Dr. Tsveteslava Galabova, a psychiatrist, will explore the topic of Mental Health in Society through the Lens of Cinema. She graduated from the Medical University of Sofia in 1992 and later earned a degree in Business Administration from the University of National and World Economy (UNWE) in 2006. Since 1994, she has worked at the National Psychiatric Hospital “St. Ivan Rilski” in Kurilo, where she advanced from a junior doctor to the head of the men's acute psychosis ward. In 2009, she became the hospital’s director. Since 2003, she has also worked in outpatient psychiatry. Dr. Galabova has served as a forensic psychiatric expert for over 20 years and is a national psychiatry expert for the Bulgarian Medical Association.

As the head of one of Bulgaria’s largest psychiatric hospitals, Dr. Galabova is a prominent public voice on mental health issues. She frequently raises concerns about increasing addiction rates and the deteriorating mental health of the Bulgarian population. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she served on the National Medical Council, providing essential advice on managing stress and anxiety. She emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and genuine human connections in the digital age.

During the festival, film enthusiasts will have the opportunity to meet the creators and key figures behind the series Anxiety (Trevosnost) and engage in a first-hand discussion about its message and the pressing social issues it addresses. The series focuses on deeply personal and timely topics such as mental health, family dynamics, and the challenges facing young people in contemporary society.

The project is produced by Miramar Studio and directed by Ilian Djevelekov. With its psychological depth and powerful performances—led by actress Ana Papadopulu—Anxiety stands out as a socially relevant and emotionally resonant work. Also attending the 21st International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films is the series’ content consultant, renowned psychologist Ivan Igrov.

Ilian Djevelekov is a Bulgarian director, screenwriter, and producer. He began his academic journey studying psychology at Sofia University and later earned a degree in film and television directing from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA), under the tutelage of Acad. Lyudmil Staykov. While still a student, he worked as a director on the popular student TV program Ku-Ku.

In 1993, his short film I Want to Be Free won Best Short Film at the Golden Rose Film Festival in Varna. Between 1994 and 2000, Djevelekov worked as a producer and director at Ku-Ku Film. In 2001, he co-founded the production company Miramar Film with Matey Konstantinov and Georgi Dimitrov. Today, it is one of Bulgaria’s leading companies for feature and documentary film production, as well as TV commercials.

His feature film production debut was Zift (2008), directed by Yavor Gardev, which won the Silver Saint George at the Moscow International Film Festival and the Golden Rose at the Varna Film Festival, and participated in many prestigious festivals. His directorial debut LOVE.NET (2011) attracted over 206,000 viewers, making it one of the top 10 highest-grossing Bulgarian films of all time. At the Golden Rose Festival, it won Best Actress (Lilia Maraviglia), Best Screenplay, and Best Debut Director.

Ana Papadopulu is a distinguished Bulgarian actress in theatre, film, and television. She graduated in Acting from NATFA “Krastyo Sarafov” in 2000 in the class of Prof. Stefan Danailov. While still a student, she debuted at the Ivan Vazov National Theatre in the role of Anna in The Lower Depths by Maxim Gorky, directed by Alexander Morfov.

She has since become a permanent member of the National Theatre troupe, performing numerous iconic roles in classical and modern plays. Her notable performances include Beatrice in Decameron, Salome in Salome by Oscar Wilde, Adela in The House of Bernarda Alba, Anna Petrovna in Ivanov, Anya in The Cherry Orchard, Julie in Jake’s Women, and Perdita in The Winter’s Tale.

Parallel to her theatre work, Ana has developed a vibrant film and television career, with notable roles in Letter to America (2000), The World is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner (2008), Mission London (2010), The Petrov File (2015), and Monkey (2016), as well as in TV series such as Stolen Life, Search Department, and Fourth Estate. For her role in Letter to America, she received the Nevena Kokanova Debut Award (2001), and in 2018 won an Askeer for Supporting Actress in The Little Foxes.

In 2024, she plays Dr. Magdalena Yasenova, a child psychologist, in Anxiety, a series dedicated to mental health and the struggles of today’s youth.

Ivan Igrov is a prominent Bulgarian psychologist specializing in child, adolescent, and school psychology. He graduated in psychology from Sofia University and has over 25 years of experience. He is one of the pioneers of the school psychologist profession in Bulgaria, working at the National High School of Mathematics and actively contributing to the development of educational psychology.

