Stephan Komandarev for Novinite: God Willing, More and More Quality Bulgarian Films Will Be Made

Stephan Komandarev was born in Sofia in 1966. He graduated from the French language high school in 1985, the Medical Academy in Sofia with a specialty in "medicine" in 1993, in 1999 - film and television directing at the New Bulgarian University, and in 2010 - film dramaturgy again at New Bulgarian University (NBU). He also graduated in film production at EAVE.

Among his films are "Blaga's Lessons" (2023), "Zhivot of Zhivota (2021), "Rounds" (2019), "Directions" (2017), "The Judgement" (2014), "Rusenskata Karrvava Svatba" (2009), "The Town of Badante Women" (2009), "The World is Big and Salvation Around the Corner" (2008), "Azbuka na Nadejdata" (2003), "Hlyab na Nadejdata" (2002), "The Way of Harmony" ( 2001), "Pansion za Kucheta (2000), "Sluchaini Chashi" (1998), "Balonut" (1997).

On August 30, there will be a screening of one of his most awarded films "Blaga's Lessons" within the jubilee 40th in a row "Apolonia" Arts Festivals in Sozopol (28.08 - 7.09).

You are participating in "Apollonia" with "Blaga's Lessons" on August 30. What are the moral questions the film raises? Why do you focus on the image of a scamed pensioner?

Basically, in every single film, we try to raise some pressing questions without giving answers. In this case, we have focused on our parents' generation. This generation bore the brunt of the so-called "transition period" (i.e. "prehoda" - note ed.). And the phone scam plot is just the plot line to help us talk about this generation.

How did you manage to convince Eli Skorcheva to play the female lead after being out of the profession for 30 years?

We were lucky. Alexander Kosev, my fellow director, who helped us with the casting, met her by chance, talked to her. He...