At 27, Christian Belev is a true child of democracy—a label that suits him as he navigates life and art across Europe, dividing his time between London, Sofia, Plovdiv, and, most recently, Paris.
Christian’s artistic journey began in his native Bulgaria, where he was steeped in a family tradition of creativity. Both his grandmother and father pursued musical careers, and his mother works in communications. While everyone was supportive of Christian’s artistic interests, it was his grandmother who was most instrumental in his early development. Thrilled by his interest in the family’s musical legacy, she arranged for a piano to be brought home when Christian was just seven. She dedicated herself to his preparation, guiding him through practice and helping him succeed in the highly competitive entrance exam for music school. Her support laid the foundation for Christian’s future in the arts, igniting a passion that would eventually lead him to explore new forms of expression across borders.
While Christian’s family nurtured his love for music and performance, Bulgarian society posed limitations. Strict artistic conventions and aggressive social dynamics stifled his creativity, leaving him feeling constrained. “I felt like I didn’t belong,” he reflects, describing his early years in Bulgaria as a period of alienation. The environment prompted Christian to set his sights abroad. The decision to leave was as much an escape from cultural rigidity as it was a pursuit of artistic freedom. England, with its openness to experimental performance art and theater, beckoned as a place where he could evolve creatively, moving beyond music and embracing a broader artistic expression unrestricted by the limitations he had known at home.
Christian’s time abroad was transformative, exposing him to Western concepts like political correctness and individualism that initially felt foreign—and, at times, still feel confining. Living in London broadened his worldview but also fueled his curiosity about his Bulgarian heritage, particularly the experiences of his parents during communism. His mother’s personal diaries, written from the age of seven, became a window into a different era. Through her words, he began to understand the resilience of his people and the impact of collective memory on his own generation.
In 2020, Christian undertook a deep exploration of life under communism, focusing on generational trauma and collective memory as part of his master’s thesis for the University of the Arts London. This project, influenced by his mother’s accounts, opened his eyes to the complexities of Bulgarian identity and the lasting imprints of the past. “I think my perspective of Bulgaria changed a lot,” he reflects. “I started to understand people much more—the reasons behind their reactions and this inner feeling of misunderstanding.”
His study of the communist past naturally led him to question the present and future of Bulgaria, specifically the role of democracy in shaping modern society. He was drawn to the 35 Seconds of Democracy Challenge by Nu Boyana Film Studios and director Chris Zahariev, where in the summer of 2024 young filmmakers were invited to create short films about democracy. Christian’s idea, which was selected for production, centers on a powerful message: democracy is only effective when practiced daily.
The film features three generations—a grandmother, a mother, and a child—united by their interactions with television advertisements. These ads serve as a metaphor for societal conditioning, but in Christian’s narrative one commercial promotes democracy rather than consumer goods. “Democracy is the collective unity of people seeking and achieving freedom together,” Christian explains, emphasizing the responsibility of each generation to carry this message forward.
Christian’s film resonates with his belief that Bulgarian youth hold the power to shape their country’s future. “We, the young people, are the ones who have the strength to change things,” he asserts. This conviction underscores his desire to see Bulgarians more united and hopeful. He feels that the resilience of the Bulgarian spirit has always been rooted in faith, which has carried the nation through countless challenges. “What has preserved us as a nation has always been faith, whether religious or simply faith in something.”
Reflecting on his journey, Christian acknowledges that Bulgaria now offers a unique form of freedom for him. “What I discovered and loved in Bulgaria in recent years is precisely that I feel free here in a different way, not like I feel free in the West,” he shares. His experience abroad gave him the distance needed to appreciate his homeland, where he senses a more profound connection to his roots and the collective spirit of the people.
In Christian’s eyes, democracy is not just a political structure but a way of life that demands engagement and mutual understanding. His hope is that Bulgarians will believe in their own strength to bring about change. He is proud to be Bulgarian, cherishing the country’s rich history and the resilience of its people. Although he is still in a stage of exploring and experimenting in the artistic world, Christian dreams of one day returning to live in Bulgaria, contributing to the culture he once felt compelled to leave.
Christian’s journey reflects the intricate dance between past and present, tradition and innovation. His story speaks to the power of art as a means of exploring identity and societal values. As he continues to develop his unique cinematic style, Christian carries forward his family legacy and a renewed belief in his homeland’s potential. For him, democracy is not a destination but a journey—one that requires the faith and unity of every generation.
Christian Belev’s democracy-themed short, The Fourth Wall, was part of the official selection of the 2024 Sofia Documental, a documentary film festival with a focus on democracy and human rights. It is also available from the Democracy Daily Facebook page.
The 35 Seconds of Democracy challenge was supported by the America for Bulgaria Foundation and The Convo.