He is the author of textbooks and publications and helped establish state standards for psychology education in schools. As coordinator of the UNICEF and Ministry of Education project “School Without Violence,” he has worked to improve school environments and prevent violence.

In 2024, he served as the psychological consultant for the series Anxiety, ensuring the show's psychological authenticity and depth. He remains an active advocate for youth mental health and education reform.

Also joining the discussions and professional meetings are:

Dr. Tatyana Burudzhieva – a sociologist and professor at Sofia University’s Department of Sociology. She is a respected researcher of social theories, political processes, and institutions, known for her analysis of political parties and their societal roles. She regularly provides expert commentary in media and academic publications.

Pavlina Zheleva – a seasoned Bulgarian film critic and producer with a degree in film studies from NATFA. She has worked as an editor for Bulgarian Films and Cinematic Art magazines and served as Bulgaria’s representative to Eurimages. As a co-founder of Geopoli Film, she produced award-winning films such as Requiem for Mrs. J and Miracle.

Prof. Alexander Donev – a prominent film critic and Creative Director of the Golden Rose Film Festival. He is a professor of film and visual arts and known for insightful analyses connecting cinema with cultural and political discourse. As a mentor and leader, he shapes the festival’s socially engaged programming.

Georgi Cholakov – a renowned Bulgarian cinematographer, producer, and former director of the National Film Center. With a background in cinematography from NATFA, he has created many acclaimed films, including the documentary The Poet Shoots Himself in the Heart (2012). As a cultural advocate and founder of Geopoli Film, he has played a key role in promoting auteur cinema and supporting young filmmakers.

Borislav Chuchkov – a producer, director, and actor with a strong presence in modern Bulgarian cinema. He co-founded Chuchkov Brothers with his brother Victor Chuchkov Jr., producing TILT (Bulgaria’s 2011 Oscar submission), 18% Grey (2020), Singing Shoes (2016), and Shakespeare Like a Street Dog (2023). He is also active in organizing events like Sofia Summer Fest and managing Sofia’s House of Cinema.

Prof. Stanimir Trifonov – a director, screenwriter, and producer. After working at Bulgarian National Television, he joined the “Vreme” studio for documentaries and popular science films, eventually becoming its artistic and executive director. His works include Elias Canetti. Reply to a Letter, Impossible Image, the series Wolf Hunt, and The Glass River. He teaches directing at Southwestern University and New Bulgarian University.

Iskra Radeva is a popular Bulgarian actress. She graduated from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (NATFA) with a degree in “Acting for Dramatic Theatre” in the class of Apostol Karamitev and immediately joined the troupe of the Youth Theatre. In the 1980s and 1990s, she worked in dubbing for Bulgarian National Television (BNT), with her most famous voice role being Meggie Cleary in The Thorn Birds. She also participated in the dubbing of the series Rich Man, Poor Man and Return to Eden. During the 1990s, she became active in show business, pop music, and chamber stage performances, also working as a songwriter and playwright.

In 1997, she left the Youth Theatre, and in 1999, she founded her own theatre – Iskri i sezoni ("Sparks and Seasons"), taking on the roles of producer and director. In 2000, she staged the show-spectacle Farewell, 20th Century, and her production company “IRD” organized some of the most talked-about show events in Bulgaria. She has played numerous roles in theatre, television theatre, cinema, and TV.

Olga Markova is a renowned Bulgarian film critic. She holds degrees in philology and journalism. A Doctor of Film Studies, she works as an art critic and journalist focusing on arts and culture. She is the author of ten books, mostly dedicated to cinema. Some, such as The Role of Bulgarian Culture in World Civilization, have been translated into English and distributed by Bulgarian embassies and cultural centers worldwide. For her two major works Masters of the Great Cinema and The Last Mohicans of Cinema, she received the “Golden Pen” award from the Union of Bulgarian Journalists and the Golden Diploma Pedestal for outstanding film criticism at the international forum “Golden Knight” in Russia. In 2019, she published the third part of her trilogy The Last Shall Be First. For more than ten years, she has taught a course in the Master's program "Literature, Cinema, and Visual Culture" at Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski.” Over her long career, she has worked as an editor for BTA’s “Foreign Information” section, head of the Arts section for 25 years in the national weekly for literature and art Puls, and as founder and editor-in-chief of the national weekly Az-Buki for education, science, and culture, where she received several awards.