25/09/2025 - Movies by Milko Lazarov, Konstantin Bojanov and Magdalena Ilieva also caught the attention of the jury at the 43rd edition of the Bulgarian gathering

l-r: Director Stephan Komandarev, actress Gergana Pletnyova and screenwriter Simeon Ventsislavov with their awards

Every September, the quaint seaside town of Varna becomes the capital of Bulgarian cinema, as the country’s entire film community flocks to the imposing Festival & Congress Centre to watch the freshest crop of Bulgarian features and short films showcased by the Golden Rose Film Festival (16-23 September). This year, the gathering opened with the newest film by one the country’s most popular directors, Ivaylo Hristov, who presented the omnibus Loveless, shot in his signature black and white. At the opening gala, the audience broke into rapturous applause as veteran actor Rousy Chanev, who turned 80 during the festival, was celebrated as the image of this edition of Golden Rose.

The jury, led by Bulgarian writer Zdravka Evtimova, and also consisting of Bulgarian actress Martina Apostolova, Kosovar director and head of the Kosovo Cinematography Center Blerta Zeqiri, Romanian director Bogdan Mureşanu and Bulgarian director Dimitar Kotsev – Shosho, had to watch as many as 16 features in order to decide on the winners. In a separate competition, 21 short films were in the running for this edition’s awards. There were also a TV series competition and a sidebar, New Horizons, showing a host of features and shorts from Bulgaria and the neighbouring countries.

As for the awards, Stephan Komandarev’s Venezia Spotlight-premiered Made in EU [+see also:
film review
interview: Stephan Komandarev
film profile] won the Golden Rose Trophy for Best Feature. The social drama also won the Best Actress gong for Gergana Pletnyova. Milko Lazarov’s Tarika [+see also:
film review
interview: Milko Lazarov
film profile], Bulgaria’s Oscar candidate (see the news), took home three awards: besides the Special Jury Award, it also won trophies for Penka Kuneva’s original score and for Kaloyan Bozhilov’s cinematography. The jury also showed Konstantin Bojanov’s The Shameless [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Konstantin Bojanov
film profile] some love, as it won the Best Screenplay and Best Directing Awards, while Magdalena Ilieva’s Eternity Package scooped Best First Feature and Best Actor (for Stoyan Doichev).

Here is the list of the main awards given out at the 43rd Golden Rose Film Festival:

Golden Rose Trophy for Best Feature Film
Made in EU [+see also:
film review
interview: Stephan Komandarev
film profile] – Stephan Komandarev (Bulgaria/Germany/Czech Republic)

Special Jury Award
Tarika [+see also:
film review
interview: Milko Lazarov
film profile] – Milko Lazarov (Bulgaria/Germany/Luxembourg)

The City of Varna Award
Gundi: A Legend of Love - Dimitar Dimitrov (Bulgaria)

Best Director
Konstantin Bojanov – The Shameless [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Konstantin Bojanov
film profile] (Switzerland/France/Bulgaria/Taiwan/India)

Best Screenplay
Konstantin Bojanov – The Shameless

Best Cinematographer
Kaloyan Bozhilov – Tarika

Best Actress
Gergana Pletnyova – Made in EU

Best Actor
Stoyan Doichev – Eternity Package (Bulgaria/Italy)

Best First Feature
Eternity Package - Magdalena Ilieva

Best Music
Penka Kuneva – Tarika

Creative Courage Award
Loveless – Ivaylo Hristov (Bulgaria)

Best TV Series
We, the Waves - Neda Morfova, Petar Krumov (Bulgaria)

Best Short Film
Boyfriend - Georgi Vanev (Bulgaria)

Special Mentions for Short Film
The Premiere - Toma Waszarow (Bulgaria)
Eraserhead in a Knitted Shopping Bag - Lili Kos (Bulgaria)

Filmautor Award for Best Short Film
Posterity - Emil Alexandrov (Bulgaria)

Youth Jury Award
Made in EU - Stephan Komandarev

Bulgarian Film Critics’ Guild Award for Best Feature Film
Tarika - Milko Lazarov

Bulgarian Film Critics’ Guild Award for Best Short Film
Eraserhead in a Knitted Shopping Bag - Lili Kos

Audience Award
Birthday - Ivaylo Penchev (Bulgaria)