The Bulgarian film "The Axis of Life" will be shown at Cinema City in Burgas at 3pm on Saturday, 14 November. Part of the team will take part in a discussion after the screening.

The guests are Swami Tirtha, author of the book the film is based on, producer Viktor Frances and actor Vladimir Mihaylov. Swami Tirtha is in Bulgaria specially to meet audiences on the premiere tour.

Swami Tirtha and Vladimir Mihaylov will sign autographs at the Ciela bookshop after the screening.

The film opens in cinemas across Bulgaria. Special screenings with a discussion will also be held in Sofia on 13 and 22 November at the Odeon cinema and on 16 November at the Vlaykova cinema. The team will be in Ruse on 15 November, in Botevgrad on 16 November, in Vratsa on 17 November and in Blagoevgrad on 20 November.

The story centres on teacher Vid, who leads his three pupils, Tomar, Yaso and Palaka, from the coast to the mountains. The journey takes 12 days, through different landscapes and conversations. The team says the four may be different faces of one person: simplicity, reason, poetic contemplation and the teacher's wisdom. The makers say it is a parable about growing up, faith and choosing a direction.

Atanas Hristoskov directed the film. Teodora Markova, Georgi Ivanov and Nevena Kertova wrote the script. The cast includes Lars Simonsen, known from "The Bridge", Clive Russell of "Game of Thrones", Alexander Alexiev, Vladimir Mihaylov, Strezo Stamatovski and Italian actress Marina Suma. It was shot in Bulgaria and in Cappadocia, Turkey.

Getting from book to screen took more than 10 years. It began when Swami Tirtha wanted his book made into a film. The team says the book is about every person's search for meaning, belonging and love, without complex terms or doctrines. In the book, the character Vid says love is the first and last word in the universe.

The team's challenge was to bring the book's philosophical layers to the screen without losing its delicacy and its many meanings. "It was a hard but deeply meaningful and almost magical process, in which we had to turn the wisdom flowing from the pages into drama," said screenwriter Teodora Markova.

Hristoskov sees more in the story than a simple spiritual tale. "What I loved about this story right away is its hidden depth," the director said.

According to Vladimir Mihaylov, the film shows how a person finds a personal path beyond fear and the race of everyday life, towards beauty, self-improvement, love and gratitude for every moment. The makers say the film invites viewers to slow down and listen to their inner compass.

On 2 November, we wrote about the Burgas screening on 14 November. The team said then that after the film at Cinema City, viewers would be able to talk with the creative team and with Swami Tirtha.

"The Axis of Life" has taken part in international film festivals in Turkey, India and the US, and has won awards at them. Its special premiere was at the Cinelibri festival.