The five members of the international jury at the 39^th Golden Rose Film Festival have decided to hand the Award for Best Bulgarian Feature to an entertaining genre film with elements of communist nostalgia, In the Heart of the Machine by Martin Makariev, “for its very well-told story of prisoners placed in an impossible situation, who retain their human face and dignity”. The Best Screenplay Award went to Borislav Zahariev for the same production, accompanied by a statement that emphasised the “well-developed topic, concerning dignity and human choice in an extreme situation”. At the same time, the Golden Rose Award for Best Short Film went to Donkey by Martin Negrev, with the jury singling out the “humanistic plot about the loneliness of an old man and his only, voiceless friend, inhabitants of a vanishing world”.

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The overall impression from this year’s edition is that therewere many prizes given out when compared to the number of films competing: the full-length competition showcased seven titles fewer than last year, when 19 movies were participating. Thus, two-thirds of the contenders received at least one award, with some productions getting more than that (aside from the aforementioned In the Heart of the Machine): Best Director (Pavel G Vesnakov) and Best Actor (Julian Vergov) for German Lessons [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film]; the Special Jury Award and the Bulgarian Film Critics’ Guild Award for January [+leggi anche:
recensione
scheda film]; Best Cinematographer (Nenad Boroevich) and the Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers’ Award for Best Feature Film for Fishbone [+leggi anche:
intervista: Dragomir Sholev
scheda film]; and Best First Feature and Best Actress (Alexandra Kostova) for Petya of My Petya. The Special Mentions were also doubled up: for Women Do Cry [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Mina Mileva, Vesela Kazakova
scheda film] by Mina Mileva and Vessela Kazakova and for Albena Kostova’s performance in Petya of My Petya in the feature-length category; and for Fridgid by Devina Vasileva and Mona Lisa by Veselka Kuncheva in the shorts category. The latter also received the Bulgarian Film Critics’ Guild Award for Best Short Film.

Here is the full list of winners at the 39th Golden Rose Film Festival:

Best Feature Film
In the Heart of the Machine – Martin Makariev (Bulgaria)

Best Short Film
Donkey – Martin Negrev (Bulgaria)

Special Jury Award
January [+leggi anche:
recensione
scheda film] – Andrey Paounov (Bulgaria/Portugal)

The City of Varna Award
The Naked Truth About Zhiguli Band [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film] - Victor Bojinov (Bulgaria)

Audience Award
Uncle Santa - Ivaylo Penchev (Bulgaria)

Best Director
Pavel G Vesnakov –  German Lessons [+leggi anche:
trailer
scheda film] (Bulgaria/Germany)

Best Screenplay
Borislav Zahariev – In the Heart of the Machine

Best Cinematographer
Nenad Boroevich -  Fishbone [+leggi anche:
intervista: Dragomir Sholev
scheda film] (Bulgaria/Romania)

Best Actress
Alexandra Kostova – Petya of My Petya (Bulgaria)

Best Actor
Julian Vergov – German Lessons

Best First Feature
Petya of My Petya – Alexander Kossev

Special Mentions
Women Do Cry [+leggi anche:
recensione
trailer
intervista: Mina Mileva, Vesela Kazakova
scheda film] – Mina Mileva and Vessela Kazakova (Bulgaria/France)
Albena Kostova – Petya of My Petya

Special Mentions for Short Film
Mona Lisa – Veselka Kuncheva (Bulgaria)
Fridgid – Devina Vasileva (Bulgaria)

Bulgarian Film Critics’ Guild Award for Best Feature Film
January – Andrey Paounov

Bulgarian Film Critics’ Guild Award for Best Short Film
Mona Lisa – Veselka Kuncheva

Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers’ Award
Fishbone – Dragomir Sholev