Cinema

Cinema, or cinematography, is a visual art that emerged in the late nineteenth century. It is based on photographing moving images through exposure to light or other electromagnetic radiation. The images are recorded in analogue form on photographic film or digitally through electronic sensors. Cinema is often called the 'seventh art', a formulation used by the Italian-French critic Ricciotto Canudo in the 1920s. It has a distinctive ability to convey stories and emotions through a combination of moving images, sound and dialogue. As cinema developed over the centuries, it became both entertainment and a powerful means of expressing creative and cultural ideas.

The production and screening of Vasil Gendov's film Bulgaran Is Gallant in 1915 is regarded as the beginning of Bulgarian cinema. Between 1915 and 1948, a total of 55 films were made in the country. Under Fatherland Front rule, historical and ideological films were favoured. The state exercised strict control, leading to some films being stopped or withdrawn from screens. Boyana Film Studio established itself as the largest studio of the period. The history of the Sofia International Film Festival began in 1997. In 2010, it received FIAPF accreditation as a festival with a competition for first and second feature films. Sofia Film Fest was included in the New York weekly Variety's list of 50 must-attend festivals. The festival plays an important role in promoting knowledge of Bulgarian and world cinema and continues to combine tradition with contemporary trends in the international film industry.