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- Baba Vanga, born Vangeliya Pandeva Dimitrova, in Strumica, North Macedonia, then the Ottoman Empire, in 1911, was a mystic, clairvoyant, and herbalist. Vanga lost her sight when she was 12. She was swept away by a mighty tornado. Later she was found alive, covered with dirt and stones, with sand in her eyes. She became blind as a result. In 1925 Vanga was brought to a school for the blind in the city of Zemun, in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, where she spent three years, and was taught to read Braille, and to play the piano. In 1927 she started making minor predictions about local phenomena. Her powers of foreseeing, clairvoyance, deepened and expanded after she turned 30. She attracted believers with her ability to heal and soothsay, fortune telling, a great number of people visited her, hoping to get a hint about whether their relatives were alive, or seeking for the place where they died. One of them was the Bulgarian Tzar Boris III. Another was Adolf Hitler. In 1942 Vanga married Dimitar Gushterov, a Bulgarian soldier, and moved to Petrich, Bulgaria, where she soon became well-known for her gifts and predictions. After the Second World War, Bulgarian politicians and leaders from different Soviet Republics, including Soviet Premier Leonid Brezhnev, sought her counsel. Several researchers have studied the phenomenon of Vanga in the attempt to establish whether she has any extraordinary capabilities. One of the first studies was initiated by the Bulgarian government and is described in the documentary "Fenomen" (1977). Fulfilling Baba Vanga's last will and testament, her house in Petrich was turned into a museum, which opened for visitors on May 5, 2008.
- Actress
- Director
Nevena, born in Dupnitsa on December 12, 1938, is keenly aware of the inequities of the world from a very young age. Her father Bogdan is a military officer in the Kingdom of Bulgaria. When the Communist-led Fatherland Front government takes power in the 40's, it consolidates its victory by persecuting the government and military elite of wartime Bulgaria as "enemies of the people". Her father spends several years in the labor camp. Even after his release, the stigma of being an "enemy's" daughter will haunt her throughout her life. With her family unable to live in Sofia, Nevena spends her childhood in the village of Kumarica, where she draws relentlessly and develops a passion for acting. After being fascinated by tales of a film shoot happening nearby, she is recruited as an extra and given a single line in the 1956 film "Two Victories". The experience is the final push that convinces the 18-year old Economics Institute graduate to audition for the National Institute for Theatrical Art in Sofia. In her audition, she gives a contemporary, unorthodox take on the study "woman sees a mouse in the room", which runs counter to the theatrical dogma of the time. That, possibly coupled with the stain on her father's name, contributes to her rejection. In her moment of discouragement, she received an offer for an apprentice position in the troupe of the country theatre. Nevena begins her stage career with classical ingénue roles, playing a bare-footed Juliet to great acclaim, fascinating critics with her unpolished, organic talent. She is cast in her first major screen role opposite Lyubomir Sharlandziev in the 1957 film "Years of Love". Lyubomir falls in love with her at first sight, and the 19-year old, inexperienced Nevena marries her first on-screen romantic partner. Her husband is not only an actor, he's a director. He directs Nevena in a multitude of plays, first in Gabrovo, then in Ruse, all the while acting as her unofficial acting tutor, constantly honing her skill. The screen adaptation of the novel "Tobacco" is a long and dramatic story. Author Dimitar Dimov is under tremendous pressure to rewrite portions of his work, to soften the impact of the characters within, while director Nikola Korabov has the uneasy task of reducing a 1500-page novel to a 150-page script. Kokanova has been in a few films already and Korabov hopes to have her play Irina, the female lead - a strong, independent, self-aware and ultimately self-destructive character. There is pressure from the Artistic Council of Cinematography to have another actress cast. Nevena is young, inexperienced, unschooled, provincial, and an undesirable to the Communist Party, which at the time exerts a tremendous amount of censorship and influence over anything produced in the country. There is even talk of bringing in a foreign actress to play Irina, but Dimov is against it. In the end, despite a tremendous amount of difficulty and at great risk to his career, Korabov secures Kokanova for the role. She has reservations herself, feeling unequal to the task of filling the shoes of the strong and experienced literary character that is Irina, but she is made for the screen and she becomes more confident with every shooting day that passes. "Tobacco" is presented at Cannes in 1963, with giants such as Federico Fellini, Alfred Hitchcock, Gregory Peck and Burt Lancaster in attendance. French poet Andre Morois kisses her hand on the red carper with the words "You affected me!" The criticism and envy leveled at her is quelled. The tremendous success of "Tobacco" makes her a household name in Bulgaria. Her second iconic film role will be anything but effortless. Vulo Radev, having been director of photography in several of her films, makes his directorial debut with a film version of Emilian Stanev's novel "The Peach-Garden Trespasser". Set just after WWI, the film is about a Serbian prisoner of war who sneaks into a Bulgarian colonel's private garden, meeting his wife there by chance and starting a torrid love affair with her. Nevena's beauty and her recent success fan the flames of envy and Radev has to put his reputation on the line and assume a tremendous financial risk to cast her. Moreover, she is in the middle of a theatrical engagement in the Satirical theatre in Sofia under director Metodi Andonov, at the same time that she is desperately needed to film "The Peach-Garden Trespasser" in Veliko Tarnovo. With Andonov's help, Kokanova manages to shoot for the film while still performing nightly in Sofia. Despite the tremendous risk of her being fired from the theatre, she is driven by car to Veliko Tarnovo (some 4 hours) after every performance in Sofia. She is filming until noon the following day, when she is driven back to be on stage again at 8 pm. Needless to say, this puts a tremendous physical strain on the young actress, who has very little time for sleep. By the end of the 60's, Kokanova is the most prolific Bulgarian film actress and a fashion icon. She's offered four roles in East Germany and accepts a terrific role in Italian director Liliana Cavani's "Galileo" in 1969. The next decade, spent on stage and on screen, is a happy one for Kokanova, resulting in some of her best work. She appears in films such as "The Boy Turns Man" (1972) opposite Filip Trifonov, "The Weddings of King Ioan Asen" (1975), the last film appearance of Apostol Karamitev and "Ladies' Choice") (1980), an ensemble comedy alongside Stefan Danailov, Tzvetana Maneva, Doroteya Toncheva and Maria Statulova. However, this decade ends with a crushing blow. In July of 1979, while directing "Three Deadly Sins", her husband Lyubomir dies of a heart attack. Devastated, she occupies herself with caring for their daughter Teodora and completes the film in his stead. In the stagnation and standstill that descends on the arts after the fall of Communism in 1989, and without any work prospects, she retreats to a village in the Balkan Mountains, rebuilding a small cottage and claiming sanctuary there. Kokanova continues to act, marking a belated 60th birthday in 1999 with a performance in the theatre "Revival". Days later, she is honored in the Hall of Cinema by a concert in her honor. Highlight reels of her great movie roles are shown and toasts are made to her health. Unbeknownst to everyone except her, these toasts are futile. She has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer several years earlier. By the end of 1999, she is a shadow of her former self, but ready to face her final challenge, her ultimate role, with grace and resolve. Nevena Kokanova, the radiant, lovely, loved, irreplaceable first lady of Bulgarian cinema, died on June 3, 2000 at the age of 62, immortalized on the silver screen and in the heart of a nation.- One of the most talented actors from Bulgaria. He was born in Sofia in 1942. In 1962 he graduated from famous Krastyo Sarafov National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts as an actor. His first appearance in the movies was in 1956 when he was a only a teenager. With the well known series Na vseki kilometar he gained international reputation.
