20-11-2017

Bulgarian/Macedonian Heights Opens in Top Spot in Bulgaria

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    Alexander Aleksiev and Stoyan Doichev in Heights by Victor Bojinov Alexander Aleksiev and Stoyan Doichev in Heights by Victor Bojinov

    SOFIA: Victor Bojinov’s debut feature, the historical drama Heights, based on Milen Ruskov’s eponymous epic bestseller, opened in first place at the domestic box office with nearly 30,000 admissions on 65 screens.

    According to Christo Dermendjiev, owner of the distribution company A+, “No Bulgarian film has reached a similar success since 2010”.

    Bulgaria’s Bulfilm, Serpentine, Nu Boyana, the Bulgarian National Television and Macedonia’s Dream Factory are coproducing with the support of the Bulgarian National Film Center and Eurimages.

    The film intertwines historical facts which took place in 1872 with artistic fiction. It tells the story of two semi-revolutionaries/semi-robbers, who fight against the rules of the Ottoman Empire. Gradually, their revolutionary enthusiasm is replaced by bitterness and disappointment.

    Mostly known for his successful TV series, Bojinov shot the film in 55 days during the winter, spring, summer and autumn of 2016. He co-wrote the script with Nelly Dimitrova and Milen Rouskov. Anton Bakarski is the DoP and Peter Dundakov composed the music.

    “The film has just started its life in the theatres. This is a kind of a marathon, but the positive reactions coming from all sides make us hope for the best” Dermendjiev told the Bulgarian media.

    Bojinov also made a director’s version, which lasts 190 minutes.