For another consecutive year, the American Foundation for Bulgaria and The Palace Balchik are organizing special screenings of films from the popular Early Bird International Student Film Festival. From June 27 to 29, 2024, the award-winning films from the 19th edition of the Festival will be presented in the Stone Hall. This year's highlight will be a special selection of animated films, which will be shown on the third day of the Festival. You will have the opportunity to watch works by talented young directors from prestigious Film universities across three continents. In one place, you will see short films from Bulgaria, Brazil, Croatia, Germany, the Czech Republic, Argentina, France, Israel, Belgium, Poland, Sweden, Greece, Indonesia, Austria, and the United Kingdom.
The Festival will start with the feature short film 50 Mouse Steps by Boyka Stefanova, which won the award for Best Bulgarian Film. The film offers a fun and simultaneously touching story of Ognyan and Vera, whose childhood memories take them on an emotional journey. The film delivers a powerful message about the value of life and the importance of cherishing moments.
The selection of animated films will be shown on Saturday, June 29, 2024. In these 16 films, you will have the opportunity to see the unique perspectives of young filmmakers on various life topics, such as tolerance towards different people, attitudes towards old age, nostalgia for home and family, friendship, and other cultural, social, and personal issues that concern them.
Each film in the selection is created with a unique style and technique - from traditional hand-drawn animation to modern computer techniques. Whether you are a fan of animation or simply looking for inspiring stories, these screenings will offer you something extraordinary and memorable.
Come and enjoy the unique atmosphere of The Palace Balchik and support the young talents who will shape the future of world cinema.
Here is the full program of the Festival:
Thursday June 27, 2024
16:00 –18:00
50 mouse steps / Boyka Stefanova / Bulgaria - 26
Deja Vu / Gal Cohen / Israel - 17
Night Shift / Santiago Lago / Argentina - 27
Brother / Kristian Gerogiev / Bulgaria - 11
Stateless / Tawfik Sabouni / Belgium - 26
Daughter / Mikołaj Czyżowski / Poland - 15
Friday June 28, 2024
16:00-18:00
Limbo / Julia Pastrakova / Bulgaria - 30
Digital Diary / Yasmine Scheft / Israel - 18
Boiling / Luka Đikanović / Czech Republic - 26
999.99% / Alexandra Roberta Serban / Romania - 30
Pater Familias / Dina Uglešić / Croatia - 17
Saturday June 29, 2024
16:00-18:00
The Loop / Elena Delcheva / Bulgaria - 06
The Last Bar / Arne Hain / Germany - 13
On my Bicycle / Océane Lavergne, Benjamin Langagne, Lucas Durot, Pierre Cilluffo, Marine Beuvain, Kerrian Detay / France - 08
Under The Endless Sky / Alexandra Dzhiganskaya / Austria - 04
Hair / Ioanna Digenaki / Greece - 11
Lights / Jitka Nemikinsová / Czech Republic - 08
Unscarfed / Anita Bruneburg / Germany - 09
The Man Who Loved Flowers / Sonu Thomas / United Kingdom - 03
Dance My Dall / Jasmijn Kooijman / Sweden - 15
The Silent Scream / Camille Anne, Julie Vandenbergue, Martin Laurent, Elisa Torris, Camille Leroy, Lucas Foutrier / France - 07
Hunger / Hasna Hanafi Rustam / Indonesia - 09
Cadim / Luiza Pugliesi Villaça / Brazil - 06
Creator / Madlen Zagorska / Bulgaria - 05
The Sound That Silence Makes / Marjorie Dutriaux, Teo Frantz, Violette Talalaeff, Dora Ozal, Damien Rudeaux / France - 08
The Tower / Adrianna Fraszczak, Mika Weber, Rene Krisanov / Germany - 04
Chatterbox / Kalina Dimitrova, Aleksa Trayanova / Bulgaria - 03