- Petar Ivanov Popyordanov , known as Chocho Popyordanov, is Bulgarian theater and cinema actor. He was born on June 11, 1964 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He is a son of Ivan Popyordanov (born on 1938) - a longtime Chief of the cinema center Boyana Film Studios. He was also Chief of Bulgarian National Television in 1998. The Mother of Petar Popyordanov Katya was a doctor. The father's family originated from Veles, Vardar Macedonia. Chocho great-grandfather was a first cousin of the Macedonian revolutionaries - Chieftain Mile and his younger brother Jordan Popyordanov-Ortse, leader of Thessaloniki bombers. In 1989, Petar Popyordanov graduated National Academy for Theatre and Film Art, Sofia, Bulgaria in "Acting" in the class of Professor Krikor Azaryan and Todor Kolev. He studied at the Czech Republic one year. He has played in the troupes of Theatre "Sofia", Little City Theatre "Off the Channel" and in 1994 - in the National Theater. His most famous theater roles were in performances "Outcasts," "Midsummer Night's Dream," "At the foot of Vitosha Mountain," "The Tempest," "The man who makes the rain," "Kimono", "Decameron," "Ghosts in Naples, "" Hedda Gabler. " Chocho Popyordanov has involved in cinema productions, including "Yesterday" (1988), "Rio Adio" (1989), " The Love Summer of a Schlep " (1990), "Vampires, ghouls" (1992) "Canaries Season" (1993), "Frontier" (1994), "Spanish fly" (1998), "After the end of the world" (1998), "Danube bridge" (1999), "Sombrero blues" (1999), " Wolf Hunt" (2000). Petar Popyordanov has won numerous nominations and awards, including a nomination for "Asker" in 1996 and 1997 and the prize "Golden Bayar" in Belgium for Best Actor in the film "Border". He had also a presence on the small screen, starring in the TV show "UFO Club" on "Channel 1". In 2007 he began his participation in the series "Outcasts" for "Channel 1" of Bulgarian National Television. He has nephews Helen and Peter Koshnicharski. Albeit posthumously Chocho Popyordanov became a father of adopted him months earlier daughter Ekaterina Petrova Popyordanova. He died on May 5, 2013 in Boyana, Sofia Province, Bulgaria.
- Kosta Tsonev was a Bulgarian actor of Greek heritage starring in theatre, TV and cinema. He was born on 10 June 1929 in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia. He studied at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts. He has been married three times: twice to Anahid Tacheva and then to his present wife Elena. He has a son, famed newsreader Dimitar Tsonev, and a daughter. His second oldest brother was the late Vasil Tsonev, a dry witted satirist who wrote many books, which have been published in several languages. His oldest brother was the late Iwan Tsonev (Iwan Zoneff) who moved to Australia in 1950 where he became one of the biggest property developers in South Australia during the mid 60 showing the diverse talents of the 3 brothers in each of their chosen fields. The father of the three brothers was a simple house painter. In 2001, Tsonev turned to politics and was elected to the National Assembly of Bulgaria as a representative of the former National Movement Simeon II. He was reelected in 2005. He is known for The Commander of the Detachment (1959), Freedom or Death (1969), The Indispensable Sinner (1971), The Weddings of King Ioan Assen (1975), The Swimming Pool (1977), The Conversion to Christianity & Discourse of Letters (1982), Crazy Day (2004) and My Father the House-Painter (1974). He died on January 25, 2012 in Sofia.
- Production Manager
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Janine M. Clark was born on 23 November 1967 in Lynwood, California, USA. She was a production manager and producer, known for Descent Into Darkness (2002), Antibody (2002) and Daybreak (2000). She died on 11 September 2001 in Sofia, Bulgaria.- Actor
- Writer
Bulgarian stage and film actor, singer and showman. He graduated from "Krastyo Sarafov National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts" as an actor, just as many talented actors from Bulgaria did. Began his career in 1965, Kolev was best known for his roles in comedies like "Opasen Char", "Gospodin Za Edin Den" and "Dvoynikat" as well as for his songs and shows. His unique kind of acting won general approval in his country. In some ways, pretty much reminds Charlie Chaplin.
After the collapse of communism, he get involved in politics for a while and was a Member of Parliament.
Todor Kolev suffered from Lung Cancer for several years and died at the age of 73.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Naum Hristov Shopov is a popular Bulgarian theatre and film actor. His career starts on the stage of the Army Theatre, where he plays for more than three decades before moving to the National Theatre. He was presented to two "Askeer" awards. Among his unforgettable films are "The Penleve Case", directed by Gueorgui Stoyanov, "Villa Zone", directed by Eduard Sachariev, "Warm", directed by Vladimir Yanchev, "The Inspector and the Night", directed by Rangel Vulchanov. He was presented to "Icarus" Award for Overall Contribution. Naum Shopov went down in history for his roles as King Lear and Tsar Boris III. Shopov's debut in cinema was in Hristo Piskov's ''Poor Man's Street'' but it was not until Vulo Radev's ''The Peach Thief'' that his cinematic talent was fully recognized. Radev's next film, ''Tsar and General'', for the first time portrayed Bulgarian Tsar Boris III (r. 1918-1943) as sympathetic and human, trying to do what is best for his beloved homeland. Naum Shopov was cast as Tsar Boris III. In the movie a prominent Bulgarian general (Peter Slabakov) faces execution when King Boris III (Naum Shopov) decides to side with Russia in this World War II drama. Naum Shopov performed in more than thirty films since 1960. On the theatrical stage Shopov will be remembered best for his memorable appearance in King Lear, Hamlet, Socrates, Don Basilio, Crap. Naum Shopov famously said once that he likes only difficult parts. "If I don't suffer, if I don't undergo something with a character, he somehow doesn't stay with me. "- Tatiana Lolova was born on 10 February 1934 in Sofia. She graduated in Acting from National Academy for Theatre and Film Art, Sofia in 1955, then played a year at Ruse Drama Theatre and became one of the founding members of the State Theatre of Satire (1956-1978). In 1978-1989 joined the company of Sofia Theatre. In her early career she was more popular for her radio than her stage performances, but the advent of TV made her a real celebrity. Starring in over 50 features and TV series with, among others, An Incredible Story (1964); Birds and Greyhounds (1969); The Five of the Moby Dick (1970); Indian Summer (1973); Stars in the Hair, Tears in the Eyes (1977); Warmth (1978); Good Luck, Inspector! (1983); Dangerous Charm (1984); After the End of the World (1998); The English Neighbour (2011); House Arrest (2011).
