site.btaFrench Directors Pablo Cotten And Joseph Roze Win Audience Award at Burgas International Film Festival

The French film La recreation de Juillet by French directors Pablo Cotten and Joseph Roze received the Audience Award at the Burgas International Film Festival, as the ninth edition of the film festival closed with an award ceremony on Thursday. The two directors, together with actor Arcadi Radeff, who is of Bulgarian origin, said that this was the first award for their film and they were happy to receive it in Burgas.

"A festival develops when it starts to create small but significant events such as acquaintances, unplanned conversations, spontaneous parties or friendships that invite you to return to the same place a year later," said Burgas Deputy Mayor Diana Savateva, who presented the audience award. 

The Grand Prize for Best Feature Film went to Sweet Dreams by director and screenwriter Ena Sendijarevic from the Netherlands. "This is my second feature film and I'm extremely grateful for the recognition. I'm sorry I couldn't attend in person, but Bulgaria is on my list of countries I want to visit," said Sendijarevic in a video address recorded shortly before the ceremony.

Mirror Touch by director Roman Pesarov was chosen as the best Bulgarian short film. "This is my first award ever and I am happy that I am receiving it at this festival, because Burgas is very close to my heart", said Pesarov from the stage.

A special award was given to El Paraiso, directed by Italian Enrico Maria Artale.

The jury of the main competition programme was composed of directors Konstantin Bojanov, Carlo Sironi (Italy), as well as Bulgarian actor Julian Vergov.