25-th SOFIA International Film Festival Kicked off at Sofia Palace of Culture on March 11

Jubilee, hybrid, in a pandemic

March 11-31, 2021 (part 1)

Absolutely rich programme, exceptional participants!

A quarter of a century after the start of the Music Film Fest in 1997, the Sofia  International Film Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary. Started as a thematic festival of cinema and music, which has undergone upward development over the years, Sofia Film Festival has become one of the most important film events in Central and Eastern Europe, the only Bulgarian film festival accredited by FIAPF, included in the list of 50 best unmissable film events in the world and in the calendar of FIPRESCI.

The SFF has hosted a galaxy of world filmmakers, including Wim Wenders, Alan Parker, Nikita Mikhalkov, Volker Schlondorf, Agnes Varda, Jiri Menzel, Costa Gavras, Terry Gilliam, Emir Kusturica, Otar Yoseliani, Bille August, Krzysztof Zanussi, Agnieszka Holland, Hugh Hudson, Claudia Cardinale, Rupert Everett, Franco Nero, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Jerry Schatzberg, Danis Tanovic, Pavel Pawlikowski, Mickey Manojlovic, Ildiko Enedi, Abel Ferrara and many more. Most of them were presented with the Sofia Award of Sofia Municipality.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the 25th Sofia Film Festival will take place in two parts. The main festival is in its traditional period in March, when the films from the programme will be presented both online (in partnership with the world's leading platforms Festival Scope / Shift 72) and in cinemas in compliance with all anti-epidemic measures, and international guests will be exceptions. The focus of the first part of the festival will be the competition programs, the presentation of the new Bulgarian feature and documentary films, current films of...