- Ivan Laskin was born on 10 March 1970 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He was an actor, known for Nai-vajnite neshta (2001), Dunav most (1999) and Staklenata reka (2010). He was married to Miroslava Gogovska. He died on 6 January 2019 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
- Actor
- Director
- Art Director
Ivan Andonov graduated from the National Academy of Theater and Film Art in Sofia, Bulgaria, in 1956. He is one of the most important Bulgarian cinema actors. Since 1965 he is a director and designer in animation. The films 'Difficulty', 'Esperanza' and 'Melodrama' bring him international awards and recognition. His début in features is in 1974 as a director of 'Difficult Love'. 'The Roof' won the Critic's Award in Varna, Bulgaria in 1978. 'White Magis' won Silver Prize in Cadiz, Spain. 'Dangerous Charm' won Grand Prix in Chianchiano, Italy, 1985 and Special Prize of the Jury in Chamrousse, France, in 1988. 'Dreamers' won First Prize in Varna, Bulgaria. 'Yesterday' won the Viewers, Award in Varna, Bulgaria, Grand Prix in San Remo, Italy, 1989, and Best Director Award in Moscow, 1989.- Stoycho Mazgalov Todorov is a Bulgarian theater and cinema actor. He was born on May 2, 1930 in the town of Lyubimets , Haskovo region, Bulgaria. He studied in the Higher Economic Institute in Sofia. Then he graduated in "acting" in National Academy for Theatre and Film Art, Sofia Bulgaria in 1954 in the class of Professor Nikolai Masalitinov. He had played in Pernik Drama Theater (1954-1955), in the Theater "Labor Front" (1955-1964), in the Theater "People's Stage" (1964-1966). He is one of the founders of the Theater " Tears and Laughter " and its Chief Manager from 1969 to 1983. In 1985, he had played in the National Theatre . He was a member of the Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers . He is a winner of the Order "Cyril and Methodius" - II, degree. He had played in 47 films , including the popular Bulgarian Song for man , King and General , Shibil , Eighth , Three Retired , Typhoons with Gentle names , War of the Hedgehogs , Han Asparuh and others. He is an author of the autobiographical book "When I am." At the time of his leadership Drama Theatr "Tears and Laughter" was perhaps the most interesting Sofia TheaterIt's a wonder he was Chief Manager for fourteen years (1969-1983) They must have cost him much, but he did not stop with a tenacity and cunning to do all that believed necessary and as if no thought for the consequences. It was externally strict and strong. He gathered around him smart and talented people and knew how to listen to their wise advice. But he knew that the responsibility has to carry personally. Impressive was his civil courage in times when it was a rare and dangerous. It was glamorous actor; he was playing always one of us. For him, theater was calling, and destiny - both looking very serious. He died on November 1, 2006 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
- Stage and film actor, best known for his roles in comedy movies. He was an important figure of the Golden age of Bulgarian Cinema (i.e. 1970s and 1980s). He began his career in the middle of the 1950s and made his feature length debut in 1958. He never got married or had children.
- Georgi Rusev was born on May 7, 1928 in village Kostenetz bathroom , Bulgaria. He is the son of a priest, a settler from Macedonia . In 1952 he graduated from National Academy for Theatre and Film Art, Sofia, Bulgaria with a degree in acting in the class of Professor Filip Filipov . He began his acting career at the Plovdiv Drama Theatre ; continued for several years in Sofia Youth Theatre and finally settled in Pernik Theater between 1966 and 1990. Since 1977 he had been a Chief Manager of the Pernik Drama Theatre "Bojan Danovski". Georgi Rusev was among the founders of the Little City Theatre "Off the Channel" in 1990. In recent years, he had taken roles in Theatre 199 , in the private theater "Alternative" and in the National Theatre . Besides the theater, Rusev played in the cinema. He debuted in 1966 in the movie " The beginning of a vacation ." His interest in the cinema ignited the scripts by Georgi Mishev . He had involved in many of the emblematic Bulgarian movies from the 1970th and 1980th . Unforgettable by their color are his roles (usually negative characters) in the movies "A Peasant on a Bicycle " and " Matriarchy ", directed by Lyudmil Kirkov; " Ladies Choice ", "Dangerous Charm ", and " Yesterday ", directed by Ivan Andonov; " The Hare Census ", directed by Eduard Sachariev; " Examinations at any time "," 13th bride of the prince ", directed by Ivanka Grybcheva. In 1977, he was awarded with the title " People's Artist "; in 2006 he was awarded with the honorary award " Asker " for Lifetime Achievement; in 2008 he was awarded with the Order of " St. St. Cyril and Methodius "with the necklace. He died in Sofia on 1 April 2011 after a serious illness, aged 82.
- Vladimir Smirnov was born on 22 June 1941 in Chernogorsk, Khakasskaya AO, Krasnoyarskiy kray, RSFSR, USSR [now Khakassia, Russia]. He was an actor, known for Sbogom, priyateli! (1970), Front ohne Gnade (1984) and Pervorossiyanye (1967). He was married to Bogdana Marinova and Silvia Spassova. He died on 10 August 2000 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
- Director
- Writer
Sharaliev graduated from the St. Kliment Ohridski Sofia University and the VGIK, Moscow. He has worked at Boyana Film Studio, Bulgaria and had been a member of the Parliament from 1972 to 1980. He was a Chair of the Board of the directors of Boyana Film Studio. He was the winner of a numerous Grand Prix at national and international film festivals. He is known for A Song about the Man (1954), Knight without Armor (1966), A Shooting Day (1969), Farewell, Friends! (1970), The Indispensable Sinner (1971), The Apostles (1976), All Is Love (1979), The Thrust (1981), Boris I: The Conversion to Christianity & Discourse of Letters (1985), Plyontek (1991).- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Binka Zhelyazkova was born on July 15, 1923 in the town of Svilengrad, Bulgaria. She studied theater at the National Theater Institute in Sofia. Her career as a film director began in 1957 when she co-directed her first feature film Life Goes Quietly By... with her husband Hristo Ganev.
At the end of the 1950s Binka Zhelyazkova was one of the few women in the world making feature films. Her style was influenced by Italian Neo-Realism and the French New Wave, as well as Russian Cinema.
