At the Cinema, at the Village is an annual festival taking place in the smallest settlements in Bulgaria. Its goal is to build a network of cinema villages with regular access to contemporary films, as well as to achieve independence in organizing screenings in the villages through training local coordinators (cinema-awakeners).
This year's edition will start in the village of Zhitnitsa with a screening with free admission, open to both local residents and guests from the region. Until 1934, the village was named Hambarlii and was founded on the territory of an Ottoman farm from 1646. The first settlers were the Bodurski, Nachevi, Selimovi and Karchevi families. The history of the village is connected with agriculture and the development of a small, close-knit community. Today, Zhitnitsa has a fully equipped cinema.
The next destination in the region is Kurtovo Konare. It arose in 1760 from the merger of the villages of Kurtovo and Konare, whose names are related to the words "wolf" and "groomsmen". Archaeological finds testify to ancient habitation, including a coin from the time of Emperor Commodus and a votive tablet to the god Mithras. In the 19th century, the church "St. Atanas" and the school "St. St. Cyril and Methodius" were built, and the village established itself as an educational center. Agriculture is a traditional livelihood, and in the past there were over 100 local varieties of fruits and vegetables. Today, the community center "Lyuben Karavelov" continues to be an active cultural center.
A little further from Plovdiv, but again in Central Bulgaria, are the locations Velichkovo (near Pazardzhik) and Buzovgrad (near Kazanlak).
The festival will be held from March to September 2026 and will cover a total of 15 villages in different parts of the country. The program includes 61 screenings of Bulgarian and European films, as well as five workshops for children and young people. For exact times and dates, it is best to follow their website.
The films include current European productions such as "Sentimental Value" and "The Sound of Love", as well as titles such as "Saint-Exupéry" and "The Only Earth". There will also be special screenings of the classic "The Long Walk" with Louis de Fiennes, as well as environmentally focused films.
A strong emphasis is also placed on children - with screenings from the early history of cinema, educational initiatives and animated films. Part of the program are also Bulgarian titles, including "Millen", "Wild Strawberries", "Triumph" and "The Socially Strong".
In addition to the screenings, the festival also includes practical workshops aimed at developing creative skills - from working in front of the camera to alternative photography techniques.
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