Two Bulgarian films win awards at the CinEast Film Festival in Luxembourg

Bulgaria was a special focus of this year’s festival in Luxembourg. The “Focus on Bulgaria” programme showcased contemporary Bulgarian cinema and culture through seven feature films and two short films, meetings with Bulgarian directors and artists, a Bulgarian-themed evening, two concerts, a photography exhibition and Bulgarian cuisine. The Bulgarian Embassy in Belgium partnered with the festival and co-organised some of the accompanying events.

Gadje is the debut film of young director and screenwriter Georges Vanev. Born in Sofia, he has lived in Belgium for 30 years. He studied French literature before going on to study cinematography and earned a master’s degree in screenwriting in 2022. Although he was only two years old when he moved to Belgium with his parents, Vanev has maintained a strong connection with Bulgaria. His short film was shot in the Bulgarian village of Bosnek. A contemporary love story reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, it explores themes of racism and discrimination.

The other Bulgarian film to capture audiences’ attention at CinEast, In Hell with Ivo, offers a compelling portrait of an artist who defies conventional boundaries. Directed by Kristina Nikolova, the film follows queer performance artist and songwriter Ivo Dimchev, who transforms personal and social hardship into provocative public and intimate spectacles, boldly exploring sexuality, identity, faith and activism in a liberating celebration of queer visibility.