Project

The year 2027 will mark 20 years since Bulgaria’s accession to the European Union. This provides a fitting and meaningful, albeit formal, occasion to explore the cinematic connections between Bulgaria and the countries of the Old Continent. This topic remains underexplored in Bulgarian film studies yet holds significant interdisciplinary potential, intersecting the fields of cinema, history, politics, international cultural relations, journalism, and audience reception. The chronological framework spans from the nationalization and establishment of the state socialist cinematography to the present day. By examining the Bulgarian archival heritage from the totalitarian era – which enables the reconstruction of cultural policies and selection mechanisms – the analysis will trace the influx of European cinema’s achievements. This will be examined through their sporadic on-screen appearances and fluctuating media representation, all set against the backdrop of complex geopolitical interests and censorship. The project involves research into the European film repertoire in Bulgarian cinemas during the socialist period, the production of co-productions both before and after 1990, and an analysis of the economic aspects of such collaborations. Furthermore, the project focuses on the professional education and training of Bulgarian filmmakers at various European universities. It also examines the state photographic archive, which preserves the visual memory of significant events related to the presentation of European cinema in Bulgaria, such as festivals, forums, conferences, and panoramas. Ultimately, the project aims to present the distinctiveness of Bulgarian cinema as an enduring European value, and conversely, to highlight European values as an integral part of national filmmaking.