PRODUCTION: The Island begins filming in Bulgaria

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