During her career she directed seven feature and two documentary films. Four of her nine films were banned from distribution and reached audiences only after the end of communism. She was the director of the Bulgarian section of Women in Film, an organization created in 1989 after the international women in film conference, KIWI, in Tbilisi, Georgia. She stopped making films after 1989, which coincided with the fall of the communist regime in Bulgaria. For some time after that she remained active in the women in film organization but soon completely withdrew from public life.- Todor Zhivkov was born on 7 September 1911 in Pravets, Bulgaria. He died on 5 August 1998 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
- Stoyanka Mutafova was born on February 2,1922 in Sofia . Her father , Constantine Mutafov was a playwright at the National Theatre "Ivan Vazov" . In 1941, she graduated from the First Sofia Girls' High School . Then she graduated from Classical Philology in Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and the State Theatre School in Sofia. From 1946 to 1949, she worked in Theater in Prague , and from 1949 to 1956 at the National Theatre. She is a founding member of the State Theatre of Satire "Aleko Konstantinov" , where she worked from 1956 to 1991. Mutafova has 3 marriages. In 1946, she married her first husband, the Czech director Robert Rosner, when she was 23 years old, and he - 51. After marriage she went to live in Vienna , and then moved to Prague . In Prague Mutafova finishes second higher education at the theater department of the Prague Conservatory. Her second husband was Leonid Grubeshliev , by profession a journalist and translator. From this marriage is the only daughter of the actress - Maria Grubeshlieva - Muky. The third husband of Mutafova was the actor Neycho Popov. About him she says that he is the big love of her life. They have seen each other for the first time at the National Theatre, where she began to work as an actress, and he was a student at the National Academy. Stoyanka Mutafova is awarded with the order " St. St. Cyril and Methodius ", I grade in 1962; with the Honorary title "Honored Artist" in 1963; with the "National Order of Labour" , gold in 1972; with the Honorary title " People's Artist " in 1977; with the title Honorary citizen of Sofia in 2000; with the Order " Stara Planina " - 2002; with the title Honorary citizen of the town Burgas in 2002; with the Theater Award " Asker " in 2002; with the Sign " Golden Age " in 2012; with the title Honorary citizen of the town Sredets in 2012; With the Award "Golden Kukerikon" on the name of Georgi Kaloyanchev in 2013; with the Award "Golden blend" of "Jameson" for the role of grandmother Mariyka in the series " Capital citizen more" 2013; with the Award "Bulgaria You" in 2015; with the Citation for "Contribution to the culture and the enrichment of world theater" in 2015.
- Director
- Writer
- Cinematographer
Vulo Radev (1 January 1923 - 28 March 2001) was a Bulgarian film director, writer and cinematographer. Radev was born in a village Lesidren. In 1953, Radev graduated from the filming faculty of the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography in Moscow. His first film, a documentary, appeared in 1952. Radev later filmed Citizens of Dimitrovgrad (1956), On the Eve (1959, adapted from I. S. Turgenev's novel), and Tobacco (1962). In his first own film, The Peach Thief (1964, adapted from Emiliyan Stanev's novella), Vulo Radev expresses his anguish for modern man (along the lines of Godart and Antonioni) through the love story between the Serbian Officer Ivo, a prisoner of war at the concentration camp of the Bulgarians, and Lisa, the wife of the city's commander - a great love story amidst the inhuman hatred of war. The critics praise the excellent artistic knowledge; sensitivity in conception and structure of the subject matter; as well as excellent guiding of actors. As a chamber piece, the drama was made in the style of the then popular realistic psychological literature. Radev used the same style in his next film The King and The General (1966), a story of the conflict between King Boris III and General Zaimov, who tried in the beginning of the World War II to prevent both Bulgarian's alliance with Germany and its entry into the war against Soviet Union. Radev broke a number of conventions in this film too. Other films directed by him include The Longest Night (1967), Doomed Souls (1975, adapted from Dimitar Dimov's novella), and The Black Angels (1970). In 1981, he directed Adaptation, a film addressing issues of insanity. Radev received the Dimitrov Prize in 1969.- Djoko Rosic (born Dzhordzhe Mirko Rosic) was born on 28 February 1932 in Krupanj, which was then part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, to a Bulgarian mother and a Serbian father. In 1951 he emigrated to Bulgaria and graduated in Economy, but completed also courses in Radio Journalism. After that he worked for 17 years as a journalist for the Bulgarian National Radio. He has acted in Bulgarian, Hungarian and Serbian films. He has been called "the legendary cowboy". He has acted in more than 110 films, The Eighth (1969), Aesop (1970), My Father the House-Painter (1974), Ivan Kondarev (1974), Captain Petko Voivode (1981), Khan Asparouh (1981), The Judge (1986), Time of Violence (1988), After the End of the World (1988), Tuvalu (1999), Zift (2008), Prima Primavera (2009), to name but a few. He received the Cyril and Methodius, 1st degree state order. In February 2010 the Ministry of Culture discerned the Golden Age Award to him for his outstanding merits to Bulgarian films. He was married to Lilyana Lazarova. He died on February 21, 2014 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Orhan Kemal was born on 15 September 1914 in Ceyhan, Adana, Ottoman Empire [now Turkey]. He was a writer, known for Anasi gibi (1957), Vukuat Var (1972) and Meyhanecinin kizi: Mapusane çesmesi (1958). He died on 2 June 1970 in Sofia, Bulgaria.- Nikola Anastasov was born on 22 April 1932 in Sofia. He graduated in Acting from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in 1955. He was part of the companies of the Drama Theatres in Vratsa (1955-1956) and Varna (1956-1957), as well as the Theatre of Satire, Labour Front Theatre and Small Theatre off the Canal in Sofia. He made his debut in film in The Last Round in 1961. He has acted in nearly 20 feature and TV films, With the Devil's Shoulder Straps (1967), Mister Nobody (169), The Phoney Civilization (1974), Nako, Dako and Tsako (1974-1976), Unexpected School Holidays (1981), and Only You, My Heart (1987), to name but a few.
- Petar Slabakov was a Bulgarian Theatre and Film actor. He was born at April 23, 1923 in Lyaskovetz, Bulgaria. He studied by correspondence industry economics in Varna. He had worked as tractor-driver and founder. He joined up Bulgarian army against German troops in World War II as volunteer. He had worked in the troupes of the country theaters as an apprentice in the beginning, and after an exam - as a professional actor. He played many roles in the theaters of Varna (1953 - 1957), Burgas (1957 - 1960), Plovdiv (1960 - 1963), and then in the Sofia's theater "Trudov front" (1963 - 1965), in Pernik's theater (1965 - 1966). He was an actor in Boyana Film Studio two years (1966 - 1967). After that, he played in "Sofia" theater (1972 - 1979), and in Satirical Theater (1980 - 1991). On the theatrical stage Petar Slabakov will be remembered best for his memorable appearance in The Two Gentlemen of Verona by William Shakespeare (Lanes), The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov (Lopahin), The Lower Depths by Maxim Gorki (Luka), etc. Petar Slabakov was one of the most important Bulgarian cinema actors. He appears in films such as Captive Flock (1962) by Ducho Mundrov, "Shibil" by Zahari Zhandov, "Tsar and General" by Vulo Radev, "Stars in Her Hair, Tears in Her Eyes" by Ivan Nitchev, "Eternal Times" by Asen Shopov, "A Roof" by Ivan Andonov and many others. He was one of the initiators of the establishing of the "Ecoglasnost" in 1989, which were one of the first opposition societies against the communist regime in Bulgaria. He was elected to the National Assembly of Bulgaria twice - in 1990 - 1991 and in 1995 - 1997.
