12-09-2011

Bulgarian Three Shooting on Black Sea Coast

By Pavlina Jeleva

    SOFIA: The debut film Three written and directed by Kiril Stankov is near the end of a four week shoot. The 60 member crew has been filming primarily in small villages on the Black Sea shore still untouched by the building expansion of large resorts. Some additional shooting is planned in Sofia and inland.

    The title refers to the three main characters: Dana (40), Jou (40) and Lilly (27). Twenty years ago Dana and Jou were in love with the same man, Milko, who now lives with his father and owns a pub in a seaside village.

    "This is a film about people who in 1989 were 20 years old and during the so-called "transition years" lost themselves. After two decades of timelessness they need to find themselves, to return to friendship and regain their dignity," said Stankov. According to him the story in which three women undertake an unusual trip to the seaside to remember forgotten places, people and love affairs is based on real prototypes and some autobiographical elements. At the age of 20 Stankov also left Bulgaria to settle in Israel, where he studied film directing. After having lived and worked in different countries, including Canada, he decided to return to Bulgaria. Like his male character Milko he has a pub in a small village.

    Over five years Stankov made 13 drafts of his script. In its final version the story takes place during 6 days and 6 nights. For the roles of the three women he casted three very popular actresses: Kassiel Noa Asher (Dana), who also lived in Israel, Paraskeva Djukelova (Jou) and Yana Titova (Lilly). The part of Milko is played by Phillip Avramov (Letter to Amerika). The star from Ave by Konstantin Bojanov Ovaness Torossian has been asked to perform the sensitive role of a goodhearted man who everyone considers mad.

    The film was supported by the National Film Center (www.nfc.bg) with €588,000 and according to the producer Gala Film (www.galafilm-bg.com) the amount represents 75% from the budget. Three is among the last project from a package for which the production company received a Media Slate Funding development support in 2009.

    Crew

    Scriptwriter and director: Kiril Stankov

    Director of Photography: Rali Raltchev

    Music: Vassil Georgiev (known as Vasko the Patch)

    Cast:

    Dana: Kassiel Noa Asher

    Jou: Paraskeva Djukelova

    Lilly: Yana Titova

    Milko Phillip Avramov

    Milko's father: Itzhak Finzi

    Kircho: Ovaness Torossian

    Production contact:

    Gala Film

    1b, Strumitza Str., ap.11

    1000 Sofia, Bulgaria

    Phone: + 359 2 981 42 09

    Fax: + 359 2 981 29 71

    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

    www.galafilm-bg.com