From the Pitch to the Red Carpet

Bulgarian filmmaker Ilyan Djevelekov experienced a whirlwind of emotions in late May, moving seamlessly between national football passion and international cinematic acclaim. On May 20, he received the Golden Century award from the Ministry of Culture, only to rush to the National Stadium later that evening to support his beloved Lokomotiv Plovdiv in the Bulgarian Cup final against CSKA Sofia.

The drama on the pitch was followed by a flight to the French Riviera. By the next morning, Djevelekov was in Cannes, where his film The Dreamed Adventure secured the prestigious Jury Prize. The director described the sequence of events as surreal, comparing it to a montage of different realities that somehow aligned perfectly. "It felt like someone decided to compress several different lives into two days," he admitted.

A Film Without Professional Actors

The Dreamed Adventure is a co-production between Germany, France, Bulgaria, and Austria, produced with Miramar Film. Shot entirely in the Svilengrad region, the movie stands out for its radical casting approach. None of the people on screen are professional actors. Most had never stood in front of a camera before and were discovered by chance on the streets, in shops, or at local cafes.

Casting agents spent over a year traveling through Sofia and other parts of Bulgaria, approaching strangers and inviting them to audition. Hundreds of unknown people passed through the Miramar offices. Cameras were rolled, scenes were improvised, and people spoke openly about their lives and fears. This raw, unpolished approach became one of the film’s defining characteristics.

Azis on the Red Carpet

The screening at Cannes brought its own unexpected moments. Inside the legendary Grand Théâtre Lumière, the soundtrack featured tracks by Bulgarian musician Azis. After the 165-minute film concluded, the audience erupted into a ten-minute standing ovation. Stepping outside onto the red carpet, Azis’s music played again as the crew celebrated the warm reception.

Djevelekov called the experience absurd and hilarious simultaneously. The juxtaposition of Bulgarian folk-pop culture with the high-art atmosphere of Cannes created a unique cultural spectacle. The film’s success highlights a growing appreciation for unconventional storytelling in European cinema. As Djevelekov prepares to finalize the documentary for Lokomotiv Plovdiv by year’s end, his recent achievements underscore a vibrant intersection of sports and arts in Bulgaria.