- The Bulgarian actor Filip Trifonov was born on May 4, 1947. From 1969 to 1973 he studied acting at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Art, Sofia, Bulgaria in the class of Apostol Karamitev. Even before he finished his education in 1971 Filip Trifonov made his cinema debut in the film "The Test" (directed by Georgi Djulgerov). He played the main role - character Lio. Then he played the title role in "The Boy goes" (directed by Lyudmil Kirkov). Philip Trifonov has participated in over then 30 films, including "The Hare Census" (directed by Eduard Sachariev), "As a Song" (directed by Irina Aktasheva and Hristo Piskov), "Wardrobe" (based on the novel of Stanislav Stratiev; directed by Georgi Djulgerov), "Tool Is Bagpipe?" (directed by Asen Shopov), "Orchestra without a Name" (directed by Lyudmil Kirkov), "Avalanche"(directed by Irina Aktasheva and Hristo Piskov),"Forget this Case" (directed by Krasimir Spasov), "Echelons" (directed by Borislav Punchev), "Life on Demand" (directed by Kosta Bikov), "Protect Small Animals" (directed by Haim Koen),"AkaDaMuS" (directed by Georgi Djulgerov),"Rio Adio" (directed by Ivan Andonov), "Ivan and Alexandra" (directed by Ivan Nichev), "Walking with the Angel" (directed by Ivan Pavlov), "Madame Bovary from Sliven" (directed by Emil Tzanev), "Rhapsody in White" (directed by Tedi Moskov), "Bay Ganyo goes through Europe" (directed by Ivan Nichev). On stage, Philip Trifonov's debut was in the role of Andzor in "The process will take place" by A. Chheidze In Blagoevgrad Theatre in 1973. He worked in Blagoevgrad Theatre, Theatre "Sofia", "Boyana studios 2;. In 1992 he created together with director Nikolai Gunderov Natural Theatre "Trifonof & Gunderov." His performances are "Opening" and "Audience" by V. Havel and "Second Hand", "West Germany - my fatherland", "She", written by him.
- Katya Paskaleva played in 46 pictures in less than four decades. Her name turned into a synonym of the Bulgarian cinema. Her female characters are not glossy beauties, they win us over through the melancholic grace of Madonnas. She broke up the relief of Bulgarian cinema femininity and recreated the most arduous epitome filmed in Bulgaria ever - the one of Maria-the-mother and Maria-the-daughter in The Goat Horn (1972, director Metodi Andonov).
- King Boris III was born on 30 January 1894 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He was married to Princess Giovanna Elisabetta Antonia Romana Maria of Italy. He died on 28 August 1943 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
- Specializing in intense psychological dramas, Bulgarian filmmaker Metodi Andonov is best remembered for making one of his country's most popular films, The Goat Horn (1972). He also directed a pair of high-grossing detective dramas based on the novels and screenplays of Bogomil Rainov, There's Nothing Finer Than Bad Weather (1971) and The Great Boredom (1973). Andonov graduated from the Sofia Academy of Dramatic Art in 1955 after studying theater direction. Before entering the film industry, he directed productions at the Dramatic Theater in Burgas and at the Satirical Theater in Sofia. Andonov made his feature directorial debut in 1968 with The White Room, which was based on a Rainov novel. In addition to his work in theater and cinema, Andonov occasionally directed for television.
- Luchezar Dimitrov Stoyanov is a Bulgarian theater and cinema actor. He was born in Sofia. In 1965, he graduated at Lazar Dobrich studios for circus artists. Then he was accepted into the class of Professor Dr. Krustyu Mirsky in National Academy for Theatre and Film Art, Sofia, Bulgaria. He graduated it and became an actor in drama theaters, but more popularity has brought him his participation in Bulgarian movies. He has played in more than thirty future films. Among his friends he was known as Luco the Stunt (Lucho Kaskadata). He died on June 3, 1991 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
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Lyudmil Todorov was born in Gorna Oryahovitsa in 1955. He graduated from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in 1982 as film and TV director in classes of Georgi Djulgerov and Mladen Kiselov. His film The Love Summer of a Shlepp (1990) received the Grand Prix in Turin and the Special Jury Prize in Montevideo. Emilia's Friends (1997) was awarded the FIPRESCI Prize in Thessaloniki. Emigrants (2002) received the Audience Award at Sofia International Film Festival. Lyudmil Todorov is also a screenwriter and a writer. He has published four books - one of them is a collection of short stories and the other three are novels.- Ivan Gospodinov Dimov is a Bulgarian actor. He was born on January 14, 1897 in Chirpan, Bulgaria. For his contribution to cinema Dimov was awarded with the title " People's Artist". He graduated from Drama School at the National Theatre "Ivan Vazov" and spent the next 39 years playing on its stage. Meanwhile, he became the star of one of the most popular Bulgarian films from 50th and 60th, such as " Kalin the Eagle " and " Tobacco ". Between 1919 and 1923 he played in theaters in Varna, Pleven and Vidin. Between 1922 and 1961 he was in the trope of the National Theater. Some of his important roles are: John Proctor in Salemskite witches by Arthur Miller; Yakov Bardin in Enemies by Maxim Gorky; Ghul Inspector in Inspector Came by John Priestley; Ivan Alexandrovich Hlestakov in Comptroller by N. Gogol; Chatski in Mind Weight by A. S. Griboyedov; Ivan Nikitovic Safonov in Russian People by Konstantin Simonov; Plato Krechet Ivanovic in Plato Krechet by A. E. Korneychuk; Matt Denant in Escape from John Galsworthy; Henry in Love by Paul Gerald; The priest Peter in Souls by Adam Mickiewicz; Fedor Protasov Vasiljevic in The Living Corpse by L. Tolstoy. He died on April 1, 1965 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
