The film was shot in Sofia, the Black Sea coast and the Danube valley in 2009.
The €790,000 film, in a package with Voice Over and Krapetz from production company Gala Film (www.galafilm-bg.com), received Media Slate Funding development support, followed by 80% in public financing from the National Film Center (www.nfc.bg). The remainder of the budget was funded by private investment and Bulgarian distributor MG - Profilms.
Vladimirov worked as assistant director in seven features films and gained critical attention after the festival success of his 2007 short Waltzes And Tangos From The Village Of Whitewater.
Valery Yordanov, an awarded young Bulgarian actor, started developing the six Sneakers main characters four years ago. "Aged between 20 and 30, with different occupations, education and religions, they decide to 'sneak away' from the aggression of the big city and to construct their own paradise on a lonely beach," Yordanov said. Their lives overlap during the summer they spend on the Black Sea coast, in a film marked by a contagious energy that reflects the zeitgeist of their generation.
Despite his key position in the film, Yordanov auditioned for the role of "The Grey One," leaving the casting decision to his co-director. Yordanov is surrounded by a team of popular actors including Philip Avramov (Letter to Amerika by Iglika Triffonova) and Ivan Barnev (I Served the King of England by Jirí Menzel).
The Vladimirov/Yordanov tandem said they want their film to be "both dynamic and sincere" and to deeply touch "not only the young people but also their parents." The film will premiere in Bulgaria in October. Golden Globe-nominated actress Geraldine Chaplin, head of the jury at the Moscow International Film Festival will arrive in Sofia for the official screening. At the award ceremony of the Moscow IFF she appeared wearing sneakers in order to show her sympathy towards the film that "deeply moved her."
Production information:
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.
Script: Valery Yordanov
Directors: Ivan Vladimirov & Valery Yordanov
Director of Photography: Rali Raltchev
Art Director: Sabina Christova
Costumes: Kristina Tomova
Sound: Valentin Kirilov
Editing: Svetlana Kirilova
Producers: Galina Toneva & Kiril Kirilov
Cast:
Kosa - Philip Avramov
Ivo - Ivan Barnev
The Little one - Ivo Arukov
The Grey one - Valery Yordanov
Emi - Ina Nikolova
Ran - Vassil Draganov
Ira - Iva Gocheva
Horst - Iaroslav Petkov
