Bulgarian animation has long taken the world stage, but here in Bulgaria, we neglect it; we forget about it and ignore it. “Golden Kuker” Festival focuses seriously on to this particular animation.
This festival is organised by the Bulgarian Association of Independent Cartoon Animation Artists “Proyko Proykov”, consisting of 59 members – mainly young animators. Therefore, the festival is also called “Festival of Young Animation”. This is what the director of the festival Nadejda Slavova explained in the studio of “The Day Begins”.
Details about the festival can be learnt by a member of the Selection Committee, Vitko Boyanov, and by Nadejda Slavova (in the video clip).
An Animation Film festival is being held for the first time in Sofia. “Three Fools”, “Chocko & Bocko”, and “The Singing Cowboys” – these are just some of the cartoons that made Bulgarian animation a phenomenon, 30 years ago.
“The whole world knew about this animation, about these incredibly talented people! They were awarded with numerous prizes – anywhere and everywhere; there was just some kind of Bulgarian wave at the time; after the Czech and the Polish waves, there was the Bulgarian one and we were all proud of it”, states Rumen Petkov, director of cartoon animation films.
Now, the Bulgarian animators will showcase their latest films at the first edition of the “Golden Kuker” festival, which begins today in Sofia. All kids will be special guests and in addition to the entertaining cartoons, they will be able to see how an animated film is created. The screenings will begin every day at 10am and the cinema fest will continue throughout Sunday.
The films are good for all generations and not just for children; it is wrong to think that they are merely for children – on the contrary. There are so many interesting films where people will be able to see the best of world and Bulgarian animation”, assures Nadejda Slavova, director of the festival.
The animators have declared this Sunday 'Children’s Day' at “Lumière” cinema. The screenings of cartoons will begin at 10am and the children will have the chance to sing at the special karaoke time along with their favourite cartoon characters.
From October 13 to 17, in cooperation with the media partnership of the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR), the International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” will be held. There will be 14 screenings, 5 of which for children at “Lumière” cinema. BNR will participate in the festival with cartoons based upon favourite songs for kids.
At the International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker”, the viewers will be able to watch a programme of student works and films of two animators of the Golden Age of Bulgarian animation – Boiko Kanev and Rumen Petkov. At the last day of the festival – October 17, the children will be able to enjoy a special concert and to participate in a drawing contest.
Main media partner is the Bulgarian National Radio. The CEO of BNR Valery Todorov stated the reasons behind his choice: “Primarily, because the National Radio is the biggest producer of music and art for children. We have an exceptionally interesting extensive tradition. Artists, musicians, poets, and writers who are firmly associated with the development of art for children, and some of them have also been active participants in the development of Bulgarian animation, have worked at the National Radio. With this festival, we hope to encourage the animators, as well as to foster interest in this great art.”
On October 17, the jury will award the winners and will showcase a programme of the awarded films.
Today at 20pm, the Deputy Minister of Culture Dimitar Dereliev will open the first edition of the International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” - Sofia at “Lumière” cinema at the Natinal Palace of Culture. The organisers of the Festival “Golden Kuker” – Sofia are: Bulgarian Association of the Independent Cartoon Animation Artists (BAICAA) in partnership with Bulgarian National Radio (BNR), “National Film Center” Executive Agency of the Ministry of Culture, Union of the Bulgarian Filmmakers (UBF) and the National Palace of Culture (NPC). The event will proceed under the patronage of the Minister of Culture Vejdi Rashidov.
The aim of the festival is to promote cartoon art to the general public and particularly among children, as well as to allow for expression of the animation studios and independent animators from Bulgaria and abroad.
80 films will compete in the contest and another 28 will be included in the Information Programme. All of them can be seen during the 5 days from October 13 to 17, before the winners are announced and the prizes awarded.
The official conclusion of “Golden Kuker” festival – Sofia will be on October 17 at 8 pm at “Lumière” cinema at the National Palace of Culture.