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Eduard Zahariev was a Bulgarian film director and screenwriter. Being among the prominent Bulgarian film directors from the last decades of the 20th century, Zahariev directed 15 films between 1962 and 1996, most notably The Hare Census (1973), Villa Zone (1975), Manly Times (1977), Almost a Love Story (1980), Elegy (1982) and My Darling, My Darling (1986) which was entered into the 36th Berlin International Film Festival. His movie Villa Zone (1975) won a Special Prize of the Jury at the Karlovy Vary International Festival (1976) and the film Belated Full Moon (1996) was nominated for Crystal Globe award at the same festival.- Yordan Radichkov was a Bulgarian writer and playwright. Some literary critics have referred to him as the Bulgarian Kafka or Gogol. Radichkov is widely known for his numerous short stories, novels and plays. He is also known for the screenplays of the Bulgarian film classics Torrid Noon (1966) directed by Zako Heskiya, The Tied Up Balloon (1967), directed by Binka Zhelyazkova and The Last Summer (1974), directed by Christo Christov. In 2000, Radichkov was decorated with the high government prize the Order of the Balkan Mountains. In 2007, a monument dedicated to him was officially opened at the garden of the former Royal Palace, nowadays National Art Gallery in Sofia city center. He was born as Yordan Dimitrov Radichkov on 24 October 1929 in a poor family in the village of Kalimanitza, Montana Province, Bulgaria.[4] In 1947, he graduated from the high school in the town of Berkovitsa.[4] Radichkov began his career in 1951 as Vratsa regional correspondent for the National Youth newspaper and editor (1952-1954) for the same paper.[4] Between 1954 and 1960, he worked as editor for Evening News paper. Radichkov's literary career began as he started writing short stories for the Evening News newspaper and his early collections caught the attention of readers and critics. In 1959, he published his first full-length book, "The Heart Beats for the People", followed by "Simple Hands", 1961 and "A Sky Turned Upside Down, 1962, all written in the socialist-realist official style. This romantic style was gradually replaced by a style of parody and the grotesque, with an increase in folkloristic elements, including folk fantasy and humor. Radichkov began parodying styles and reality: his works deprived objects of their natural dimensions and took them out of context; he combined disparate genres and transformed reality into a comic theater, defusing absurd aspects of life by means of laughter. A mixture of the fantastic and the real, Radichkov's works combined images of industrial civilization with those of a remote mythical past, and were sometimes defined as a Balkan magic realism. His parody style was initially met with animosity from the ruling Communist party (he was often accused of primitivism, escapism and dark agnosticism). Much of his writing (prose and plays) draws on characters and the ethnography of his native North-West Bulgaria. The fact that his own village Kalimaniza was destroyed and it site is under the waters of the dam (1983) became a recurring theme in his writing and another metaphor for the detachedness of the "modern" world from the one to which Radichkov brings his readers in his reminiscing. Another major theme of his writing is nature and wildlife. In his prose he makes a masterful use of the often chaotic and irrational manner villagers and hunters narrate stories. Over the years Radichkov has gained popularity and recognition in Bulgaria and the international community, including a Nobel Prize nomination. Radichkov's 1966 script for the film "Hot Noon" was a story about humanity's efforts to save a trapped boy from drowning in a surging river and was a huge success for the writer. "Gunpowder Primer", his 1969 novel, was the first in his homeland to talk about socialism through a powerful blend of profanity, fantasy and folkloric wisdom rather than simple idealization. The award-winning "The Last Summer", 1974 is a parable of a man trying desperately to stay faithful to his own identity in a dynamically changing world. He also wrote a number of domestically and internationally acclaimed children's books. Of these "We, the Sparrows" has gained particular popularity in Bulgaria. In 1996 "Little Frogs' Stories" won the Hans Christian Andersen award for children's literature. Radichkov often illustrated his works with his own abstract drawings that have become another hallmark of his artistic presence. Radichkov is particularly famous for his language. Critics have stated that "the real main character in the work of Radichkov is the word". Probably the greatest manifestation of Radichkov's impact on Bulgarian culture is the fact that his work introduced a number of neologisms and expressions in the every-day Bulgarian language. Radichkov has been awarded a wide number of awards for literature, theatre, and film, both is his homeland and abroad, among them the Order of Stara Planina (the highest order of Bulgaria, 2003), the Italian Grinzane Cavour Prize (1984) and the prize of the International Academy of the Arts in Paris (1993). A founding member, and first president (1984-1991) of the Bulgarian-Swedish Association for Friendship, he received the Swedish national Order of the Polar Star (1988). He was a prominent figure in Bulgaria's public life - a member of the Union of Bulgarian Writers since 1962, he was elected MP for the Bulgarian Socialist Party in 2001, but quickly resigned in disagreement and spent the last years of his life increasingly withdrawn from politics. Radichkov's works have been translated in more than 30 languages and in 2001 he was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature. He died on January 21, 2004 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
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Lyudmil Kirkov was a Bulgarian film director. Kirkov was among the prominent Bulgarian film and theatre directors from the last decades of the 20th century. He directed some of the most popular Bulgarian films of that time, most notably The Swedish Kings (1968), The Boy Turns Man (1972), A Peasant on a Bicycle (1974), Matriarchy (1977) and A Nameless Band (1982). He received the Silver Prize for the film Balance (1983) at the 13th Moscow International Film Festival. In the 1975, Kirkov was nominated for the Golden Prize at the Ninth Moscow International Film Festival for the film A Peasant on a Bicycle.- Yordan Dimitrov Spirov is Bulgarian actor . He was born on March 13, 1928 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He graduated from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Art, Sofia, Bulgaria with a degree in "acting" in 1964, then he has played on the stages of the Sofia Regional Theater, as well as those in Vratsa , Plovdiv and Blagoevgrad . Later he has joined the Theater "Sofia". He was an actor in this theater for 14 years - from 1977 until 1991. He received the title "Honored Artist" in 1975. The actor has 42 years of experience with success in Bulgaria theaters. He was better known, however, with their characteristic roles in movies. Who once saw him in a movie, never forget the distinctive his characters: the director of school in "Everything is love"; Living Corpse in "Where Are You Going"; the Head of school in "Stubborn Love"; Shakir Bey in "The Road to Sofia"; Father Cyril of "Notes on Bulgarian Uprisings"; Artist in "Boyana master". He died on April 8, 2012 in Bulgaria.
