FNE at Varna Golden Rose FF: The Island

06-10-2011

FNE at Varna Golden Rose FF: The Island

By Pavlina Jeleva

Kamen Kalev's second feature The Island, selected by the 2011 Cannes Directors Fortnight, is one of the highlights of the 30th edition of the national Varna Golden Rose film festival, running 7-13 October 2011. Model and actress Laetitia Casta stars as a French journalist and the girlfriend of a businessman with Bulgarian roots, played by Danish actor Thure Lindhardt (Angels and Demons). The Bulgarian cast includes Boyka Velkova, Russi Chanev and Mihail Mutafov.

The €1.5M budget film was shot in Sofia and Paris and primarily on Saint Anastasia Island, which Kalev knew from his own childhood.

The production reunited the team from Kalev's successful debut Eastern Plays (www.easternplays.com): Bulgaria's WaterFront (www.waterfrontfilm.net) and Sweden's Chimney Pot (www.thechimneypot.com) act as co-producers. Eurimages supported the film with €240,000. The Island was selected for public support from Bulgaria's NFC (www.nfc.bg), public TV channel BNT (www.bnt.bg) and Sweden's Film i Väst (www.filmivast.se) regional fund.

According to Kalev The Island is the story of a "profound inner transformation of a complex character at the age of 33." With the help of "dreams and imagination, the film mixes reality and fantasy in order to show a human being finally freed from painful anxieties, fears and tensions." Balancing between normality and madness The Island is described by Kalev as "a love story, deep and not too romantic, but still optimistic."

The Bulgarian premiere of the film will take place at the Sofia National Theatre "Ivan Vazov" on 10 October 2011 and will be released in cinemas on 14 October 2011.

Production credits

Scriptwriter and director: Kamen Kalev

Director of Photography: Julian Atanasov

National co-producer: Anguel Christanov

Cast

Sophie: Laetitia Casta

Daniel: Thure Lindhardt

Irina: Boyka Velkova

Pavel: Rousi Chanev

Ilya: Mihail Mutafov

WaterFront Film

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