NEWS

“VISIBILITY OF BULGARIAN TALENT” SOFIA MEETINGS & Filmmakers Europe We invite you to apply for an exclusive casting workshop for professional actors that are from Bulgaria or based in Bulgaria that are interested in international film productions. The workshop will be held with the Casting Directors: Constance Demontoy is a Paris‑based French casting director whose work spans international cinema and television. Her credits include Elle (2016, dir. Paul Verhoeven), Titane (2021, dir. Julia Ducournau), Annette (2021, dir. Leos Carax), and Io Capitano (2023, dir. Matteo Garrone), as well as films by Denis Villeneuve, Cédric Klapisch, and Jean‑Marc Vallée. She has contributed to over 150 projects and is a member of international casting associations. Her work has been recognised with multiple awards, including Artios Awards for Call My Agent! and Monsieur Spade , and the Semiramis Award for Io Capitano . Gaby Whyte Hart is a UK/US casting director with 15+ years in film and a track record of attaching recognizable talent to independent and studio-backed projects. Trained in London (NYFA at King’s University, MA Producing for the Screen), she pairs creative instincts with strong deal-and-relationship fluency across the UK and US markets. Her recent casting credits include Dirty Angels , directed by Martin Campbell, featuring Eva Green, Maria Bakalova, Ruby Rose, and Rona‑Lee Shimon and George Iskandar (Fauda). She has worked with talent including Toby Kebbell and Nicolas Cage. Mariana Stanisheva graduated the Academy of Theater and Film Art in Sofia, Bulgaria and hold a Masters degree in acting. Since then, she has acted in theater and films in Bulgaria and abroad. Since 2003, she has worked as a Casting Director on more than 160 international films, with some of the greatest names in the industry - Bruce Beresford, Brian de Palma, Mimi Leder, Martin Campbell and many more. ABOUT THE WORKSHOP A limited number of participants will be selected by the casting directors from all applicants. Constance, Gaby and Mariana will share their experience and showcase how Casting works in general and in different regions. The workshop will be conducted in English. The workshop is free of costs for the selected participants. The festival will not cover travel or accommodation expenses. Only apply if you are locally based or already attending the Sofia International Film Festival. WORKSHOP SCHEDULE March 19th: Group Workshops March 20th: Group Workshops Location: Sofia. The venue details will be shared with selected workshop participants before the event. HOW TO APPLY To participate, you must: be a professional actor be from Bulgaria and/or currently based in Bulgaria submit a One-Minute Monologue (in English) via this page be fluent in English be available in Sofia on March 19th and 20th, 2026 What is a OneMinuteMonologue? OneMinuteMonologue is at the heart of this event. It’s a powerful, one-minute performance where you demonstrate your range, depth, and unique qualities as an actor. More information will be provided upon selection. All applicants will receive a notification regarding their selection status. Please note that accompanying persons cannot be accommodated. For questions regarding the application process, contact support@filmmakers.eu IMPORTANT DATES Application Deadline: March 5th, 2026 Selection Notification: March 11th, 2026 Workshop Dates: March 19th and 20th, 2026 APPLY HERE DEADLINE 5.03.2026, 23:59 CET

One of the standout success stories connected to Sofia Meetings this year is “Lust” , the latest feature by Bulgarian director Ralitsa Petrova. The film celebrated its world premiere on 15 February 2026 at the prestigious Berlin International Film Festival, where it was selected for the Forum section - a programme renowned for its bold, daring, and artistically innovative cinema. We warmly congratulate Ralitsa Petrova and her team on this remarkable achievement. Sofia Meetings is proud to have been part of the journey of “Lust” and looks forward to following its continued international success.

WORKS IN PROGRESS SELECTED AT the 23rd SOFIA MEETINGS Works in Progress presents upcoming feature films in post-production to international industry professionals. The program supports filmmakers in finalizing their projects by facilitating screenings, feedback sessions, and networking opportunities aimed at securing festivals, sales, and distribution. FICTION FILMS COWGIRL – director Michal Blaško, producers Jakub Viktorín / nutprodukcia), Tomáš Hrubý / nutprodukce (Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary), 84 min DEAR FUTURE SELF – director Ella Cieslinski, producers Nina Wesemann, Ella Cieslinski / Freundinnen Film (Germany), 79 min DISQUALIFIÉ – director Yorgos Teltzidis, producer Effie Skrobola, Vassilis Tzanidis, Costas Labropoulos, George Kyriakos / View Master Films, Pilar Saavedra / Sajama Films (Greece, Italy), 85 min FOR YOU – director Dimitar Kotzev - Shosho, producers Dimitar Kotzev - Shosho, Angel Ivanov / Kontraplan, Dimce Stoyanovski , Stefan Orlandic / Living Pictures (Bulgaria / Serbia), 92 min LOST YEARS – director Áron Horváth Botka, producers Jerca Jerič & Andraž Jerič / Temporama (Slovenia), Set Sail Films, Serbia (Slovenia / Serbia), 90 min PARIS 18 – director Kitodar Todorov, Jonathan Heidelberger, producers Magdelena Ilieva / Little Wing Productions (Bulgaria), 90 min MATRÖSHKI – director Alina Yklymova, producers Simon Grohe, Sophia Stier / Schiwago Film (by Martin Lehwald), Priska Kraft, Tim Peter / Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg) (Germany), 100 min RECRUCIFIED – director Theo Papadoulakis, producers Ioanna Davi, Dimitris Xenakis, Claudio Esposito, Marinos Charalambous, Alexander Dumreicher-Ivancenau, Bady Minck (co-producers) / Indigo View Productions (GR-main), The Piranesi Experience (IT), Boycott Films (CY), Amour Fou Luxembourg (LUX) (Greece, Italy, Cyprus, Luxembourg), 125 min WILD HORSE IN THE ROTTEN WEST – directors Mina Mileva, Vesela Kazakova, producers Mina Mileva, Vesela Kazakova / Activist38 (Bulgaria), MK38 (UK) DOCUMENTARY FILMS TROUGH THE TUNNEL – director Eldora Taykova, producer Asen Vladimirov / Pro Film (Bulgaria) THE LONG JUJU – directors Keme Nzerem, Tolu Stedford, producers Tolu Stedford, Lily Usher, Stefan Forbes / Story Compound (UK, Nigeria, USA), 90 min View the projects at our co-production market section here.