- Ari Leschnikoff was born on 16 June 1897 in Haskovo, Bulgaria. He was an actor, known for Ich bei Tag und du bei Nacht (1932), Three from the Filling Station (1930) and Bombs Over Monte Carlo (1931). He was married to Sashka Siderova and Delphine David. He died on 31 July 1978 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
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Vasil Dimov Gendov (Vasil Dimov Hadzhigendov) is a Bulgarian director , actor and playwright . He is the author of the first Bulgarian film " Bulgarian is gallant " (screened on January 13, 1915 old style), a comedy in the style of Max Linder. Vasil Gendov was born on November 24, 1891 in Sliven, Bulgaria. In the period 1905 - 1907 he is a student-intern at Theatre " Tears and Laughter " and the National Theatre . His debut was in the role of Robert Pfeiffer in the play "Educators" by O. Ernst. He graduated Theater School "Otto" in Vienna , specialized in Berlin , in the movie house "AIKO". In the period 1910 - 1912 he was an actor in the troupe of Rose Popova . In 1921, he with his wife Zhana Gendova created Sofia Itinerant Theater, where he was the chief manager, director and actor. He was a founder of Bulgarian Film Arts, creator of the first Bulgarian film production cooperative "Yantra film." Gendov initiated the establishment of the first Union of Actors in Bulgaria (1919 - 1920), the Union of Filmmakers in Bulgaria ( 1931), and the Museum of Bulgarian Cinematography (1948). He is the creator of the first Bulgarian feature film "Bulgarian is gallant ," as a screenwriter , director and actor. Vasil Gendov was at center of cinematographic life in the twenties. This tireless and ambitious film maker seemed to be the most persistent in endeavoring to build a national cinema. Vasil Gendov made films in which he played leading parts, contributed regularly to the press, fought for the cause of the handful of pioneers of the Bulgarian cinema and tried to organize them professionally. His inexhaustible spirit radiated something of the enchantment of the first years of Bulgarian cinema. He created and produced "The Revolt of the Slaves" - the first Bulgarian sound film. This is the first film about national hero Vasil Levski. The production was shot in 1932 in Karlovo. Gendov is the author of the memoirs "Thorny Path of a Bulgarian film". He died on September 3, 1970 in Sofia, Bulgaria.- Actor
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Nikola Asenov Rudarov (Rudy) is a Bulgarian actor and director. He was born on December 6, 1927 into a family of refugees from Macedonia . Initially he began to study law, but in the third year decided to move to study cinematography. He directed 6 films, but was an actor in many more. By actor's incarnations in films such as " The Swedish kings ", directed by Lyudmil Kirkov, " Yesterday " and " Adio Rio ", directed by Ivan Andonov, " Canaries Season ", directed by Evgeni Mihaylov, " The Camp ", directed by Georgi Djulgerov, " After the end of the world ", directed by Ivan Nichev Nicola Rudarov become one of the most prominent actors in Bulgarian cinema. Even today, movie fans remember his phrase from the film "Yesterday": "I'll show you how a horse e at bean!" he died on March 26, 2010 in Sofia.- Petar Borisov Chernev is a Bulgarian theater and cinema actor. He was born on February 3,1934 in village Muglizh, Kazanlak region, Bulgaria . He graduated in "acting" in the class of Professor Boyan Danovski in National Academy for Theatre and Film Art, Sofia, Bulgaria in 1955. He has played in more than 15 Bulgarian movies. For many years he was a member of the troupe of Theater "Tears and Laughter", Sofia. His sons are actors Boris and Peter , the most famous known as a dubbing actors of movies and series. Petar was a brother of film director Nedelcho Chernev. Petar Chernev died on March 14, 1993 in Sofia.
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Christo Christov (11 April 1926 - 16 April 2007) was a Bulgarian film director and screenwriter. Before entering the theatre and film industry, Christov earned a medical degree in 1952. He graduated in Drama Directing at National Academy of Theatre and Film Art, Sofia, Bulgaria (1959) after studying theater direction. Between 1958 and 1966, Christov was a stage designer and director at the Plovdiv Theater. Between 1966 and 1967, Christov worked at Mosfilm Studios as an apprentice to several film directors, including Marlen Khutsiev and Mikhail Romm. Christo Christov made two of the seminal films in his country's cinema, Iconostasis (1969, in collaboration with Todor Dinov) and Last Summer (1974). Christo Christov was a professor in film and TV directing at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Art, Sofia, Bulgaria. He was a member of European Film Academy. He directed 19 films between 1969 and 1997. In 1973, he was a member of the jury at the Eighth Moscow International Film Festival. His film Cyclops (1976) was entered into the 27th Berlin International Film Festival. His film The Barrier (1979) won the Silver Prize at the 11th Moscow International Film Festival. In 1981, his film The Truck (1980) was entered into the 31st Berlin International Film Festival. His film Reference (1985) was entered into the 14th Moscow International Film Festival. In addition to his work in theater and film, Christov also works in television. From 1974 to 1982, he served as the Chairman of the Union of Bulgarian Film Workers.- Pavel Vezhinov is a literary pseudonym of Bulgarian writer and screenwriter Nikola Delchev Gugov. He was MP is the 7th National Assembly. Pavel Vezhinov was born on November 9, 1914 in Sofia, Bulgaria. He grew up in the "Draz" neighborhood. He graduated from First Male High School. In the early 1930's he cooperated in magazines and newspapers "Brimstone", "RLF", "Shield", "Art and Criticism", etc. In the period 1938-1944, he studied philosophy at Sofia University. In 1938 he released his first collection of short stories "Street Without Pavement" and in 1943 - "Days and Nights". He was a member of Communist Party since 1944. Since the autumn of 1944 he participated in World War II as a correspondent and editor of the newspaper "Veteran." He embodied impressions of the life of the Bulgarian army in a series of stories in the novels "Zlatan" and "Second Company"; the last work gained considerable popularity and was republished several times. In 1950 and 1951 he received Dimitrov's Prize for his front-line work. From 1947 to 1951 Pavel Vezhinov was a deputy editor of the satirical newspaper "Hornet"; from 1951 - of magazine "September"; and from 1954 to 1972 he worked in "Bulgarian Cinematography", initially as a writer and later as Deputy Director General. Since 1972 he was an editor of the journal "Contemporary" and member of the Buro of the Steering Council of the Union of Bulgarian Writers. In the 1950's and 1960's Pavel Vezhinov issued numerous crime novels such as "The traces remain" (1954), "An accident on the quiet street" (1960), "Man in Shadow" (1965), "Bats fly at night" (1969), and travelogues from the participation of Bulgarian Olympians around the world - "Flags in stadiums" (1950), "At the Olympics in Helsinki" (1953), "Up to Melbourne by air and sea" (1957). Pavel Vezhinov was the first Bulgarian writer to venture into the fantasy genre. Back in 1956 he wrote the satirical grotesque "Story of a ghost," and in 1965 - short stories "The Blue Butterflies" and "My first day," which in 1968 were included in the eponymous collection. In 1973 he published the fantasy / science fiction novel "The Death of Ajax". In 1963 he published the collection "The boy with the violin," which marks a new and different stage in his work, addressing contemporary moral and psychological themes. This was followed by "Breath of almonds" (1966), "The stars above us" (1966), "Little Adventures" (1970), "Small Family Chronicles" (1979), "I'm Atomic" (1981). The novel "Night with the white horses" (1975) appeared originally in the journal "September". For the novel "The Barrier" (1976) we was again awarded Dimitrov's Prize. In the following years he produced a series of strong works - "The White lizard" (1977), "Blue Stone" (1977), and "The Lake Boy" (1979). The last completed novel by Pavel Vezhinov was "Libra" (1982), which again addressed a range of philosophical and psychological themes. A last novel "Long summer day" appeared in the journal "Contemporary" shortly before his death. The novel "Valley of the Fireflies" remains unfinished. He received the Order of the "People's Republic of Bulgaria" II (1964), title "People's figure of Culture" (1970), Title Hero of Socialist Labor (1974), and the Order "Georgi Dimitrov" (1974). He was a laureate of the Dimitrov's Prize (1950, 1951, 1971 by team, 1976). He died unexpectedly on 20 December 1983.
