The Father
A day after Valentina’s funeral, her bereaved husband Vassil and son Pavel find out that she persistently keeps trying to call the neighbour on the phone. A sucker for the supernatural, Vassil sets out on a trip to meet a famous medium, forcing his estranged son Pavel to tag along and make sure his nutty old dad stays out of harm’s way. The unhinged journey that follows will make them face the guilt they feel towards the one they lost and rediscover their relationship.
Bulgaria/Greece, 2019, 90 min., colour
Cast: Ivan Barnev, Ivan Savov, Tanya Shahova, Hristofor Nedkov, Boyan Doychinov, Nikolay Todorov
Written by: Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov
Directed by: Petar Valchanov and Kristina Grozeva
DoP: Krum Rodriguez
Production Design: Vanina Geleva
Sound Design: Ivan Andreev
Produced by: Abraxas Film
Co-producers: Graal Films
World Sales: WIDE, Eye on Films
Karlovy Vary IFF - Crystal Globe for Best Feature
Sakhalin IFF "On the Edge - East" - Best Directing
Sakhalin IFF "On the Edge - East" - Audience Choice
Tirana IFF - Golden Owl for Best Feature
Golden Rose Bulgarian Film Festival - Best Screenplay
Golden Rose Bulgarian Film Festival - Best Actor in a Male Role (shared between Ivan Barnev and Ivan Savov)
Golden Rose Bulgarian Film Festival - Best Film
Minsk IFF Listapad - Special Prize of the Minsk City Executive Committee
Arras FF - Atlas d'Or for Best Picture
Arras FF - Critics' Award
Arras FF - Youth Jury Award
Karlovy Vary IFF 2019 – Main Competition
Sakhalin IFF "On the Edge - East" 2019 - Main Competition
Almaty FF, Kazahkstan
El Gouna FF, Egypt
Toronto IFF - Contemporary World Cinema
Tirana IFF - Main Competition
BFI London Film Festival - Laugh (side section)
Golden Rose Bulgarian Film Festival
IFF KineNova Skopje
Valladolid IFF
Minsk IFF Listapad
Arras FF