PROJECTS IN DEVELOPMENT SELECTED AT 23rd SOFIA MEETINGS 2026 We’re excited to announce the selection for Projects in Development for Sofia Meetings! FEATURE FILM PROJECTS CAROLINA'S DREAM – director TBD, producer Stella Leonetti / Hip Film (Italy) FATHERS – director Martin Iliev, producer Angel Ivanov / Handplayed (Bulgaria) HEAVY LIGHT – director Stefan Koutzev, producer Stefan Koutzev / Lautmalfilm (Germany), Academy of Media Arts Cologne (Germany) HER STORY – director Florian Hoffmeister, producer Titus Kreyenberg / Unafilm (Germany) IN THOSE DARKEST NIGHTS – director Gozde Kural, producers Gözde Kural, Bulut Reyhanoğlu / Toz Film Production (Turkey), Svetla Tsotsorkova / Front Film (Bulgaria) PLACEHOLDER – director Višnja Sretenović, producer Biljana Prvanović / Delirium Films (Serbia, Germany, Bulgaria, Austria, Croatia) RECONSTRUCTION – director Matt Harlock, producer Dan Dixon / Snafu Pictures (UK) ROBBING BEIRUT – director Katia Jarjoura, producer Michel Zana / Blue Train Films (France, Lebanon) Selected in partnership with Crossroads Co-production Forum SPY PASSIONS – director Roman Pessarov, producers Noura Al Kadri / Hot Potato, Roman Pessarov / PLONJ (Bulgaria) THE ART OF SPITTING – director Korek Bojanowski, producer Marta Krzeptowska / AsterFilm (Poland), Orka, ViuFinder (Poland) THE KORDYS CASE – director Ondřej Zima, producer Silvie Michajlova / Film Kolektiv (Czech Republic), Zuzana Mistríková / PubRes (Slovakia) THE LAST GAME – director Andrei Redinciuc, producers Bogdan Crăciun, Eliza Ceprăzaru / Point Film (Romania) THE POT, THE LID AND THE NURSE – director Vardan Tozija, producer Ivana Shekutkoska / Minimal Collective (North Macedonia) PROJECTS BASED ON BOOKS LONG DEAD – director Milija Šćepanović, producer Milena Charan / Taurus Production (Montenegro), Boris T. Matic / Propeler Film (Croatia), Ognen Antov / Dream Factory (North Macedonia), Igor Vranjkovic / Cineplanet (Serbia) Selected in partnership with EAVE GIGA MAKES A SEA – director Strahinja Savić, producer Andrija Lucić / Ground (Serbia, Montenegro) TV SERIES BENEATH THE SURFACE – creator Asimina Proedrou, director Asimina Proedrou, producer Dionyssis Samiotis / Tanweer Productions (Greece), 8 x 50 minutes, Political Thriller THE NEIGHBOURHOOD – creator Pedro Magano, director João Nuno Pinto, producer Nuno Bernardo, Pedro Magano / Pixbee (Portugal), 6 x 50 minutes, Tragicomedy WITNESSES – creators Pavel G. Vesnakov, Simeon Vencislavov, director Pavel G. Vesnakov, producers Evtim Miloshev, Pavel G. Vesnakov / Dream Team Group (Bulgaria), 12 x 54 minutes, Crime drama PROJECTS IN BANK A SECOND LIFE (documentary) – director Ehab Ghafri, producer Simona Theoharova / Caravan Fantasia (Bulgaria) DETELINA – director Yordan Chichikov, producers Irmena Chichikova, Nikolay Mutafchiev / Gemini Films (Bulgaria) MISSING. STORIES OF DISAPPEARANCE AT EUROPE’S EDGE (documentary) – director Cecilia Fasciani, producer Marta Melina / SMK Factory (Italy) SOFIYA – director Dimitar Radev, producers Hristo Dimitrov, Dimitar Radev / Palipest Films (Bulgaria) SONGS OF RESILIENCE (documentary) – director Kate Kotcheff, producer Elena Doroshenko (Bulgaria) SOUNDS OF MIGRATION (documentary) – director Danny Baquero Betancourt, Lilia Manolova, producer Wilmer Moya / Green Castle (France, Bulgaria, Colombia) 1000 DAYS – director Andre Chandelle, producer Vera Chandelle / Fabrikata (Bulgaria) View the projects at our co-production market section here .