Irina
| Director | Nadejda Koseva |
| Producer | Stefan Kitanov – Art Fest; Front Film, Doli Media Studio, Right Solutions |
| Writer | Svetoslav Ovcharov, Bojan Vuletic, Nadejda Koseva |
| Camera | Kiril Prodanov |
| Editor | Nina Altaparmakova |
| Cast | Martina Apostolova, Hristo Ushev, Irini Jambonas, Kasiel Noah Asher, Krassimir Dokov, Alexander Kossev |
| Sound | Momchil Bojkov |
| Music | Petar Dundakov |
| Year | 2018 |
| Length | 96 min |
| Country | Bulgaria |
| Subtitles | English |
| Section | Current Relevant Cinema / Focus – Bulgarian New Voices |
| Screening | Friday 8 November | 21:30 hours | Filmhuis Den Haag Sunday 10 November | 18:30 hours | Filmhuis Den Haag |
A moving award-winning social drama about different faces of motherhood, female strength and the power of forgiveness, directed by one of the most exiting female new voices of European cinema. Screenings will be followed by Q&A with the actress Martina Apostolova.
Synopsis
Irina lives in a small Bulgarian town and is the only financial support for her family. On the very same day that she gets fired, her husband experiences a serious accident which leaves him in a wheelchair. Irina’s family is threatened by poverty. To make ends meet, she decides to become a surrogate mother. Fights, despair, and the seed of life growing in her belly are shaking even further the rough and hopeless life she seems to be entitled to. Slowly, she discovers what it means to love and forgive. With her Madonna-like face, the young discovery of the film – actress Martina Apostolova – delivers an exceptional performance in the main role.
Festivals & Awards (selection)
Warsaw International Film Festival, 2018 – Best Actress (Martina Apostolova), Ecumenical Jury Award | Tirana International Film Festival, 2018 – Grand Prix | Cottbus Film Festival, 2018 – Best First Feature Film, Best Actress | Golden Rose Film Festival, Bulgaria – Best First Feature Film, Best Actress | Crossing Europe, Linz 2019 – Audience Award | South East European Film Festival Los Angeles, 2019 – Grand Jury Prize, Audience Award | Hong Kong International Film Festival, 2019 – Best Actress | Skip City International D-Cinema Festival, Japan 2019 – Best Director | Nominated for European Film Awards, 2019
Director’s bio
Nadejda Koseva was born in 1974 in Sofia, Bulgaria. After graduating from the Bulgarian National Film and Television Academy, she directed the short fiction novel THE RITUAL, part of the omnibus film LOST AND FOUND which premiered at Forum Berlin IFF 2005. Koseva’s next short fiction OMELETTE won a Special Mention at Sundance Film Festival 2009 among others. Her latest short film TAKE TWO travelled around the world after the premiere and winning a Special Mention at the Sarajevo FF 2011. IRINA is her first feature film.