Bulgaria, 2019, 116 min.

Director: Nikola Bozadzhiev
Script: Nikola Bozadzhiev
D.O.P.: Stefan Vrachev
Composer: George Strezov
Production: First Take

Color Grading: Concept Studio / Kalin Petrov

Language: Bulgarian language with English subtitles
Rights: Worldwide Pay TV, Free TV, VOD, SVOD, DVD
Rights Holder / Agent email: org@conceptstudio.tv
 

Festivals and Awards
New York Cinematography Awards (NYCA) - Best Feature Film, Best Cinematography; Oniros Film Awards - Best 1st Time Director, Best Feature Film, Best Soundtrack; ARFF Barecelona International Awards - Best Cinematography; Canadian Cinematography Awards (CaCA) - Best 1st Time Director, Best Feature Film, Best Film Feature Cinematography; Los Angeles Cinematography Awards (LACA) - Best 1st Time Director, Best Feature Film, Best Film Feature Cinematography, Best film music score, Best costumes; Cannes International Independent Film Festival, France; Ferrara Film Festival, Italy; Kocise International Film Festival; Athens Marathon International Film Festival

Plot

This beautiful adaptation of the famous Bulgarian story written by Yordan Yovkov, tells the story of Shibil and Rada. Set in the second half of the 19th Century, the weakened power of the Ottoman Empire has resulted in Bulgaria falling prey to disorder, robbery and violent outrage.

Skill and bravery turn a local brigand, named Shibil, into a threat to the authorities and a legend among young men. A reward is proclaimed for Shibil’s head. During harvest time, Shibil meets Rada, the daughter of Veliko Kehaya, a rich merchant and they fall in love. In order to demonstrate his loyalty to the Ottoman government, Veliko devises trap for Shibil – using his own daughter against her will as bait. This is a story of impossible love, seen through the eyes of an unexpected character – the incarnated soul of the main character, Shibil’s horse.