The Balkan Competition programme will feature the multi-award-winning film directed by Juraj Lerotić, Safe Place (producer is Miljenka Čogelja, Pipser), and as many as six minority co-productions: Pjer Žalica’s May Labour Day (Croatian co-producers are Lana Matić and Boris T. Matić, Propeler Film), Ivan Gergolet's The Man without Guilt (with Croatian co-producers again Lana Matić and Boris T. Matić, Propeler film), Have You Seen This Woman? directed by Matija Gluščević and Dušan Zorić (Croatian co-producer Tena Gojić, Dinaridi film), Teona Strugar Mitevska’s The Happiest Man in the World (Croatian co-producer is Vanja Sremac, Terminal 3), Emin Alper’s Burning Days (Croatian co-producer Anita Juka, 4Film) and Zornitsa Sophia’s Mother (Croatian co-producer is Irena Marković, Focus Media). 

Minority co-production Riders directed by Dominik Mencej (Croatian co-producer is Danijel Pek, Antitalent) will appear in the Teen programme devoted to films for the youth.

The programme Cinema Today: Masters is dedicated to new works by renowned directors, including Kaymak directed by Milcho Manchevski, who will also sit on the jury of the festival’s international competition. For the occasion, the festival will also present a special retrospective of all the films by Milcho Manchevski. Kaymak was created in co-production with Croatian company Nukleus Film/JDP, with co-producer Siniša Juričić.

The Sofia International Film Festival also comprises the co-production market Sofia Meetings, which will include the presentation of the project The Last Slap by Italian director Matteo Oleotto, produced by Miha Černec (Staragara, Italy, Slovenia) with co-producers Lana Matić and Boris T. Matić (Propeler Film). 

The Sofia International Film Festival is the biggest film event in Bulgaria. Held since 1997, it aims to offer domestic viewers the best titles of world cinema, as well as to present to an international audience the best of Bulgarian and regional production. It is the only Bulgarian film festival recognized by FIAPF and FIPRESCI. This year, the Sofia IFF runs 16th – 31st March. More details about the programme and the festival are available on its official website.