Watching international films on a beautiful beach in a fishing village…it could be right out of a Hollywood movie, but this was the location of the third Quarantine International Cinema Festival. Held from July 4 to 8 on the beach in front of the Karantinata (‘the Quarantine’) fishing village in Asparuhovo in Varna.
Over five evenings, viewers saw 59 short films from 28 countries in the genres of feature, documentary, animation and experimental cinema. The selection was made from among more than 3,500 films from 118 countries, an impressive number of submissions.
Once again, Quarantine invited young filmmakers from all over the world, many making their debut on the festival stage in Varna. This year saw films from Senegal, the Philippines, Austria, Switzerland, Iran, Iraq, Panama, as well as films from the countries of Spain, France, Germany and Italy.
There were two Bulgarian films in the program. The first, “Unlock the Stage” is a Bulgarian-German-US production with Nasko Atanassov as co-writer. The film tells Nasko’s story, who leaves his country to study at a theater university in the United States. After returning to Bulgaria, the young actor encounters a stunning discovery in his grandparent’s village – the most beautiful stage he has ever seen is in ruins behind a locked door in the local community center. Nasco organizes an international team of volunteers and raises funds to breathe life into the abandoned space along with the aging community of the village.
The second Bulgarian title is “SMS to Mom,” directed by Kaloyan Paterkov. In the main roles are Marin Yanev and Meglena Karalambova as Nikola and Ivanka, two old and lonely neighbors living in a small, quiet and nearly-abandoned village. Their everyday life changes as Ivanka receives a text message from her daughter, which challenges them to do something they have not done for a long time.
The Quarantine International Film Festival is part of the international festival association, Europe for Festivals, Festivals for Europe (EFFE) and bears the EFFE Label 2017-2018, which is awarded to festivals adhering to high artistic quality and having significant influence at a local, national and international level. The EFFE Label International Jury’s Commentary was: “An excellent candidacy and presentation from the Quarantine International Cinema Festival, a perfect example of the integration of a social cause and a very professional artistic event.
The third Quarantine festival was supported by Solvay Sodi AD and the America for Bulgaria Foundation and is co-funded by the Culture Fund of Varna Municipality. The sponsors of the festival are Pasat Press, Plastichim-T, Eko Toi, Anukk studio, the Community Centre for the Environment and Sustainable Development and the Friends of the Sea Maritime Club.
Intrigued? You can find information and view part of the movies at: https://www.facebook.com/thequarantinefest/?hc_ref=PAGES_TIMELINE
