Casting has officially begun for the upcoming Bulgarian film "Stoichkov - There Was a Time in Bulgaria," one of the largest film productions in the country in recent years. The project aims to assemble a diverse cast, comprising over 130 roles, including leading, supporting, and cameo parts, as well as a mass ensemble of about 5,000 individuals.

The casting process is primarily directed at men, both with and without acting experience, aged between 18 and 55. The film seeks authentic faces with a strong presence, and soccer experience is a significant advantage for certain roles. The application is entirely free, and the selection process is meticulous and targeted towards specific profiles. The production also includes an international casting process, including auditions in Spain.

In conjunction with the casting process, a digital series titled "Stoichkov - There Was a Time in Bulgaria: The Selection" is set to give exclusive access to the casting process. This series will showcase behind-the-scenes moments, meetings with candidates, key decisions made by the team, and the excitement of a large-scale casting process through the film's digital channels.

The casting is a natural continuation of the selection of the lead actor, which was conducted in the documentary reality format "You're Playing... Stoichkov" on NOVA, the media partner of the film. At the beginning of the year, Kristo Stoichkov was selected to play Hristo Stoichkov, and now the production is opening the next phase: building the entire film world.

"Stoichkov - There Was a Time in Bulgaria" aims to build a strong, authentic, and carefully selected cast to recreate one of the most recognizable Bulgarian stories. The film will bring to the big screen the story of the Legendary Eighth – from its beginnings in Bulgaria to the pinnacle of world football. The project is being developed with the ambition to become a significant event for Bulgarian audiences and to establish itself on the international stage.

The film is directed by Martin Makarieff, with creative contributions from Alexander Sano and Vladimir Pamukov. The screenplay is written by Georgi Angelov.

Winbet is the general partner behind the project, supporting the creation of Bulgarian cinema with significant social and cultural value. Other partners include A1, Shumenko, Coca-Cola, Black Sea Gold, and Sport Depot.

Cloud9 Studios, an American company with experience in creating and positioning high-quality productions with global success potential, plays a key role in the development and distribution of the project.

"Stoichkov - There Was a Time in Bulgaria" is envisioned as a national project – a story of victories, character, and the indomitable spirit of a man and a nation, aiming to reach a wide audience and endure through time.