The committee has acknowledged the need for transparency and opened a review process that respects the true merit of our current work. This outcome confirms that our creative community deserves to be judged by the quality of its craft rather than by old habits. I hope this serves as a …
December 6, 2014
Final supporters
byStefan Dobroiu
05/09/2014 - Young Bulgarian directors protest against the National Cinema Council's decision
The National Cinema Council, an expert advisory body under the jurisdiction of the Bulgarian National Film Center, has decided that Ivan Nichev's Bulgarian Rhapsody will represent the country at next year's Oscars. Yet to be released in Bulgaria, Nichev's World War II drama opened a local film festival in June.
The decision was met with astonishment by the local film industry, as Maya Vitkova's Viktoria[+] and Milko Lazarov's Alienation[+] were thought to be the main favourites for the selection. Viktoria was the first Bulgarian film ever to be selected at Sundance and has been shown at dozens of international film festivals since February. Alienation had its world premiere in the Venice Days sidebar of the Venice Film Festival in 2013, where it won the Best Director of a Debut Film Award and the Europa Cinemas Label – Special Mention.
Several Bulgarian directors are determined to protest against the committee's decision. An event was created on Facebook, asking for justice for Bulgarian cinema, and official letters and petitions will be sent to the local National Film Center and Ministry of Culture.
The directors' anger seems justified, as Nichev is actually a member of the National Cinema Council. He seems to be a favourite of the committee, as his previous directorial efforts, After the End of the World and Journey to Jerusalem, the first two films in a trilogy that comes to a close with Bulgarian Rhapsody, were past Oscar candidates.
The protesting directors are questioning not only the committee's decision, which gave Bulgarian Rhapsody 23 points, as against 12 for Viktoria and seven for Alienation, but also its members' objectivity and efficiency in promoting Bulgarian cinema abroad. The 12 members of the committee are Ivan Nichev, Andrey Chertoff, Hristo Hristov, Vladimir Andreev, Galina Toneva, Victor Chuchkov, Ilia Kostov, Ivan Georgiev, Anna Petkova, Vladimir Asenov, Ivan Pavlov and Diana Andreeva.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
September 7, 2014
37 Comments
“Viktoria,” by Maya Vitkova has been rightfully hailed as the most important Bulgarian film of 2014 as it has been praised at several international festivals. Full support for new visions!
This is a painfully unfair situation. The only thing that gives me great joy here is the fact that still there are people in this country who refuse to keep quiet in matters like this one and are eager to champion our worthy cinematic creations in front of the rest of the world.
Let's finish this bullshit where the National Cinema Council consists of acting directors and producers who take decisions on all issues concerning state subsidies for film productions, Oscar entries, etc. If the National Cinema Council does not become independent to a bigger extent, it will remain just another appearance of cleptocracy and backwardness.
The movie "Viktoria" has huge chances at the Oscars because its selection at the Sundance Film Festival! Everybody with an interest in cinema knows the Sundance is the most powerful film festival in US and the best ticket to Oscars for independent films! It's outrageous for the Council to select a movie made by one of it's own members and leave out a Sundance selection!
"I would like to urge to reconsider your decision of submitting a traditional drama that follows conventions and that casts a shadow on the transparency and fairness of your selection process. Submitting “Viktoria” would show a decisive interest in encouraging diverse, young, and daring voices to shine and represent Bulgaria in front of the world."
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
How right is it to have a film of the committee member nominated. Does not look right to me. Furthermore that I have seen Viktoria - fascinating movie, indeed!!!
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The committee has acknowledged the need for transparency and opened a review process that respects the true merit of our current work. This outcome confirms that our creative community deserves to be judged by the quality of its craft rather than by old habits. I hope this serves as a …
December 6, 2014
Final supporters
byStefan Dobroiu
05/09/2014 - Young Bulgarian directors protest against the National Cinema Council's decision
The National Cinema Council, an expert advisory body under the jurisdiction of the Bulgarian National Film Center, has decided that Ivan Nichev's Bulgarian Rhapsody will represent the country at next year's Oscars. Yet to be released in Bulgaria, Nichev's World War II drama opened a local film festival in June.
The decision was met with astonishment by the local film industry, as Maya Vitkova's Viktoria[+] and Milko Lazarov's Alienation[+] were thought to be the main favourites for the selection. Viktoria was the first Bulgarian film ever to be selected at Sundance and has been shown at dozens of international film festivals since February. Alienation had its world premiere in the Venice Days sidebar of the Venice Film Festival in 2013, where it won the Best Director of a Debut Film Award and the Europa Cinemas Label – Special Mention.
Several Bulgarian directors are determined to protest against the committee's decision. An event was created on Facebook, asking for justice for Bulgarian cinema, and official letters and petitions will be sent to the local National Film Center and Ministry of Culture.
The directors' anger seems justified, as Nichev is actually a member of the National Cinema Council. He seems to be a favourite of the committee, as his previous directorial efforts, After the End of the World and Journey to Jerusalem, the first two films in a trilogy that comes to a close with Bulgarian Rhapsody, were past Oscar candidates.
The protesting directors are questioning not only the committee's decision, which gave Bulgarian Rhapsody 23 points, as against 12 for Viktoria and seven for Alienation, but also its members' objectivity and efficiency in promoting Bulgarian cinema abroad. The 12 members of the committee are Ivan Nichev, Andrey Chertoff, Hristo Hristov, Vladimir Andreev, Galina Toneva, Victor Chuchkov, Ilia Kostov, Ivan Georgiev, Anna Petkova, Vladimir Asenov, Ivan Pavlov and Diana Andreeva.
Updates
Reached 100 supporters
September 7, 2014
37 Comments
It is inadmissible that a comittee member even thinking to offer his/her film for discussion in such competion. And unfortunetely Bulgaria still has this phenomenons left from the past. I think that all committee members have to resign after this scandal! It's time to act with simple ethics.
“Viktoria,” by Maya Vitkova has been rightfully hailed as the most important Bulgarian film of 2014 as it has been praised at several international festivals. Full support for new visions!
This is a painfully unfair situation. The only thing that gives me great joy here is the fact that still there are people in this country who refuse to keep quiet in matters like this one and are eager to champion our worthy cinematic creations in front of the rest of the world.
Let's finish this bullshit where the National Cinema Council consists of acting directors and producers who take decisions on all issues concerning state subsidies for film productions, Oscar entries, etc. If the National Cinema Council does not become independent to a bigger extent, it will remain just another appearance of cleptocracy and backwardness.
The movie "Viktoria" has huge chances at the Oscars because its selection at the Sundance Film Festival! Everybody with an interest in cinema knows the Sundance is the most powerful film festival in US and the best ticket to Oscars for independent films! It's outrageous for the Council to select a movie made by one of it's own members and leave out a Sundance selection!
"I would like to urge to reconsider your decision of submitting a traditional drama that follows conventions and that casts a shadow on the transparency and fairness of your selection process. Submitting “Viktoria” would show a decisive interest in encouraging diverse, young, and daring voices to shine and represent Bulgaria in front of the world."
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
How right is it to have a film of the committee member nominated. Does not look right to me. Furthermore that I have seen Viktoria - fascinating movie, indeed!!!
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It is inadmissible that a comittee member even thinking to offer his/her film for discussion in such competion. And unfortunetely Bulgaria still has this phenomenons left from the past. I think that all committee members have to resign after this scandal! It's time to act with simple ethics.