A chimneysweep attending international conventions for fellow chimneysweeps; an avant-garde hairdresser who leaves the beauty parlor for her dream job as crane operator; a young shepherd balancing schoolwork with caring for his flock who wouldn’t trade the freedom of open spaces for anything else. These are the protagonists of Katia Simeonova’s latest documentary—a celebration of people with unusual professions that bring them true joy.
Katia, a fourth-year student at Bulgaria’s National Academy for Theater and Film Arts (NATFA), is close to finishing her degree in directing. Spending a day filming these extraordinary individuals, she says, doesn’t leave her feeling tired. “After talking to them, I feel like I could run 10 kilometers or work another full day,” she explains. The energy and passion of her subjects infuse her with renewed enthusiasm.
This documentary comes at an opportune moment for Katia, who felt the need for a change after her previous film, Silt, a hard-hitting documentary about communities left to rebuild their lives after a major flood without sufficient government aid. Silt, released in 2023, won the Best Documentary Debut award from the Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers and is featured at the 2024 Early Bird International Student Film Festival, receiving the festival’s SEECS Award. (Varna residents and guests can catch a screening on Friday, November 8.) But the project weighed heavily on her and her team, particularly during filming. “Every now and again, a crew member had to step away to cry,” Katia recounts, describing the overwhelming emotions that came with documenting lives torn apart by tragedy.
At just 21, Katia exhibits a maturity beyond her years. She’s spent years working a variety of jobs—from pet sitter to barista, babysitter to production assistant on a popular TV show—all beginning when she was just 15. Driven by a fierce independence, she’s also fiercely loyal to Bulgaria, a country she believes offers a bright future for young people despite its challenges. “If you look for the bad things, you’ll find them,” she says. “But there are so many beautiful things here.” Katia’s optimism is rare among her peers, many of whom have left Bulgaria or dream of doing so. But she insists, “I can’t imagine living abroad long-term. It would make me lose my sense of purpose.”
Katia’s belief in Bulgaria is reflected in her dedication to tackling socially relevant themes in her work. Her projects often explore critical issues that affect everyday Bulgarians, like environmental challenges, poverty, and inequality. But she’s also deeply inspired by the everyday joy of her latest documentary’s protagonists, who find fulfillment in the most unconventional jobs. For Katia, the appeal of these subjects lies not just in their unique careers but in their happiness with simple things. “These people don’t need much to be happy,” she says, adding that they are proof that contentment can come from within.
Katia’s creative approach extends to her entry in the 35 Seconds of Democracy challenge by Nu Boyana Film Studios and director Chris Zahariev. She pitched a humorous short featuring a grumpy elderly banana who despises democracy. “The idea came from wanting to approach a serious subject through comedy,” she says. The banana resents the other fruits for interrupting his rants about the “better days” when he was truly special because he was only available on Christmas. He protests until one fruit reminds him, “You do realize democracy is what gives you the right to protest?” Katia wanted to capture the ironic reality that even those who dismiss democracy benefit from its freedoms. “For me, democracy is the freedom for a person to be honest,” she explains.
Asked what she would change about Bulgaria, Katia is quick to answer: people’s pessimism. She sees a self-perpetuating cycle in Bulgarian society, where people’s lack of hope for change discourages them from even trying. “It’s a closed loop of ‘Nothing will change, so why bother?’” she says. “If I could change anything, it would be this black-and-white mindset.” For her, a more optimistic outlook could transform the country.
Katia’s favorite director, Martin McDonagh, exemplifies her approach to storytelling. His film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is among her favorites for its ability to find humor in the most tragic situations. “Taking the heaviest plot and making it funny—that’s real talent,” she says.
As Katia moves forward in her career, she’s committed to staying in Bulgaria and contributing to its cultural landscape. “Right now, if you want to do something, it’s absolutely possible as long as you want it badly enough,” she believes. In her mind, the future is as much about grit as it is about vision, and Katia is a testament to both. Her work, from Silt to her latest documentary, continues to tell the stories of real people, their struggles, their joy, and the unexpected beauty found in unlikely places.
The 35 Seconds of Democracy challenge was supported by the America for Bulgaria Foundation and The Convo.
