June 20 - 23, 2024
BNR RADIO - VARNA
Re-BONKERS
In 2016, the Academy for the International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films was established, which takes place in the years between its competition editions. It is an educational creative module for the first international film forum in Bulgaria, and includes lectures, practical workshops and a specially selected film program. Its aim is to increase the capacity of those working in the film and cultural industries, to discuss current topics and to inform audiences and artists about the role of art in humanism and society. The participants are both proven names in the field of cinema creativity, healthcare and public life, as well as young talents.
The fifth edition of the Academy takes place from June 20 to 23, 2024 in Varna, traditionally under the patronage of the Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria and is divided into modules that pay attention to the relationship between cinema, humanism and the mental health of society. Topics include conflict, migration, climate and diplomacy, in preparation for the festival's 60th anniversary in 2025.
Kamen Balkanski, cinematographer and director of the EU's "Media" program in Bulgaria, Prof. Ivo Hristov - doctor of sociology of law, Encho Gospodinov - humanitarian diplomat, Valentin Kardamski - analyst, journalist and PR will take part in the discussion panels. , Prof. Mihail Nedelchev - literary historian and culturologist, Prof. Tatyana Burudzhieva - political scientist, Dr. Tsveteslava Galabova - national expert in psychiatry of the Bulgarian Medical Union, dr. Daniela Ovcharova - Did - doctor, psychiatrist, psychotherapist, Dr. Nevena Dorbeva - culturologist, Prof. Stanimir Trifonov - director, Prof. Bozhidar Manov - film critic, Vladislav Nikolov - public figure and creator of "I believe and help", Diana Nasteva - trainer, social entrepreneur and creator of "Nothing is impossible" and "HameleON" , and Yavor Yanakiev - musician, public figure (a.k.a. 100 KILA).
The Academy will provide online access to all lectures on the festival website and on YouTube, allowing a wider range of people to benefit from the training and cultural events. Spectators can ask their questions to the speakers on the Festival's social networks.
This year we will pay special attention to the opportunities for an ecological lifestyle in the modern urban environment. We show modern understandings of urban mobility with the shared electric bikes of our partners Top Mobility, caring for bees, by planting the color in small spaces usually left unmaintained, as well as the use of short-lived materials - such as vinyl for the popular all around us billboards, to create durable and useful accessories, such as bags and toiletries. We will also share the activities and vision of Yavor Yanakiev (a.k.a. 100 kilos) for the youth, as well as the social commitment of HameleON.
The International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films – Varna was founded in 1965. The Founders, the Bulgarian Red Cross, supported by the Bulgarian state institutions, by the International Federation /the League, by that time/ of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, by the International Committee of Red Cross and Red Crescent, by the World Health Organization and by UNESCO. Its exclusive importance as an international forum, penetrating in depth into the most urgent humanitarian problems of nowadays, is proved by the highest in cinematography “A” certification /like those given to Cannes, Venice and Berlin/, given to the International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films – Varna. A great number of famous leaders and representatives of the International Red Cross Movement, of the Federation and the Committee have been taking part in the work of the Festival during the years. Due to some reasons, the Festival was interrupted in 1991.
In 2014, the National Council of the Bulgarian Red Cross, headed by Acad. Hristo Grigorov, Dr. H. C., the Medical University of Varna, headed by Prof. Dr. Krasimir Ivanov, PhD, DSc, Rector and Ilko Raev, Chairman of the District Council of the Bulgarian Red Cross in Varna and member of the National Council of the Bulgarian Red Cross, restored the International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films – Varna under the patronage of the Vice-president’s institution in the Republic of Bulgaria .
After such a continuous interruption – for more than two decades, the re-birth of the Festival is a great challenge. Step by step it acquires large and larger popularity among the Bulgarian and the international audience and it is morally supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, by many National societies, media, filmmakers from all over the world. The motto of the Festival ”Through humanity to peace and friendship” is uniting and inspiring, and it enjoys an increasing number of followers. Thousands of films apply to participate in all the five categories of its official competition program and their number tends to increase every year. More than one hundred and fifty are the participants and guests marching upon the Red carpet for the opening of the Festivals. The professionals and the public are looking forward the Festival as one of the most significant events in the cultural calendar of Varna; its international recognition is growing.
The proofs for the growing prestige of the Festival are the four regular editions and the three Academies organized after the rebirth of the Festival till now:
• In 2014, in the fifteenth edition of the Festival, the number of film productions participating is 125 from 20 countries;
• In 2015 in the sixteenth edition of the Festival, the number of film productions participating is 145 from 25 countries;
• In 2017, in the seventeenth edition of the Festival, the number of films applied for selection was 1890 from 107 countries and the number of film productions participating is 201 from 49 countries;
• In 2019, in the eighteenth edition of the Festival, the number of films applied for selection was record-breaking – more than 3000 films from 118 countries from all the continents, and the number of film productions participating is 201 from 49 countries;
• In 2021, in the nineteenth edition of the Festival, the number of films applied for selection was 1281 films from 101 countries, participated 68 films from 18 countries;
• In 2023, in the twentieth edition of the Festival, the number of films applied for selection was 1416 films from 92 countries, participated 30 films from 21 countries;
The Festival is biannual. Between two festivals we organize an Autumn Academy, under the motto of the Festival “Aggression – Humanity – Cinema”. The screening of the films during the academies does not have a competition character, but the film program presents titles of films ranking among the most vivid ones, devoted to the topic worldwide – films, presenting on the agenda the topical humanitarian problems, films, posing questions and asking for answers in a brave and inspired way. And the great accent of the academies is the discussion forums, where the topics, prompted by the screen and mostly prompted by the society, are debated upon by Red Cross activists, journalists, doctors, media experts, public speakers. With the help of the partnership of leading media, these discussions and civil positions access the wide public making it compassionate to the Red Cross ideas. We discuss upon the current challenges to the Movement, the role and the topical importance of the Federation, the Committee, the Societies and the Volunteers.
A basic module in the Academy is the tutorial one to teach Red Cross workers and volunteers how to elaborate the most efficient models of reflecting the work of the Societies, with the instruments of the visual art and media, thus making it known to wider public and announcing important issues of the Movement.
International Festival of Red Cross and Health Films - Varna
3 Bratia Shkorpil Str.
9000 Varna
BULGARIA (EU)
Mrs Svetla Lefterova
phone: +359 888 422 421
Bank details:
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