Dear Organizers,

Dear participants and guests,

Dear Ambassadors of Fortitude and Goodness,

It is an honor and a great responsibility for me that the International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films takes place under my patronage. The Festival, in its 20 editions, successfully writes its biography thanks to the dedication and unceasing energy of the organizers and their loyal friends. 20 editions unfailingly follows its mission - it convinces us that despite all the troubles, there are still virtues, despite alienation and hatred, the human in man cannot be irretrievably trampled, because its power to resurrect is enormous!

Crisis after crisis hold us down, change us, pit us against each other. The International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films is the siren we need today. A siren that loudly wails: give a hand to the other one next to you, help him, understand him! Because the lessons of history and the lessons of everyday life are clear - together we can overcome any difficulty more easily.

I am convinced that this year's rich program of the Festival, which once again gathers distinguished participants from Bulgaria and the whole world, will attract the interest and attention of a large audience. It will raise important questions, make us think, empathize, look at ourselves, look deeper into the world around us and make it better, more human! Great success to the XX International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films!

ILIANA IOTOVA
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA

To the organisers and participants of the XXth International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films,

Dear ladies and gentlemen,

On the occasion of the jubilee 20th edition of the International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films, please accept my sincere congratulations and wishes for health and creative inspiration!

Over the years, the first international film festival in Bulgaria has established itself as an important forum in the global cultural scene, bringing together art and humanitarian values. With each passing year, the festival attracts more participants from around the world and sparks the interest of young people in volunteering and philanthropy as a way of life!

Undoubtedly, the strong selection of acclaimed films presented at world forums in the last three years, as well as the premieres of new works with messages of community, emotional and physical health, overcoming aggression and isolation, will once again attract numerous film enthusiasts to Varna.

I want to express my admiration for the efforts and enthusiasm of the organisers, thanks to whom the International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films upholds the tradition of serious cinema and contributes to enriching the socio-cultural life in the maritime capital of Bulgaria!

Ivan Portnih
Mayor of Varna

Dear organizers and creators,

Dear friends,

For the twentieth time, Varna is hosting a unique cultural event - the International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films. The Bulgarian Red Cross and the Medical University in Varna once again join forces to prove through the art of the cinema the power of philanthropy, kindness, dedication and empathy, to prove that only through humanism can there be peace and friendship.

I express my deep appreciation and gratitude to the Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mrs. Iliana Yotova, for taking over the patronage of the Twentieth Anniversary edition of the Festival. We perceive this as a high appreciation for the efforts of all of us, the Red Cross, to uphold the humanitarian values ​​of charity, humanity, compassion. Because everything we do to help solve the current problems of society in the social and health sphere is from the heart.

I am grateful to the director of the Festival, Ilko Raev, and the team led by him, who, with their tireless hard work, have made a significant contribution to the successful organization and holding of the prestigious forum. I believe that the 20th International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films with its rich program will attract a large audience and build on the tradition of affirming the highly humanitarian causes of the Red Cross.

Good luck!

Acad. HRISTO GRIGOROV, Ph.D.
PRESIDENT OF THE BULGARIAN RED CROSS

Dear participants in the 20th International Red Cross and Health Film Festival,

Dear citizens and guests of the city of Varna,

Guided by its educational, scientific and healthcare mission, humane values and duty to society, Medical University "Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov" - Varna, in partnership with the Bulgarian Red Cross, has been a co-organizer of the International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films for almost 10 years. United by a common cause and under the motto of the festival "Through Humanism to Peace and Friendship", in 2014 the two institutions resumed the festival after a nearly 25-year interruption. Thus, through art, it provided a world platform to the highest human values - charity, dedication and empathy.

I have no doubt that the 20th edition of the festival will once again make us sympathetic and united on the important issues for every person and all societies, which, although different, have the same point of intersection - humanism.

I believe that despite the turbulent time in which we live (and perhaps precisely because of it), the films that will be presented this year will cherish our optimism and faith in the good and inspire us to pass them on.

I would like to thank the chairman of the Bulgarian Red Cross - Academician Hristo Grigorov for our invaluable partnership, to the director of the festival Mr. Ilko Raev and the team led by him for their contribution to the organization of its 20th edition, to the artistic director Prof. Bozhidar Manov for the vision of the festival as it is and to all colleagues and partners who helped to make it happen.

Good luck!

Prof.Dr. Valentin Ignatov, MD, Ph.D.
Rector
Medical University “Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov” - Varna

Dear supporters and followers,

Dear friends of the International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films

A Jubilee!

20 editions!

Worth celebrating!

Following so many obstacles, ups and downs, winning the most prestigious category ”A” in the cinema world and later fighting for survival…

We are strong!

We are supported!

We fight for the universal humanitarian principles and therefore we exists!

For the sake of Humanity!

Gratitude to all that support us!

Long live the Festival!

Ilko Raev
Director
International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films

Dear participants and organizers Dear guests Dear spectators

Twenty editions of an international festival are not at all a small number, although stretched over the years due to various social, organizational and professional reasons. During the "first half" of the Festival, I was a spectator and participant as a film critic and employee at the Vreme film studio. Those were other times, and the organizing of the first and only at that time international film festival in Bulgaria was an exclusive event. However, after the political changes the Festival imperceptibly "disappeared" due to the impossibility of organizing it in normal circumstances. And only after a long pause, only in 2014, did its "second half" begin, thanks to the reasonable decision of the National Council of the Bulgarian Red Cross and the governing body of the Medical University in Varna to restore it, under the patronage of the Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria.

The collective effort was crowned with success, and I had the unique opportunity to help with my professional competence for its artistic appearance.

Good luck!

Welcome with interest and confidence the program of the 20th Jubilee International Festival of the Red

Cross and Health Films!

Prof. Dr. Bozhidar Manov
Artistic Director
International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films

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