The 11th edition of Cinelibri kicked off in Sofia on 10 October. The Bulgarian event is a one-of-a-kind festival selecting and showcasing films based on literary works from different eras and genres - a vibrant intersection of the written word and cinematic art.

This autumn, over 75 premier films were presented at Cinelibri, following victories in some of the world’s most prestigious film festivals. Twelve of these screened movies competed in the festival’s main feature competition, judged by an international jury presided over by Danish actor Claes Bang. Among the other jury members were filmmaker Sergei Loznitsa, producer Aton Soumache, actress Tonia Sotiropoulou, and producer Katya Trichkova.

The opening ceremony on 10 October, held at the National Palace of Culture, drew in 3,500 spectators for the national premiere of François Ozon’s The Stranger [+lire aussi :
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interview : François Ozon
fiche film]. Reflecting on that particular moment, festival director Jacqueline Wagenstein shared: “The opening ceremony was the first time in my life that I’d heard 4,000 people breathing in a cinema - and no one moved. They were utterly engrossed in Ozon’s film The Stranger. It was a moment of collective silence and awe that defined the spirit of this year’s Cinelibri event.”

The awards ceremony, held on 24 October, was also hosted by the National Palace of Culture. The Disappearance of Josef Mengele [+lire aussi :
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interview : Kirill Serebrennikov
fiche film], based on the novel by Olivier Guez and directed by Kirill Serebrennikov, nabbed the award for Best Adaptation. As jury president, Bang commented: “This award is for the film’s powerful fusion of daring cinematic choices and masterful direction, allowing the viewer to delve into the depths of the human soul. [..] The chilling black-and-white aesthetic, profound psychological insight, and the remarkable performance of August Diehl as Josef Mengele add to the film’s dramatic intensity and the overall impression it gives of indestructible evil, which is most dangerous when left unpunished.”

In the category of Best Documentary Film, the jury - Tatyana Pandurska, Liza Boeva, and Dimitar Kotsev-Shosho - honoured Loznitsa’s The Natural History of Destruction [+lire aussi :
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fiche film]. For the first time, Cinelibri introduced the Prize for Outstanding Female Cinematic Voice, presented by the Bulgarian branch of the European Women’s Audiovisual Network (EWA BG). The award went to Love Me Tender [+lire aussi :
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interview : Anna Cazenave Cambet
fiche film] by Anna Cazenave Cambet, adapted from Constance Debré’s novel and praised “for its deeply authentic female cinematic voice radiating courage, sensitivity, and truth.”

The evening reached an emotional climax when Sylvie Vartan - a world-renowned singer and actress of Bulgarian origin - presented the Honorary Award for Lifetime Achievement and Contribution to the Art of Cinema to veteran Polish director Agnieszka Holland. Her filmography - tackling the “uncomfortable” themes of war, totalitarianism, memory, migration, and identity - was lauded for its cultural and historical resonance. Holland’s new film, Franz [+lire aussi :
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interview : Agnieszka Holland
fiche film], was also featured in this year’s line-up.

Next, leading Italian actor Toni Servillo received the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Art of Film Performance, after which he introduced Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grazia [+lire aussi :
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fiche film], where he plays a head of state facing a national crisis - a role which earned him the Volpi Cup in Venice last month.

Reflecting on the festival’s scale and impact, Wagenstein concluded: “The awards ceremony has been the first time in the history of Bulgarian cinema that so many famous, talented, and acclaimed personalities have stood together on one stage. The wave of approval, acclaim, and congratulations that have followed were beyond anything we’ve ever experienced, beyond anyone’s imagination. With this in mind, there’s no doubt that Cinelibri is the most loved and best attended film festival in Bulgaria today.”

In addition to its competitions for features, shorts, and documentaries, Cinelibri offered up a rich parallel programme, including animated films, children’s cinema, classics, gala evenings, and a new edition of the BOB - Based on Books Forum, held on 25 October. This year, BOB hosted contributions by costume designer Daniela Ciancio, producer Rudolf Biermann, actor Michael McKell and European Film Academy head Mike Downey, among others.

The list of this year’s award winners is as follows:

Best Adaptation
The Disappearance of Josef Mengele [+lire aussi :
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interview : Kirill Serebrennikov
fiche film] – Kirill Serebrennikov (France/Germany/Mexico/USA/UK)

Best Documentary Film
The Natural History of Destruction [+lire aussi :
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fiche film] – Sergey Loznitsa (Germany/Lithuania/Netherlands)

Prize for Outstanding Female Cinematic Voice (EWA BG)
Love Me Tender [+lire aussi :
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interview : Anna Cazenave Cambet
fiche film] – Anna Cazenave Cambet (France)

Honorary Award for Lifetime Achievement and Contribution to the Art of Cinema
Agnieszka Holland

Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Art of Film Performance
Toni Servillo