We are excited to share the results of this year’s Student Film Project Funding Competition, organized by the American Foundation for Bulgaria.
This edition featured 23 projects submitted by students from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA) and New Bulgarian University, in the categories of fiction, documentary, and animated film.
After a careful selection process and in-depth evaluation of all submissions, the committee approved five projects for funding. These projects stood out with their original ideas, strong artistic potential, and clear vision for realization.
No
A concise and powerful story about the transience of human existence — about the vulnerability we live with, often forgetting how fragile life is and how irreversible every moment can be.
Screenwriter and director is Paolina Dimitrova, Director of photography and producer - Klimentina-Maria Nedelcheva.
A cup of coffee
An intimate film about the silence after loss, about missed moments, and about the gestures that continue to resonate even when voices are gone.
Screenwriter and director is Bozhana Marinova, Director of photography - Georgi Chelebiev.
A Little Night Music
The film is inspired by a true story witnessed one evening by director Toni Penchev and producer Adzhelika Yordanova. It explores the feeling of impunity combined with widespread indifference — perhaps the most dangerous “weed” that contemporary society not only tolerates but even consciously cultivates. Director of photography is Lachezar Hristov.
Breakwater
A short animated film by Liliya Aleksandrova. Inspired by the poetic imagery of Evtim Evtimov, the film presents an erotic, atmospheric narrative with associative storytelling. It reflects on the elemental force of female nature, sensuality, emotionless sex, and its consequences.
Foreign One
A documentary project by director Margarita Bogdanova and cinematographer Nikolay Dimitrov, who spent half a year living and studying in Portugal — the world’s most popular country among digital nomads. The film explores the issue of gentrification, as young Portuguese people are increasingly pushed away from city centers, overtaken by wealthy foreigners, or forced to emigrate altogether.
Thank you to all participants for your trust. We wish the selected teams every success in bringing their projects to life!