The Women’s Film Club, a global network of women and non-binary filmmakers, will launch its Bulgarian chapter, FFC Bulgaria, at a gala on Thursday at the Cinelivli International Airport. Film festival held in Sofia, Bulgaria.
This initiative allows Bulgarian filmmakers to connect with international filmmakers in the FFC community. Provides access to learning resources, interviews with notable filmmakers, and more. The new platform is overseen by First Draft’s Krasimira Berev and Glasgow International Film Festival’s Martin I. Petrov, with support from Nu Boyana Studio. Nu Boyana Studio is offering one of the first 200 members of FFC Bulgaria the equivalent of 50,000 euros in studio fees and equipment to help them make their films.
The initiative came about after FFC co-founder Lisa van der Smithen attended a Variety-curated panel discussion in Cannes, where she met Belev and Petrov.
“Meeting Riza in Cannes felt like destiny. I truly admire the work FFC has done internationally, and as a female filmmaker who has faced many of the same challenges, I feel a deep passion for helping others. My hope is that this organization will give Bulgarian women the knowledge and support they need to courageously and proactively tell their stories,” said Krasimira.
Martin added: “Supporting independent filmmakers at the start of their careers and giving them the right guidance to help them enter the film industry with confidence is vitally important. As a festival, film foundation and established production company, we have a duty to educate, discover and give new talent a platform to grow.”
Immediately after Cannes, Clasimira and First Draft joined FFC’s €10,000 short film fund, first announced in Variety, and FFC worked with Lerner to facilitate the financing of the film Red Box at Nu Bojana Studios, starring FFC member Mirabel Stuart.
Director Lerner said: “Bulgaria’s film industry is thriving and we are excited to continue working with FFC to support Bulgarian filmmakers and show the world the potential of filming here.”
FFC Bulgaria builds on the work of FFC’s Global Short Film Fund and will be awarded a €10,000 prize, with Lisa Cole’s film Filthy being announced as the winner at the BFI London Film Festival on Friday.
FFC Bulgaria will be officially launched and open to members on October 23rd with a gala at the Cinelivli International Airport. The 11th annual film festival in Sofia, Bulgaria is currently running through October. To celebrate, the first 100 FFC Bulgarian members will be able to join for free from October 23rd.
