Burgas will host the ninth edition of the DOCK International Documentary Historical Film Festival, which kicks off tomorrow, September 17. The official opening ceremony will take place at 19:30 at the Petrochemical Workers' Cultural Center, and the first film to meet the audience will be "Sylvie Vartan. From Love".
Renowned documentary filmmaker and journalist Georgi Toshev will personally present this film to the Burgas audience. Directed by Emma Konstantinova, the film was created based on his script and with him serving as producer. "'Sylvie Vartan. From Love' follows a story that begins in the small Bulgarian village of Iskrets and reaches the global stage. It is a tale of talent and fame, but also of parting from one's homeland, of love and loss, the price of success, and the invisible bond with the place you came from," he says.
The documentary focuses on one of the most significant figures in French musical history and her deep connection to Bulgaria. Spanning 16 years of filming, the film turns Sylvie Vartan's biography into a unique mirror reflecting Bulgarian history over the last eight decades. The film recounts her encounters with the Beatles, her experiences with Johnny Hallyday, her periods living abroad, and her subsequent return to the homeland that remains a part of her.
From September 17 to 22, DOCK will offer viewers documentaries covering various eras and geographical zones—from major political clashes and wars to art and personal destinies. The competition program includes titles such as:
- "Romain Gary: Nothing Better Could Be Said";
- "Sarkozy – Gaddafi: The Scandal of All Scandals";
- "Stalin's Coca-Cola";
- "Caravaggio";
- "Zelensky";
- "Hitler's Greatest Fear";
- "The Trial of Eichmann";
- and the Sundance 2025 award winner "Mr. Nobody vs. Putin".
One of the highlights of the program is a special selection dedicated to the theme "80 Years Since the End of the Third Bulgarian Kingdom". For the first time within the festival, a separate competition program for short historical documentary films has been included. A significant new addition to the ninth edition is the introduction of the Audience Award, which will allow visitors to vote for their favorite.
The festival concludes on September 22 with the official ceremony for presenting the DOCK 2026 Grand Prize and the Audience Award. All film screenings are free of charge. The program is carried out with the financial support of the Burgas Municipality and the National Film Center.