11/09/2014 - Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov's first feature was shown at Toronto IFF

Included in the Contemporary World Cinema sidebar at the Toronto International Film Festival, Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov's first feature, The Lesson, has been picked up for North American distribution by Film Movement. The film had its first public screening last Thursday at Toronto. The European premiere will take place in the New Directors competition of the San Sebastian Film Festival (16-27 September).

Produced by Valchanov and Grozeva's Abraxas Film, and co-produced by Graal Film (Greece), Little Wing Productions (Bulgaria) and Screening Emotions (Bulgaria), the 105-minute drama tells the story of Nadezhda, a young teacher who is shocked to find out that there is a thief in her class, stealing from classmates. The teacher is determined to find out who the culprit is and to teach him a lesson about right and wrong, but she will soon realise that things can appear quite different from another perspective.

The film features Margita Gosheva, Ivan Burnev, Ivan Savov and Stefan Denolyubov. The screenplay was written by the two directors, who also acted as producers together with Magdelena Ilieva. Graal Films was represented by Konstantina Stavrianou and Rena Vougioukalou. The film's DoP is Krum Rodriguez (Viktoria [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Maya Vitkova
film profile]).

One of the very few Bulgarian movies of the last decade picked up for North American distribution, The Lesson was well received at Toronto and has every chance of becoming Bulgaria’s favourite production for a selection as the 2016 Oscars candidate. 

The film is handled internationally by French world sales company Wide Management. Both US and domestic releases are expected in 2015.