01/10/2021 - Eight of the 12 films in the feature-length competition received awards when the gathering wrapped

Jury chair Ivo Draganov (right) hands the Golden Rose Award for Best Feature Film to In the Heart of the Machine producer Alexander Penev

The five members of the international jury at the 39^th Golden Rose Film Festival have decided to hand the Award for Best Bulgarian Feature to an entertaining genre film with elements of communist nostalgia, In the Heart of the Machine by Martin Makariev, “for its very well-told story of prisoners placed in an impossible situation, who retain their human face and dignity”. The Best Screenplay Award went to Borislav Zahariev for the same production, accompanied by a statement that emphasised the “well-developed topic, concerning dignity and human choice in an extreme situation”. At the same time, the Golden Rose Award for Best Short Film went to Donkey by Martin Negrev, with the jury singling out the “humanistic plot about the loneliness of an old man and his only, voiceless friend, inhabitants of a vanishing world”.

The overall impression from this year’s edition is that therewere many prizes given out when compared to the number of films competing: the full-length competition showcased seven titles fewer than last year, when 19 movies were participating. Thus, two-thirds of the contenders received at least one award, with some productions getting more than that (aside from the aforementioned In the Heart of the Machine): Best Director (Pavel G Vesnakov) and Best Actor (Julian Vergov) for German Lessons [+see also:
trailer
film profile]; the Special Jury Award and the Bulgarian Film Critics’ Guild Award for January [+see also:
film review
film profile]; Best Cinematographer (Nenad Boroevich) and the Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers’ Award for Best Feature Film for Fishbone [+see also:
interview: Dragomir Sholev
film profile]; and Best First Feature and Best Actress (Alexandra Kostova) for Petya of My Petya. The Special Mentions were also doubled up: for Women Do Cry [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mina Mileva, Vesela Kazakova
film profile] by Mina Mileva and Vessela Kazakova and for Albena Kostova’s performance in Petya of My Petya in the feature-length category; and for Fridgid by Devina Vasileva and Mona Lisa by Veselka Kuncheva in the shorts category. The latter also received the Bulgarian Film Critics’ Guild Award for Best Short Film.

Here is the full list of winners at the 39th Golden Rose Film Festival:

Best Feature Film
In the Heart of the Machine – Martin Makariev (Bulgaria)

Best Short Film
Donkey – Martin Negrev (Bulgaria)

Special Jury Award
January [+see also:
film review
film profile] – Andrey Paounov (Bulgaria/Portugal)

The City of Varna Award
The Naked Truth About Zhiguli Band [+see also:
trailer
film profile] - Victor Bojinov (Bulgaria)

Audience Award
Uncle Santa - Ivaylo Penchev (Bulgaria)

Best Director
Pavel G Vesnakov –  German Lessons [+see also:
trailer
film profile] (Bulgaria/Germany)

Best Screenplay
Borislav Zahariev – In the Heart of the Machine

Best Cinematographer
Nenad Boroevich -  Fishbone [+see also:
interview: Dragomir Sholev
film profile] (Bulgaria/Romania)

Best Actress
Alexandra Kostova – Petya of My Petya (Bulgaria)

Best Actor
Julian Vergov – German Lessons

Best First Feature
Petya of My Petya – Alexander Kossev

Special Mentions
Women Do Cry [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Mina Mileva, Vesela Kazakova
film profile] – Mina Mileva and Vessela Kazakova (Bulgaria/France)
Albena Kostova – Petya of My Petya

Special Mentions for Short Film
Mona Lisa – Veselka Kuncheva (Bulgaria)
Fridgid – Devina Vasileva (Bulgaria)

Bulgarian Film Critics’ Guild Award for Best Feature Film
January – Andrey Paounov

Bulgarian Film Critics’ Guild Award for Best Short Film
Mona Lisa – Veselka Kuncheva

Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers’ Award
Fishbone – Dragomir Sholev