World-renowned film names to judge documentary films in Burgas.
BURGAS – Greek director and screenwriter Maria Douza and Bulgarian film director, artist and illustrator Vladimir Todorov will be at the center of attention at the upcoming edition of the international festival for historical documentary cinema, DOCK. The event organizers officially announced on their social networks that Douza will chair the jury, and Todorov will be a member. The festival will take place in Burgas from September 17 to 22, turning the city into a hub for documentary cinema for several days.
Maria Douza is a well-established name in European cinema. Her works such as "The Tree and the Swing", available on the streaming platform Netflix Europe, and "Listen" (Amazon Prime UK) have earned critical and public acclaim. The director has won numerous international awards and has extensive experience in creating dozens of documentary, cultural, and feature productions. Her presence at the head of the jury is a guarantee of high professionalism and objective evaluation of the participating works.
On the Bulgarian side, the jury will be strengthened by Vladimir Todorov, whose international career is impressive. His name is associated with some of the most iconic Hollywood blockbuster productions such as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", "Stuart Little", "The Polar Express", "Beowulf" and "A Christmas Carol". In addition, he also worked on the animated short film "The ChubbChubbs!", which won the prestigious Oscar award. His talent also extends to auteur cinema – he is the creator of the award-winning animated shorts "Flutter" and "Dreamer". Vladimir Todorov is also a prolific writer, author of the books "The Moon Rock", "The Whims of Oliver", "New York Archipelago", and "Hollywood Bulgarian". His experience in various film genres and illustration will contribute to a profound and multifaceted evaluation of the festival films.
Festival Program and Mission
The program of the DOCK festival is carefully selected and includes an official competition section in which ten films will be presented. They will compete for the grand prize, which includes a cash prize of 2,000 BGN and is awarded by the international jury.
In parallel, visitors will also be able to enjoy accompanying screenings that complement the main program. It is important to note that the organizers have provided free admission for all events, which makes the festival accessible to a wide audience and encourages interest in documentary cinema.
The organizers stated that DOCK's mission is to become one of the most significant cultural events in Bulgaria. Their goal is to contribute to a better understanding of world history by presenting content in an attractive and memorable way. The festival strives to establish itself as a cultural forum that not only presents quality films but also provokes dialogue and interest in important historical events and personalities. The combination of internationally recognized professionals with an interesting and accessible program makes the festival one of the events worth visiting this autumn.