Directors Leave Bulgarian Film Festival in Protest over Govt Actions

A number of Bulgarian film directors and producers left the yearly Golden Rose film festival in Varna in protest over the government's failure to abide by legislative norms and refusal to duly support of Bulgarian cinema.

At the opening of the festival a declaration was presented deploring the GERB cabinet's breach of payments and overall stance to Bulgarian film industry. It was read out by Dimitar Mitovski, director of the hit movie "Mission London" and signed by 34 directors and producers.

The Union of Bulgarian Cinema Workers voiced their full support with the protest declaration.

The Golden Rose festival continues in the absence of protesting cinema workers by showing Bulgarian cinema production in high audience attendance.

Protesting directors stated that the Council of Minister systematically breaches the Law on Cinema and calling for the Minister of Culture's resignation. The full text of their declaration follows:

"We, the undersigned directors and producers of the films included in the program of the Golden Rose Bulgarian cinema festival", are leaving the festival in sign of protest, because we cannot be reconciled with the fact that the legislative and executive powers in Bulgaria are continually violating the Law on Cinema. We cannot accept that after more than a year of lies and promises the government again will not fulfill the commitments it has made to finance Bulgarian cinema. The government's policy kills Bulgarian cinema, and there can be no Bulgaria without Bulgarian culture. If the Minister of Culture is not capable of applying the Law on Cinema, we consider that he must withdraw from his position."

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