a man, his pregnant wife, and their daughter, whose car accident turns into a chain of events with significant personal and social consequences. Panahi’s talent as a storyteller has long been internationally recognized – he has won the Golden Lion in Venice (The Circle, 2000), the Golden Bear in Berlin (Taxi, 2015), and the Palme d’Or for An Ordinary Accident, which also received two Oscar nominations.
📌 On Friday evening, May 8 at 20:00, we present the latest film by German director Christian Petzold, “REFLECTIONS No. 3”. The film premiered at Cannes 2025 in the Directors’ Fortnight section. Petzold once again collaborates with his “muse,” the elegant and talented actress Paula Beer. Inspired by Maurice Ravel’s composition “Reflections No. 3: A Boat on the Ocean,” the film follows Laura, who survives a car accident and ends up living in a strange harmony with the unusual family of her rescuer in the countryside.
📌 We continue on Saturday, May 9 at 17:00 with the short film “LESSON”, created by participants in the first edition of the KinoClass Balkan – Veliko Tarnovo project.
🎯 With great pleasure, the team will share insights into the creative process of this project, led by its founder, director Nadezhda Koseva, and supported by the National Culture Fund. In March, participants attended theoretical online lectures and met professionals from various film departments. In April, with the support of young filmmakers, the students created their first short film “Lesson.” The students were actively involved in the entire creative and production process, including writing the script, casting, location scouting, and storyboarding. We invite you to see their first film on the big screen!
📌 The second festival day, Saturday, May 9, continues at 18:30 with “THE LAST PRISONERS OF BELENE”, the latest film by director Dimitar Kotsev-Shosho, which premiered at the 30th Sofia Film Fest in March. The documentary tells the story of ordinary people—teachers, engineers, drivers, postmen, doctors, students—who were imprisoned in the Belene labor camp during the forced assimilation of Bulgarian citizens of Turkish origin (1984–1989). It is a story of quiet yet firm resistance against oppression.
🎯 Director Dimitar Kotsev-Shosho will be a special guest and will present the film in person, followed by a Q&A session.
📌 The final film of the second day, Saturday at 20:00, is “HEN” by legendary Hungarian director György Pálfi. This is a striking story about a fearless hen that escapes the miserable life of an industrial farm in search of a safe place to raise her chicks. Along the way, she encounters the cruelty of the human world and becomes entangled in a web of crime and tension in a small Greek coastal village.
📌 The final day, Sunday, May 10, begins at 16:00 with a film dedicated to young audiences – the animated feature “TITINA” by Norwegian director Kajsa Næss. The story follows a legendary dog and its owner, airship engineer Umberto Nobile. Inspired by real events, the film recounts the expedition to the North Pole led by explorer Roald Amundsen, told from the perspective of the dog Titina. The film is dubbed in Bulgarian and is perfect for children and families.
📌 Screenings continue on Sunday at 18:00 with the documentary “THE MAGIC OF THE FOREST” by French director Vincent Munier. Immersing himself in the natural world of lynxes, bears, deer, owls, and other forest creatures, Munier captures the poetic beauty and sounds of nature. The film is also a heartfelt tribute to the bond between generations and the director’s love for his father.
📌 The festival concludes on Sunday, May 10 at 20:00 with “AMRUM ISLAND” by renowned German director Fatih Akin. Inspired by the childhood memories of his co-writer Hark Bohm, the film is set in the final weeks of World War II. It follows 12-year-old Nanning, who must find a way to support his family after his mother falls into deep depression following Hitler’s death. The boy cannot be blamed for his parents’ past, but he cannot escape the reality he inherits.
🆓 We look forward to welcoming you to Sofia Film Fest On the Road – Veliko Tarnovo at the Grand Hall of the Municipality!
