11-09-2019

FNE Oscar Watch 2020: Bulgaria Selects Ága as Oscar Bid

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    Ága by Milko Lazarov Ága by Milko Lazarov

    SOFIA: Milko Lazarov’s sophomore feature Ága has been selected as Bulgaria’s candidate for the 92nd Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences award in the best international feature film category. This Bulgarian/German/French coproduction had its world premiere out of competition at the 68th Berlinale IFF and it was awarded Best Film both at the 36th Fajr IFF and the 24th Sarajevo FF.

    The script, which Lazarov co-wrote together with Simeon Ventsislavov, tells the story of Sedna and Nanook, an aged couple living in the far North.

    Bulgaria’s Red Carpet, Germany’s 42Film, France’s Arizona Films Productions, the Bulgarian National Television and ZDF/Arte coproduced the film. It was supported by the Bulgarian National Film Center, Mitteldeutsche Medienförderung, Aide aux Cinémas du Monde - Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée and Institut Français.

    The shooting took place in the spring of 2017 in the Sakha (Yakutia) Republic within the Russian Federation, known as one of the coldest places on Earth. It was the first time when a Bulgarian film director worked in temperatures below 30 degrees. The film was shot by the DoP Kaloyan Bozhilov on 35 mm with anamorphic Cooke lenses.