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Iskra Yossiffova was born on February 26, 1954 in Cherven bryag, Bulgaria. In 1972-1973 she studied sociology at the Institute of Economics in Sofia. Iskra Yossiffova was among the first students in Film Directing in The National Academy of Theatre and Film Art in Sofia. She graduated from "Cinema and television director" in 1978 in the classes of Professor Christo Christov (assistant Georgi Djulgerov). From 1979 till 1991 she worked at the Boyana Film Studio, Sofia, Bulgaria. She debuted with the film "Journey" (1980) being co-director with Malina Petrova. She shot two feature films: "Love Therapy" (1986) and "Cruel and Innocent" (1989). She has directed a number of documentaries, some of them awarded with national and international awards, and her film "The Wall" (1988) about John Lennon became a symbol of rebellion against any kind of conformism. Iskra Yossiffova died on September 14, 2005.- George Ganchev, whose birth name is Gheorghi Petroushev, was born on 29 August 1939 in Plovdiiv. In the early 1960s he emigrated from Bulgaria. He graduated from the British Fencing Academy and the Hollywood Theatrical Institute. In the period 1973 - 1988 he was engaged in directing, play-writing, film and play producing in Great Britain and the United States. Ganchev claims to be the author of seven Hollywood screen plays and plays produced in Hollywood, to have written books and poetry. In 1970 and 1974 he became world champion in professional fencing. He also performed as actor, has been a basketball player. Published in Bulgaria is his autobiography "George". According to his own public statements, his hobbies are horses, music, and poetry. He became actively engaged in Bulgaria's political life after 10 November 1989. Leader of the Bulgarian Business Bloc /BBB/ since its establishment on 24 November 1990. George Ganchev ran for president in the January 1992 election and received 17 percent of the vote, which ranks him third among the candidates in the first round. Chair of the Committee on Radio, Television and the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency in the 37th National Assembly (Dec. 1994-Apr. 1995). In the presidential election of 2001, he received 3.38 percent of the vote. Ganchev speaks English. Divorced, with two daughters who live in the United States.
- Milen Dimitrov Penev is a Bulgarian actor. He was born in Varna, Bulgaria. He graduated from National Academy for Theatre and Film Art, Sofia, Bulgaria in 1967 with a degree in "acting"in the class of Metodi Andonov. He has worked in the Plovdiv Drama Theater, the Pazardzhik Drama Theater, the "Aleko Konstantinov" Satirical Theater and the Sofia Theater. He died on 1 January 1992 under mysterious circumstances. His most important theatrical roles are: "The Caucasian Chalk Circle" (Brecht) - Simon; "The Big Profit" (E. Kintero) - Octavio; "Last summer in Chulimsk" (Al. Vampilov) - Shamanov.e has played the role of Bulfarian poet and national hero Hristo Botev in the movie "Liberty or Death", directed by Nikola Korabov and after hat all his creative efforts were concentrated upon this character.
- Valcho Kamarashev was born on 12 September 1937 in Vidin. He graduated in Acting from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in 1959. He worked as an actor at the Drama Theatre in Burgas for three years, then was part of the company of the Drama Theatre in Pernik for two years, and in Russe for another two years. He worked for almost 20 years at the Tear and Laughter Theatre in Sofia and for 15 years at the Bulgarian Army Theatre in the capital city. He has acted in almost 60 films, including Doomed Souls (1975), Villa Zone (1975), All Is Love (1979), The Racket (1982), I, The Countess (1989), and The Lot (1993). In 2000 he won the Best Actor Award of the Union of Bulgarian Actors.
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Valeri Nissim Mevorah, better known by his pen-name, Valeri Petrov, was born on April 22, 1920, in Sofia to a Jewish father and Bulgarian mother. Besides poems, novels and translations from Russian, Italian and English, Petrov authored numerous film scripts and plays - both for adults and for children. During World War II, he took part in the resistance against the pro-Nazi regime in Bulgaria and remained close to left-wing political thought through his life. In 1970, he clashed with the communist regime in Bulgaria after refusing to sign an official petition denouncing the awarding of the Nobel Prize to Soviet dissident Alexander Solzhenitsyn. As a result, Petrov was not allowed to publish for years, so he turned to translating. Petrov was held in high esteem in his country and after the collapse of the totalitarian regime in 1989, he was nominated for the Nobel Prize for Literature by Bulgaria's Writers' Union.- Director
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As a child Ivaylo Dzhambazov played in several Bulgarian children films. In 1984 he graduated from VGIK (State Institue Of Cinema Art), Moscow, Russia in Film Directing in the classes of Prof. Igor Talankin. From 1985 to 1987 he worked at the Boyana Film as an assistant director. He is author of documentaries, feature novelettes and TV programs.- Ivan Nalbantov was born on 5 August 1940. He was an actor, known for Godless (2016), Priklyucheniyata na Avakum Zahov (1980) and Na vseki kilometar (1969). He died on 10 May 2021 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
- Vasil Dimitrov Popiliev was a Bulgarian actor . He was born in the village Bukyovtsy (now the town of Mizia ), Bulgaria on January 21, 1929. He graduated National Academy for Theatre and Film Art, Sofia, Bulgaria in 1954 with a degree in " Acting ." He was director of the Drama Theatre in Ruse. He was a stranger to any stage falseness; he understood and loved man in the characters that populate many of our movies and stage's performances. He was proud, manly, but compassionate, responsive. The entire conscious life Dedo (affectionately as he was told by colleagues and friends) went into conflicts with censors and officials from the Communist and "democratic" regimes. He was one of the Bulgarian actors whom often were invited to participate in movies in leading roles. Even two seasons he was a head of the Youth Theatre. As a head of the Russe Drama Theater and the Sofia Youth Theatre Popiliev had one's own way for putting on the stage ideologically "inconvenient" dramas. He has become a vocal opponent of straightforward dogmatists who for decades poisoned his nerves with intrigue, dismissals and candid gossip. In the mid-90th Dedo fell out with then minister of culture. Shortly thereafter there was followed his heavy heart-attack. Last years of his life Vasil Popiliev spent as a regular pensioner - in poverty, forgotten by the public and colleagues. He died on June 7, 2002 in Sofia, Bulgaria.
- Haim David Oliver is a Bulgarian writer , publicist , writer and journalist . He is known as the author of children's and teenager's adventure and fantasy works. Haim Oliver (Ollie) was born in Kyustendil on January 8, 1918. He studied economics , music and journalism, graduated from French College in Sofia in 1936. Then he studied (at the same time) two years in External Relations at the Higher Institute of Economics in Vienna and composition, singing, piano in the same city. Since 1938 he had tackled with the illegal activity prohibited on the territory of the Third Reich. He was captured and sent to a concentration camp, from where he escaped. After the war he had worked as a correspondent for various newspapers and radio. In 1959, he graduated from journalism school in Sofia. He is an author of several works and scripts for films (fiction, popular science and animation). He was a laureate of communist awards. In science fiction he had debuted with a child's novella "The great march of dinastronavts" (1966); on its base is made a film "the Federation of dinastronavts." in 1984. He died on 7 August 1986 in Sofia, Bulgaria.