15-08-2010

PRODUCTION: The Island begins filming in Bulgaria

By Pavlina Jeleva

    Model and actress Laetitia Casta began a nine week shoot August 10 on Kamen Kalev's second feature The Island. She plays a French journalist and 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.

    "Laetitia is very natural and nice. I believe that the scenes I have with her will work perfectly well!" Velkova said. "And Lindhardt is an established actor coming from the Copenhagen National Theatre," she added. The actress is one of two characters who provoke a painful spiritual transformation in the lead character during an unexpected vacation in Bulgaria. The story is set on a tiny but mysterious island in the Black sea.

    Balancing between normality and madnessThe Island is described by Kalev as "a love story, deep and not too romantic, but still optimistic."

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

    The production reunites 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.

    {mosimage}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

    {mosimage}Producers

    WaterFront Film

    Bacho Kiro 39

    1202 Sofia

    Bulgaria

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

    www.waterfrontfilm.net

    Chimney Pot

    Fredrik Zander

    {mosimage}Sturegatan 58

    114 36 Stockholm

    Sweden

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

    www.thechimneypot.com

    Film i Väst AB

    Akerssjöv. 4

    461 23 Trollhättan

    Sweden

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

    www.filmivast.se