Last night, the International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” was officially opened at “Lumière” cinema at the National Palace of Culture.
Deputy Minister of Culture, Dimitar Dereliev, greeted the participants on behalf of the Minister of Culture. Valery Todorov – CEO of the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR is main media partner of the festival – editor’s note) also greeted the participants and the guests, and Nadejda Slavova – director of the festival, opened the cultural event with the words “Together we can achieve more”.
Before the first screening of the Competition Programme, viewers were able to enjoy the authentic local folklore in the performance of the folk group from the village of Voluek.
The festival is organized by a relatively new association - the Bulgarian Association of the Independent Cartoon Animation Artists (BAICAA), under the patronage of Minister of Culture Rashidov, and with the support of Sofia Municipality.
This is the first festival of animation after an interruption of 21 years. The preceding festival of animation was being held every year from 1979 to 1989 in Varna. And since then – silence. As if during the last 21 years the animators in Bulgaria have been working underground; but… it seems that they have actually been working and have something to show. With this festival they again come to light.
Meanwhile, the guild has lost a lot of people – some of the old ones left for good, and part of the talented young people sought realization elsewhere. Yet, it appears that many young animators have stayed in Bulgaria. Therefore, one of the objectives of the festival is to show them that they have a playing field here. It is not a coincidence that the slogan of “Golden Kuker” is “Festival of Young Animation.” In Bulgaria, members of the Association of Independent Cartoon Animation Artist “Proiko Proiko” are mostly young people. The festival will present them with an opportunity to compare their level to their foreign colleagues and to discover and explore their achievements; as well as to exchange experience with them during the creative discussions included in the festival’s programme.
After a preliminary selection of more than 500 films, 80 films from 29 countries were allowed to participate in the competition. The films will be showcased during the 14 screenings, 5 of which for children. In addition, the viewers will be able to see works of the members of the Selection Committee and the Jury (Csaba Varga – Hungary, Nadejda Marinchevska and Zlatin Radev – Bulgaria), as well as films of the Golden Age of Bulgarian animation. This will happen during the so-called “Information Programme”.
In two of the festival’s days, there will be creative discussions on professional issues with authors of films from Bulgaria and abroad, which can include animators, students, journalists, critics, etc. Discussions – October 15 and 16 starting at noon held at “Matty” hall, above “Lumière” cinema.
Two round tables will be organised on October 14 and 15, where will be invited and will likely include representatives of Ministries of Culture, Education, Youth and Sport, Sofia Municipality, National Film Centre, “Music” Agency LTD, creative and professional unions, associations of parents, schools and kindergardens.
The last day – October 17 is dedicated to children, who will be enabled to watch cartoon films free of charge; to draw, sing and have fun.
The International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” will be held in Sofia from October 13 to 17, at the National Palace of Culture, Hall 11 (“Lumière” cinema). During the five days of the festival, works of various Bulgarian and foreign animation artists from the Golden Age of animation will be showcased. There will be plenty of surprises for the viewers. The aim of the festival is to promote the art of animation to the general public and particularly among children, as well as to allow for expression of the animation studios and independent animators from Bulgaria and abroad. In the competition and informational programmes 108 films from 26 countries will be shown.
The Selection Committee of the “Golden Kuker” festival concluded its work and chose the most worthy of the works, the majority of them created by young animators. Thus, viewers will have the opportunity to watch 6 afternoon and evening Competition Programmes for adults, 4 day programs with children films, retrospections of members of the Selection Committee and the Jury, 3 Informational programmes, as well as the best films of the Golden Age of Bulgarian animation. The participating artists will meet up with colleagues, students and journalists and will discuss professional issues. Artists can even participate and display their works in the “Golden Kuker” exhibition. Furthermore, the question about 'where art and culture stand in education' and the issues of Bulgarian artists and filmmakers will be discussed during the round table talks organised during the festival.
The last day – October 17, Sunday, will be dedicated to the children of Sofia, who will be enabled to watch films free of charge, to draw and sing, and to have fun.
