Barter (2015) is the newest feature film by director and writer
Atanas Kiryakov, known to the Bulgarian audience for his
many documentary films
Based on a true story, the film is a continuation of sorts of the director’s documentary work Enchanted by the Sea (2010). Both tell about life in a fishermen’s village, about the people living there with their joys and sorrows, with their struggle to survive in a bartered life, a struggle with mafia thugs who want to tear down the village and build… luxury hotels.
The film was hot on the beach in Varna’s Asparuhovo district and that is by no means a coincidence – Atanas Kiryakov is from Varna and has been observing the lives of fishermen and their struggle to survive for 30 years. The main protagonist Hindo (played by Phillip Avramov) believes everything in life is a matter of barter. A barter with whom, people or gods, is another matter!
The leading female role is played by Tatyana Lolova. The film also stars Koyna Ruseva, Marta Vachkova, Yulia Cherneva, Vladimir Penev, Mihail Mutafov etc. Barter was shot in only 19 days. It is coproduced by the BNT and ARS Digital plc. with the support of the NFC. The writers are Yurii Dachev and Atanas Kiryakov, Ivan Tonev is the director of photography, the music is by Teodosii Spassov.
Brter is the winner of the Best Feature Film for Television Award at the Golden Rose Festival 2015. Tatyana Lolova won the Best Actress Award at Love is Folly 2015.
Atanas Kiryakov was born in 1939 in our maritime capital Varna. He graduated film directing in Paris. He is the author of two feature and over 100 documentary films for many of which he is also the writer. He is the winner of two Golden Rhyton awards for Best Director and the City of Plovdiv Award. He was also awarded the Golden Ship Grand Prix at the International Red Cross Festival for his film Equal with All as well as the city of Sofia annual award for films about Sofia. The main issue which interests the author in most of his work are people from marginalised groups, unfairly insulted and punished, downtrodden and humiliated by the system, by bureaucracy and human ill will.
The film’s special screening at Sofia International Film Festival will be on 15 March at Lumière Cinema at 18:30.
We look forward to meeting you at the CINEMA!