Female Film Club Set to Launch Bulgarian Branch During CineLibri Film Festival (EXCLUSIVE)

The Female Film Club, the global network for women and non-binary filmmakers, is launching a branch in Bulgaria, FFC Bulgaria, during a gala on Thursday at ⁠⁠CineLibri Intl. Film Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The initiative allows Bulgarian filmmakers to connect with international filmmakers from the FFC community. It offers access to learning resources, interviews with prominent filmmakers, and more. The new platform is curated by Krassimira Belev from First Draft and ⁠Martin I. Petrov of International Film Festival Glasgow, with the support of Nu Boyana Studios, which is offering one of the first 200 members of FFC Bulgaria €50,000 worth of studio use and equipment to help them make their film.

The initiative was born after FFC co-founder Liza van der Smissen attended a Variety curated panel at Cannes where she met Belev and Petrov.

Krassimira said: “Meeting Liza in Cannes felt like it was meant to be. I truly admire the work FFC has done internationally, and as a woman filmmaker who has faced many of the same challenges, I feel deeply passionate about helping others. My hope is that this organization will give women in Bulgaria the knowledge and support they need to be brave and proactive with their stories.”

Martin added: “It is of great essence to support independent filmmakers at the start of their career and give them proper guidance to enter the industry with confidence. We have a duty as festivals, film funds and established production companies to educate, discover new talent and give them a stage to thrive.”

Shortly after Cannes, Krassimira and First Draft joined FFC’s €10,000 short film fund, announced first in Variety, and the FFC collaborated with Lerner to facilitate financing the film “The Red Box” at Nu Boyana Studios featuring FFC member Mirabel Stuart.

Lerner said: “The Bulgarian film industry is thriving and it is exciting to continue to work together with the FFC, supporting Bulgarian filmmakers and showing the world the possibilities of filming here.”

FFC Bulgaria builds on the work of the FFC’s Global Short Film Fund, with a 10,000 Euro prize, whose winner, Lisa Cole with her film “Filthy,” was announced on Friday at the BFI London Film Festival.

FFC Bulgaria will officially launch and be open for members from Oct. 23 at the gala at ⁠⁠CineLibri Intl. Film Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria, during their 11th edition, currently running throughout October. To celebrate the launch the first 100 FFC Bulgaria members can join for free from Oct. 23.