Bulgarian actor and film director Stefan Apostolov, who has been living and working in USA these past eight years, has now set himself an ambitious task – to make a film demonstrating the power of the will from the perspective of Bulgarian culture and tradition.

The story revolves around a 6-year old boy who goes through different ordeals in different times in history, meeting and receiving help from inspiring figures from Bulgaria’s history. The aim is to generate a positive momentum and motivate Bulgarians but also all kinds of different people around the world to fight for their dreams and, in an age of technologies and the Internet, to keep human relationships alive.

“My heart has always been set on Bulgaria, its traditional music, folk dancing, friends, family, history… This film is the least I can do for my country – to endeavor to show the world our heritage and our rich history, our nature and all things Bulgarian, all things I have always held dear,” says Stefan Apostolov and goes on to reveal some of the scenes from the film.

“Viewers will be able to see all kinds of traditions and customs connected with Bulgaria – kukeri (mummers) from Shiroka Luka, gladiator jousts at the Roman stadium in Plovdiv, nestinari (firewalkers on live embers) from Bulgari village, reenactments of battles from the Russo-Turkish war of 1877-1878 and a host of other interesting events from the history and culture of Bulgaria. But what makes the film unique is the appearance of many and famous Bulgarian athletes, current and former world and Olympic champions. Each is faced with a different kind of challenge he or she overcomes as the film unfolds, demonstrating fortitude that is as much Bulgarian as it is universally human. The names include Yordan Yovchev, Petar Stoychev, Nikolay Bukhalov. There will be others, but at this point I cannot reveal their names as we are still in negotiations, though what I can say for certain is that they are Bulgarian athletes, Bulgaria’s heroes of our day.”

English version: Milena Daynova