Dock 2025: Historical Film Festival in Burgas

The seventh International Historical Documentary Film Festival Dock 2025 opened its doors today in Burgas, turning the city once again into a center for the most exciting achievements in documentary filmmaking.

The event, which will last until September 22, promises viewers unforgettable experiences, reflecting a wide spectrum of themes and styles.

"To know history means to understand the future. For me, this is a personal compass – every encounter with the past helps me see tomorrow more clearly",

shared Dimitar Stoyanovich, one of the festival's creators, emphasizing the importance of historical memory and its reflection in the modern world. His words sound like a call for critical reflection on the past, as a key factor in building a more stable future.

From hundreds of submitted applications, the selection committee has chosen ten titles, distinguished by innovative visual language and powerful messages. Among the selected films are international productions, presenting diverse viewpoints and cultural contexts.

• Riefenstahl (Germany)
• From Ground Zero (Palestine/France/Qatar/Jordan)
• Budapest Memorandum (Ukraine)
• Little Satchmo (USA)
• I"m Not a Bad Person (Bulgaria)
• Vasko and the Violin (Bulgaria)
• The Avenger (Bulgaria)
• Connected (UK)
• My Way (France/USA)
• Chaplin and "Modern Times" – the path of silence (France)

All screenings are held in the Cultural Center of NHK.

The festival is distinguished not only by its exceptional selection of films, but also by its authoritative jury, headed by the Greek director and screenwriter Maria Douza. Its members also include film producer Nevena Semova, actor Malin Krastev, historian Prof. Veselin Yanchev and animator Vladimir Todorov. The grand prize for the winner is 2000 leva.

The Dock 2025 program is not limited to film screenings. The organizers have prepared a rich accompanying program, including special screenings dedicated to Bulgarian history, a special film about the Unification, intended for students, as well as round tables with the participation of experts. The festival"s participation is complemented by an open lecture on the topic "Introduction to (cinema)documentary filmmaking", which will contribute to the understanding of the genre and its significance.

The realization of the festival is possible thanks to the support of the National Fund "Culture", Burgas Municipality, National Film Center and under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan. This shows the importance of the event for the development of Bulgarian culture.