Sofia Meetings
23rd Industry Events Programme
18–22 March
Wednesday – Sunday | 18–22 March
Immersive Program
12:00–15:00 / 19:00–21:00
Immersive XR and VR screenings presented throughout the week.
VIDENIE Immersive Space for Digital Art
Kuzman Shapkarev St 9B, Sofia
Sofia Meetings and the Sofia International Film Festival, pioneers of VR and XR in Sofia, partner with Videnie Immersive Space to present a free immersive program featuring three international VR works - “ITO MEIKYŪ” by Boris Labbé, “MAMIE LOU” by Isabelle Andreani, “THE ART OF CHANGE” by Simone Fougnier, Vincent Rooijers.
Wednesday | 18 March
Action Portabella: Adrian Onco Presents the Work of Pere Portabella
16:00–18:00
Screening: The Silence Before Bach
Directed by Pere Portabella
Spain | 102 min
National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA), Aula
A special event celebrates the visionary Catalan filmmaker Pere Portabella, producer of the cult film “Viridiana” by Luis Buñuel and the first films of Carlos Saura. His radical cinema challenged Franco-era censorship and reshaped European experimental film, presented through a screening of his acclaimed work “The Silence Before Bach”. Spanish underground filmmaker and scholar Adrián Onco introduces Portabella’s unique legacy, offering a rare insight into one of the most politically daring and artistically influential figures in modern cinema.
Thursday | 19 March
XR – Naturally Artificial or Artificially Natural?
14:00–15:00
With Momchil Alexiev (Bulgaria) / VR Lab Bulgaria
Grand Hotel Sofia, Serdica Hall (1st floor)
/Creative Lab/
Momchil Alexiev explores how emerging AI toolkits are transforming artistic practice, while also placing artificial intelligence within the evolving landscape of XR as a catalyst for entirely new creative processes and forms of expression.
AI & Cinema: Creation, Control, and Sovereignty
17:00–18:30
With Alexandre Glas (France)/ Maison St Germain
Screening: As They Pass. Directed by Patrice Masini. In the presence of the director.
With the support of Creative Europe MEDIA Desk Bulgaria
VIDENIE Immersive Space for Digital Art
Kuzman Shapkarev St 9B, Sofia
/Creative Lab/
How do we use AI without losing authorship? The discussion explores how filmmakers and artists can use AI as a creative tool without losing authorship, control, or artistic value, addressing urgent questions around copyright, likeness, and the future of creative work. The event features entrepreneur and cultural innovator Alexander Glas and concludes with a screening of As They Pass by Patrice Masini, presented in the director’s presence in the immersive space VIDENIE.
Friday | 20 March
Usheru: Building a Resilient Film Marketing Model
Trends, Tactics & Digital Engagement for Distributors
14:30–15:30
With Oliver Fegan (Ireland) / Usheru
Presented in partnership with Creative Europe MEDIA Desk Bulgaria
Grand Hotel Sofia, Serdica Hall (1st floor)
/Creative Lab/
Join Oliver Fegan for an insider look at how Usheru is helping independent and mid-budget films succeed in today’s fragmented market. Discover data-driven strategies from the platform that allow smaller films to stretch limited marketing budgets, maximize audience engagement, and compete on a global scale.
Sound Rules! — Film Scoring Academy of Europe
16:45–17:45
With Pablo Narváez (Colombia), Rory McEntegart (Ireland), Phillip Arthur Simmons (USA)
Hosted by Film Scoring Academy of Europe
Grand Hotel Sofia, Triaditsa 2 (1st floor)
/Creative Lab/
Presentation of the Film Scoring Academy of Europe which will take you behind the scenes of film scoring and explore how directors and composers work together from the first spotting session to the final recording to shape the emotional and narrative identity of a film.
Training Programmes
17:30–18:30
HerARTS Film Lab with Eliza Subotowicz (Co-Founder & Director, Poland))
EURODOC with Nora Philippe (Programme Director, France)
Grand Hotel Sofia, Serdica Hall (1st floor)
/Creative Lab/
Presentation of EURODOC - a European training programme dedicated to documentary production, supporting producers in developing international co-productions through workshops, mentorship, and industry networking.
Following is a presentation about HerARTS Film Lab - a development programme nurturing emerging filmmakers - particularly women - by providing hands-on guidance in storytelling, creative development, and project development within a collaborative and supportive environment.
Saturday | 21 March
Destination Bulgaria
11:30–13:00
With David Zitzlsperger (Germany), Stefan Prohorov, Bulgarian National Film Center; Mira Staleva, Sofia Meetings; Ivan Doykov, Dare Films
Grand Hotel Sofia, Serdica Hall (1st floor)
The panel explores Bulgaria as a dynamic hub for film, focusing on co-productions, industry opportunities, and its growing role in European cinema.
Masterclass with Nora Philippe, Program Director of EURODOC, Film Director
14:30–15:30
Grand Hotel Sofia, Serdica Hall (1st floor)
/Creative Lab/
Join Nora Philippe, programme director of EURODOC, for a workshop guiding emerging documentary filmmakers on storytelling, project development, and leveraging the EURODOC platform to navigate the international film landscape.
Immersive Zone — Sofia Meetings
15:30–17:30
XR Storytelling by Virtual and Augmented Reality Lab
KAZANA – Bulgarian Pavilion project for the Venice Biennale
Grand Hotel Sofia, Serdica Hall (1st floor)
/Creative Lab/
A showcase of innovative VR/AR projects like KAZANA and IMAGINE MORE, demonstrating how immersive technologies are reshaping storytelling, exhibition practices, and audience interaction in art and culture.
Sunday | 22 March
How to Write a Project
14:00–15:30
With Martin Kisselov, Script Consultant
Grand Hotel Sofia, Serdica Hall (1st floor)
The talk with Martin Kisselov guides students in enhancing their writing projects, focusing on improving narrative structure, storytelling, and script development for film and theater under expert consultation.
Treasures of European Film Culture
16:00
European Film Academy welcomes Sofia into its collection.
Malko Tarnovo Street — a location featured in numerous Bulgarian films.
The European Film Academy honors Sofia by recognizing Malko Tarnovo Street as a notable cinema location, unveiling a commemorative plaque that celebrates the street’s unique place in Bulgarian history and film. Featured in landmark works by directors such as Binka Zhelyazkova WE WERE YOUNG (1961) and ZIFT (2008) Yavor Gardev, this iconic cobblestone passage has long inspired filmmakers with its layered past and distinctive atmosphere.
Creative Labs Sofia Meetings in partnership with Nexo: committed to supporting creative industries and digital technologies that empower artists, innovators and new forms of storytelling.