The International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” is organised in Sofia by the Bulgarian Association of Cartoon Animation Artists “Proyko Proykov” in partnership with Bulgarian National Radio, National Film Centre, the Ministry of Culture, Bulgarian Filmmakers Union, and the National Palace of Culture; all under the patronage of the Miniter of Culture.
From October 13 to 17, 2010, Sofia is hosting the newly-hatched animation festival. It will be held in Hall 11 at the National Palace of Culture – known as “Lumière” cinema, under the slogan “Festival of Young Animation”. Oorganiser is the Bulgarian Association of Independent Cartoon Animation Artists (BAICAA) “Proyko Proykov”, with key media partner – Bulgarian National Radio.
“Why did we choose this name? Because the kukers dance in attempt to frighten and permanently chase away the evil spirits and evil fairies, and to secure rich harvest the following year; and we really want good times for Bulgarian animation and its creative artists to come”, the animators from BAICAA believe.
The Selection Committee, headed by prof. Alexander Grozev, selected 80 films for participation in the contest. Another 28 are in the Information programme. The films will be showcased during the 14 screenings, 5 of which for children. In addition, the viewers will be able to see works of the members of the Selection Committee and the Jury (Csaba Varga – Hungary, Turgut Akacik – Turkey, Vitko Boyanov – Bulgaria, Zlatin Radev – Bulgaria), student works as well as films of two artists of the Golden Age of Bulgarian animation – Boiko Kanev and Rumen Petkov. The latter, later on achieved international fame as a director of several episodes of the series of Cartoon Network’s “Johnny Bravo” and “Dexter’s Laboratory”.
In the programme included discussions with open access to round tables and a special concert for the children on the closing day of the festival – Sunday, October 17. On this day, the prizes will be given away. And since the animators are artists by default, the space around the fest hall will be decorated with their drawings, paintings, movie patterns of films, etc.
On October 13, 2010, at a lavish ceremony at “Lumière” cinema, Deputy Minister of Culture Dimitar Dereliev opened the first edition of the International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” – Sofia.
Organiser of the International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” – Sofia is the Bulgarian Association of Independent Cartoon Animation Artitst (BAICAA) “Proyko Proykov”, with the exclusive media support of Bulgarian National Radio (BNR).
“It is no accident that the Bulgarian National Radio stands behind this festival not only as media, but also as a cultural institution, the CEO of BNR Valery Todorov said. – BNR is the biggest producer of art for children and we have already prepared for them about 20 animation films of the most popular children songs, he added. – In addition to the launch of the International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” – Sofia, a new play-field is revealed for Bulgarian animation artists; a field that was certainly absent during the Transitional period”, Valery Todorov stressed.
80 films from 29 countries were selected to take part in the competition. The films will be showcased during the 14 screenings, 5 of which for children. Children are the main focus of the International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” – Sofia. The final day of the cineforum – Sunday, October 17, is dedicated to them. Moreover, children will attend a special concert, where they will participate in a drawing contest.
BNR will participate at the festival with its own advertising counter. The media will present their production of animation films based on favourite kids’ songs along with a karaoke version to them, which will be performed live by vocal group “Radiodetza” conducted by Ilina Todorova.
The International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” will give away prizes to the best animation films out of 80 selected films. The forum starts tomorrow at “Lumière” cinema and will continue throughout October 17.
The jury is international – Csaba Varga from Hungary, Nadejda Marinchevska and Zlatin Radev from Bulgaria.
In the competition includes our films “Civilization”, “Anna Blume”, “The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats 2”, and others. A master in this genre Rumen Petkov, who became famous in USA as a director of several episodes of “Johnny Bravo” and “Dexter’s Laboratory”, has also sent works.
On October 15 and 16, discussions will be held. October 17 is dedicated to children, to whom there will be a special concert dedicated and they will take part in a drawing competition. Organiser of “Golden Kuker” is the Bulgarian Association of Independent Cartoon Animation Artists “Proyko Proykov”, and main media partner – Bulgarian National radio.
