site.btaMilko Lazarov's "The Herd" to Open Kinomania Festival Nov. 13

Milko Lazarov's third film, The Herd (worldwide title: Tarika), will have its world premiere in the Official Selection of the BFI London Film Festival on October 10. On November 13, the film will be screened at the opening of the 38th Kinomania Festival in Sofia.

The film tells the story of Ali and his daughter Tarika, who lead a peaceful life but are isolated from their community in rural Bulgaria. Tarika has started developing "butterfly wings," a bone condition she inherited from her mother, which has long been a source of superstition in the village. Ali is supportive of his daughter and will do anything to protect her when the intolerance of their small village becomes a threat.

The film's director Milko Lazarov said: "For years I have been interested in the attitude of society towards people who are different. I am fascinated by how fear of the unknown, xenophobia and non-acceptance of the invisible arise. I attribute these anxieties to the modern person's indifference to God. However, man is a divine creature."

Vesela Valcheva and Zachary Baharov play the leading roles. Lazarov co-wrote the script with Ekaterina Churilova and Simeon Ventsislavov. Kaloyan Bozhilov is director of photography.

The film is produced by Red Carpet (Bulgaria), with 42film (Germany) and Amour Fou Luxembourg (Luxembourg) acting as co-producers. It is funded by the Bulgarian National Film Center, MDM, ZDF/ARTE, Film fund Luxembourg and Eurimages.