FNE at KVIFF East of the West Competition: Sneakers

29-06-2011

FNE at KVIFF East of the West Competition: Sneakers

By Pavlina Jeleva

Sneakers, the Bulgarian debut film by co-directors Ivan Vladimirov and Valery Yordanov, screens in competition in Karlovy Vary's East of the West section, following a slot in the main competition at the Moscow IFF.

{mosimage}The film was shot in Sofia, the Black Sea coast and the Danube valley in August and September 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 (http://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.

{mosimage}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 be distributed in Bulgaria in September 2011.

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.

www.galafilm-bg.com

Script: Valery Yordanov

Directors: Ivan Vladimirov & Valery Yordanov

Director of Photography: Rali Raltchev