Starting today, October 17 in Hall 11, “Lumière” cinema, the first edition of the International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” will be held. The event is organised by the Bulgarian Association of Independent Cartoon Animation Artists and is conducted under the patronage of the Minister of Culture, Vejdi Rashidov.
The festival offers 80 films from 29 countries, and the official Informational programme another 28 films. The Selection Committee is proud of its selection – a great deal of the films by young artists. Therefore, the slogan is “Festival of Young Animation”.
The event presents 6 afternoon and evening Competition programmes for adults. There will be 4 day Competition programmes with films for children and more works by members of the Selection Committee and the Jury (Csaba Varga from Hungary, Nadejda Marinchevska and Zlatin Radev from Bulgaria).
The best works from the Golden Age of Bulgarian animation will also be screened. Moreover, there will be an exhibition by cartoon artists. The issues of Bulgarian artists and filmmakers will be discussed at the two round tables organised during the festival.
The closing day – October 17, Sunday – will be dedicated to children who will be able to watch films free of charge, to sing and to have fun.
The aim of the festival is to promote the art of animation among the general public in Bulgaria and mainly among children, as well as to secure a play-field of Bulgarian and foreign animators.
Bulgarian animation has not kept us interested since the time of the “Three Fools”, and now we have the chance to fill in the gaps with modern cartoons at the specialized festival of animation film “Golden Kuker”.
Brand new student films will be showcased in 5 days at “Lumière” cinema, as well as works of the artists of the Golden Age of Bulgarian animation – Boiko Kanev and Rumen Petkov, who in recent years has worked on episodes of “Johnny Bravo” and “Dexter’s Laboratory”. The festival has its own jury who will vote for the best of the 80 competition films and what is interesting is that viewers will be able to watch works by the jury itself. On October 15 and 16 in “Matti” hall at the National Palace of Culture a creative discussion, with free access to all who are curious, will be held. And since in the work of every animator the drawing is first in place, there will be an exhibition of paintings and patterns from films outside the festival’s hall. The last day of the festival is reserved for children who will be able to enjoy live performances and to participate in a drawing contest; and the evening program will present the awarded films.
The International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” is being held at “Lumière” cinema from October 13 to 17.
Sofia will be a host of the first edition of the International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” 2010. The cineforum will be held from October 13 to 17, 2010, at the National Palace of Culture, Hall 11 - “Lumière” cinema, under the slogan “Festival of Young Animation”. The event is under the patronage of the Minister of Culture Mr. Vejdi Rashidov and the institutional support of Sofia Municipality. Organiser is the the Bulgarian Association of Independent Cartoon Animation Artists “Proyko Proykov”, and main media partner – Bulgarian National Radio.
“Why did we choose this name? Because the kukers dance in an attempt to frighten and permanently chase away the evil spirits and evil fairies, and to secure rich harvest the following year; and we really want good times to come for Bulgarian animation and its creative artists”, the animators from BAICAA share. The Selection Committee consisting of: prof. Alexander Grozev – Bulgaria, Turgut Akacik – Turkey, and Vitko Boyanov – Bulgaria, selected 80 films for participation in the contest and another 28 in the Informational Programme. The films will be showcased during the 14 screenings, 5 of which for children.
The viewers will be able to see works of the members of the Selection Committee and the Jury (Csaba Varga – Hungary, Nadejda Marinchevska and Zlatin Radev – Bulgaria), a programme of student works and films by two animation artists of the Golden Age of Bulgarian animation – Boiko Kanev, which later on became famous worldwide and brought prize after prize, and Rumen Petkov, who later on became a director of the several episodes “Johnny Bravo” and “Dexter’s Laboratory” of Cartoon Network in USA.
