site.btaJanuary 13, 1915: Birth of Bulgarian Cinema

The 100th anniversary of the first screening of a Bulgarian feature film, which is considered the beginning of the seventh art in the country, is celebrated on Monday. The screening of Bulgaran E Gallant by writer and director Vassil Gendov took place on January 13, 1915.

The event was held in the capital's Modern Theatre, the first cinema in the country. Vassil Gendov stars in the silent black-and-white film about the love woes of the bon vivant Bulgaran. He is partnered by Mara Lipina, an actress from the National Theatre. The plot was influenced by Max Linder's comedies popular at the time.

The film itself has not been preserved on tape to this day, only one or two frames of it remain. Although the date of the screening is clear, the year of its production - 1910 or 1915 - is still disputed, the Bulgarian National Film Library said. 

January 13 was adopted as the Day of Bulgarian Cinema. The decision to celebrate the professional holiday of the filmmakers was taken by the government in 2005.