site.bta28th Sofia International Film Festival Kicks Off

The 28th edition of the Sofia International Film Festival kicked off on Wednesday evening in Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture. 

This year's first screening was of The Trap by director Nadezhda Koseva. 

At the festival's opening ceremony, outgoing Culture Minister Krastyu Krastev said that Sofia Film Fest is not in "the trap" of the past, but is looking at the future with eyes wide open. He thanked festival director Stefan Kitanov and his team for their hard work. 

Kitanov addressed the audience with the festival motto "Open the doors to world cinema!", and said that this year once again the festival has a clear and firm position of solidarity with the people of Ukraine. Kitanov noted that he appeared at the ceremony wearing a traditional ceremonial scarf of Tibetan Buddhism called a khadak. Khadak is the name of the first film of the lady who will accept the special award of Sofia Film Fest - Jessica Woodworth, who is receiving the award together with Peter Brosens.

"I am thrilled that for the 28th time Sofia will meet world-class artists. We will be the audience of a truly impressive selection of feature, documentary and short films by Bulgarian and European directors," Deputy Sofia Mayor Bilyana Genova said.

She pointed out that this year the Sofia Municipality is giving the Sofia Municipality Award to three outstanding artists. Two of them were awarded the prize at the opening ceremony. Georgi Todorov-Jozi thanked all the directors and crews he had worked with, who had left a "deep moving memory". Prof. Margarete von Trotta also expressed her gratitude for the award and the honour.