Two round-tables will be organised – on October 14 entitled “Employing art in education” and on the next day – on “The problems of financing culture and the support of the Bulgarian state of art and its artists”, where representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Education, Youth and Science, Sofia Municipality, the National Film Centre, “Music” Agency Ltd., creative and professional unions and associations, associations of parents, schools and kindergardens, etc. will be invited and will be expected to actively get involved in the discussions. The space around the fest hall will be decorated with their drawings, paintings, movie patterns from films, etc.
Children are the main focus of the event. The final day – Sunday, October 17, is dedicated to them. What is more, children will not only enjoy the movies, but will also attend a special concert where they will participate in a drawing contest, etc.
BNR will participate at the festival with its own counter. The media will present their production of animation films based on favourite kids’ songs along with a karaoke version to them, which will be performed live by vocal group “Radiodetza” conducted by Ilina Todorova.
One of the grand prizes of the festival is for children films and it is named after “Proyko Proykov” – patron of the Bulgarian Association of Independent Cartoon Animation Artists (BAICAA) and a teacher of a great deal of them. On October 17, at noon, at a special press-conference the jury will announce its decision of awarding the prizes; and after the official award ceremony in the evening, a programme with the awarded films will be presented.
We, the Bulgarian Association of Independent Cartoon Animation Artists (BAICAA) “Proyko Proykov”, are a young organization; however, we have a great ambition to revive the festival and enrich the cultural programme of Sofia. Therefore, we began working on organising the International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker”, which will be held on October 13 to 17, 2010 at the National Palace of Culture – Sofia. Five days of screenings of films of the competition and informational programmes, flashbacks of the Golden Age of Bulgarian animation cinema and its masters, thematic and national programmes, etc. are expecting us. We will not give out more details, so that you can be able to enjoy all surprises when we publish the full programme. Children are the most blissful and grateful audience, therefore we will dedicate one whole day to them and will provide them with various activities and entertainment. Adults on the other hand, will be able to discuss 'the place of art in education' and the issues of Bulgarian writers and artists during the round-tables, which will be held along the duration of the festival.
The international Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” – Sofia was open with an artistic ceremony at “Lumier” cinema.
At a special counter “Advertising-Publishing House” of BNR (Bulgarian National Radio), will present an animated and karaoke versions of “The white bunny” song, for the first time.
The Deputy Minister of Culture Dimitar Dereliev opened the first edition of the international Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” –Sofia. Everything happened on October 13, 2010, at a lavish ceremony where mimes and kukers entertained fans of animated films. Organizer of the film event is the Bulgarian Association of Independent Artists “Proyko Proykov”, with exclusive media support by BNR.
“It is no accident that the Bulgarian National Radio stands behind this festival not only as media, but also as a cultural institution, the CEO of BNR Valery Todorov said. – BNR is the biggest producer of art for children and we have already prepared for them about 20 animation films of the most popular children songs, he added. – In addition to the launch of the International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” – Sofia, a new play-field is revealed for Bulgarian animation artists; a field that was certainly absent during the Transitional period”, Valery Todorov stressed.
80 films were selected to participate in the competition program of the festival. They will be screened in 14 official projections, 5 of which for children.
Viewers will be able to see works of the members of the Selection Committee and the Jury (Csaba Varga – Hungary, Turgut Akacik – Turkey, Vitko Boyanov – Bulgaria, Zlatin Radev – Bulgaria), and films of two artists of the Golden Age of Bulgarian animation, who were known worldwide and brought many prizes. They are Boiko Kanev and Rumen Petkov (who later on became a director in USA of several episodes of “Johnny Bravo” and “Dexter’s Laboratory” of Cartoon Network). Children are the main focus of the International Animation Film Festival “Golden Kuker” – Sofia. The final day of the cinema forum – Sunday, October 17 – is dedicated to them. Moreover, children will attend a special concert, where they will participate in a drawing contest.
BNR will take part in the festival with its own advertising counter. The media will present their production of animation films based on favourite kids’ songs along with a karaoke version to them, which will be performed live by vocal group “Radiodetza” conducted by Ilina Todorova.
