20/08/2026 - Martin Genovski’s documentary follows former circus star Maxy Niedermeyer and her ageing bear Natasha, exploring animal welfare and the changing world of traditional circuses

Bulgarian filmmaker Martin Genovski’s first feature-length documentary was selected for the 32nd Sarajevo Film Festival’s Competition Programme – Documentary Film, where it had its world premiere. After its festival bow, Bear With Me will be added to German broadcaster ZDF/ARTE’s prime-time documentary strand, Grand Format, with the broadcast scheduled for 2027.

The doc focuses on Maxy Niedermeyer, an 80-year-old Jewish circus performer and World War II survivor, who lives in a trailer near Amsterdam with Natasha, her last remaining bear, after animal rights campaigns brought their circus life to an end. Refusing to abandon Natasha, who is 43 years old, Maxy stays by her side, revealing a deeply loving bond that raises questions about whether captivity can sometimes be more humane than the alternatives.

Bear With Me starts from a very interesting idea (and boasts an incredibly well-chosen title, as explained by the director at the beginning) and, above all, from a concept that often sparks debate: the presence of animals in circuses. In a way, it addresses the end of a world as we once knew it, of a time when their presence was taken for granted. Here, however, Genovski examines the consequences of the end of an era and, above all, the real implications of keeping animals in cages or using them for human entertainment, connecting a private story with the broader concept explored by the film.

What emerges is the possibility that, in some cases, when animals are treated like children – as in this case, as Maxy explains that she was unable to have offspring of her own – perhaps having someone who cares for them so closely and attentively could be the key to a more ethical way of conducting business within circuses. These are all questions and ideas that the movie broaches, and its most valuable asset is precisely its multifaceted approach, presenting different arguments both for and against the presence of animals in such environments.

It combines archival material with excerpts from European news broadcasts addressing the use of animals in live shows. But essentially, the editing prevents the feature from becoming self-indulgent, closing in on itself or focusing too heavily on its protagonist. Its relatively short running time (84 minutes) also keeps it from becoming tedious, while its extraordinary strength probably mostly lies in its protagonist and the narrative arc she goes through.

Indeed, Maxy is an extraordinary example of female empowerment. Although accompanied by her Italian husband, she has largely made her own way in life, gaining visibility across Europe and being invited to perform in various circuses. She speaks seven languages, for example, and is shown travelling extensively and discovering new parts of the continent, which is the reason for her astonishing knowledge. Above all, as some of the other people interviewed in the documentary point out, if she had not been an animal trainer, she probably would have been an animal-rights activist, given how deeply committed she is to the care that they require. She herself repeatedly states that she is completely opposed to the exploitation of animals, as reflected in the way she cares for her bear and did likewise for the tiger she lost some time previously.

Bear With Me was produced by Sofia-based Agitprop in association with Autentic Studios (Germany). Autentic Distribution, the international distribution arm of Germany’s Beta Group, will be selling the film internationally.