CineLibri 2020, the world's first international book&movie festival was held in Sofia

"If literature is the bread, then cinema is the wine of imagination."

Sofia owes its reputation of a cosmopolitan and artistic European city to a great extent to the range of international and national forums – film, music, theatre, folk festivals and art salons.

Source: quanjing.com

Proven to be the world's first international book&movie festival, CineLibri is an extraordinary annual event, inspired by the fruitful interaction of arts – cinema and literature, in particular. It is held in Sofia and other district centres in Bulgaria every autumn, and shows the best examples of film adaptations d on significant literary works, both contemporary and classic. The festival is an extremely important, independent showcase for high-quality European film productions and co-productions.

The International Book&Movie Festival CineLibri is a unique occasion/ceremony/event, which unites renowned creators from different fields of art and thousands of fans of cinema and literature. The festival's mission is to cast a light on the best examples of interaction between arts, showing the best movie adaptations of literary works, to promote the good taste and interest in high-grade works of European cinema and literature. At the invitation of the festival, during the years the spectators and readers met world-famous European creators such as Ian McEwan, Volker Schlöndorff, Jiří Menzel, David Grossman, Herman Koch, David Foenkinos, Sergio Castellito, Margaret Mazzantini, Benoît Jacquot, Frédéric Beigbeder, Bruno Coulais, Doriana Leondeff, Christopher Lambert, David Lagercrantz, Radu Mihaileanu, Arnon Grunberg, Kiera Chaplin and many others. The competition program of CineLibri includes feature films - successful cinematographic adaptations of literary works, both classic and contemporary, created over the past two years in Europe and beyond. The festival aims at distinguishing those film productions and co-productions that recreate both truthfully and ingeniously the plot and atmosphere of the literary work, contributing to the entire aesthetic impact. The prize-winners are announced by an international jury consisting of well-established experts from various fields still connected with cinema: producers, directors, art directors, screenwriters, film composers, actors etc. The parallel program of the festival has various sections: film classics and retrospectives, film biopics, contemporary European and World productions/co-productions; film panoramas and tributes to prominent directors and screenwriters; milestone documentaries, short films, animated cartoons. Traditionally, CineLibri encompasses a number of accompanying events, such as educational events - workshops, seminars, lectures and masterclasses; presentations of visiting artists, premieres of screened books, theatre performances based on books, creative discussions with the participation of cinema experts, literary critics and others.

CineLibri encompasses official selection of competing films, parallel programme of films out of competition and a number of educational events, literary presentations, various panel discussions, workshops, masterclasses etc.

Because of the complicated situation due to the spread of the coronavirus, significant part of the program will also be broadcast online through the platform Neterra TV + (www.neterra.tv/plus), which as of August has a new look and richer content, and some of the titles will only be available online.

The sixth edition of CineLibri International Film and Literature Festival will once again enchant the audience with movies based on literary works. The festival will take place from October 18 to November 8 under the motto "Education of feelings". The events will also be held in the cities of Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas, Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo, Stara Zagora and Blagoevgrad.

Official Selection in competition or the main program of the festival consists of talented literary adaptations for the big screen released during the last year or two. Actually, this section includes the nominations for best feature films based on books and completed during the last 2 years. All the selected titles in competition are national premieres. They are presented in prestigious movie theatres and art spaces in Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna and other Bulgarian cities together with the literary works which had inspired the filmmakers.

The mission of the festival is inseparable from the policy of disseminating European cultural values, sharing experience and promoting both the unfading classics and latest achievements of contemporary art by seeking new perspectives on topical and universal themes. The forum aims at providing access to European culture and traditions in a modern, attractive and influential manner. Combining artistic techniques and resources of cinema, literature, theatre performances, classical music and plastic arts, CineLibri 2020 adheres to the strategy of enhancing interaction of arts and promoting intercultural dialogues, while facilitates access to non-commercial European cinema. The festival maintains long-lasting partnerships with all embassies, diplomats and cultural institutes in Bulgaria and abroad, co-operates with a number of European cultural organizations, including production companies, art associations and funds etc.

The Cinelibri International Cinema and Literary Festival is one of the most significant art events in the Bulgarian cultural calendar. Created on Jacques Wagenstein's initiative in 2015, "Cinelibri" is eagerly awaited every autumn. It annually collects world-renowned artists such as Irge Mentzel, Sergio Castellito, Frederic Begbide, Douglas Kennedy, Margaret Matsantini, Arnon Grünberg and others whom where given the chance to meet with thousands of film and books fans.

The Cilenburi Competition program selects successful cinematographic adaptations of literary works, both classical and contemporary, created over the past two years. The aim is to award those film productions that recreate in original and truthful manner the literally piece, contributing to the promotion of good taste and interest in quality prose.