Considering the latest international successes of several Bulgarian features, festival director Labina Mitevksa selected three films from different periods: Iglika Trifonova's 2001 debut Letter to America; Zorniza Sofia's 2009 second film Forecast (www.forecastthemovie.com) and Stefan Komandarev's 2008 The World is Big and Salvation Lurks around the Corner (www.theworldisbig.com). A presentation of the Bulgarian National Film Centre (www. nfc.bg) was given by executive director Alexander Donev.

"I am delighted that the festival has invited us as a special part of its official edition in the company of such prestigious partners as the Finnish Film Foundation (www.ses.fi) and the Israeli Film Fund (www.filmfund.org.il)," Donev said at a press conference moderated by film critic Suncica Unevska He mentioned some of the main points of the public body financial regulations and pointed that that a number of new Bulgarian films that are in production now will be distributed next year. "On the other hand, we suffer from serious financial cuts and therefore we cancelled the regular selection committees that were scheduled to take place during the second half of the year. Regarding distribution and private broadcasting, I am afraid we have a different corporate culture. I am not very optimistic about the contributions to a film fund. I am really happy with the formula of our law but unfortunately it is not secured!" Donev explained.

Eminent film director Mariana Evstatieva-Biolcheva was the Bulgarian representative at a round table dedicated to "Women in the Film Industry" and moderated by Gena Teodosievska.

Producer Martichka Bozhilova who recently became the director of the Balkan Documentary Center (www.bdcwebsite.com) introduced its functions and goals of aiding quality national creativity and active regional networking.