The GuFilm, dedicated to the world-famous artist Giorgos Gunnaropoulos, born in Sozopol, was presented within the framework of the first edition of the ART DOK festival, which took place at the beginning of November in Berlin, hosted by the artistic cinema “Brotfabrik”.
The program of this prestigious presentation was compiled by Hristo Hristozov, known from the column “With friends at the cinema” in “Darik Radio”, as well as the festivals “Kinomania”, “Sofia Film Fest” and “Master of Art”.
It was he who selected “Yorgos Gunnaropoulos from Sozopol” as part of his concept in the Berlin festival to have titles that show – in his own words that “talent has no nationality, but its roots matter – from them he draws strength and returns to them, because there he finds security.”
The screening of the documentary film by Elisaveta Stancheva and Yasen Haralampiev, dedicated to Gunaropoulos, took place on November 4, and the Bulgarian presentation in Germany was held under the patronage of the Bulgarian ambassador to the country – fellow citizen Grigor Porojanov.
The next screening of the film will take place on March 13, 2025 in Burgas, when the book about the artist “Triumph of Light”, published by the Burgas publishing house “Znatsi”, will also be presented.
#fellow #citizen #Berlin #Burgasnews
What inspired Hristo Hristozov to curate a film focused on Yorgos Gunnaropoulos for the ART DOK festival?
Interviewer: Hello and welcome to our special edition of World Today News! I am thrilled to have with us today two distinguished guests, Hristo Hristozov and Elisaveta Stancheva, who have worked tirelessly to bring the GuFilm, dedicated to the renowned artist Giorgos Gunnaropoulos, to the world stage. Hristo is a well-known name in the Bulgarian film industry, having worked on various festivals such as Kinomania, Sofia Film Fest, and Master of Art, while Elisaveta is an award-winning documentary filmmaker with a passion for uncovering the stories of remarkable individuals like Gunnaropoulos. Thank you both for joining us today.
To start, Hristo, can you tell us about the process of selecting ”Yorgos Gunnaropoulos from Sozopol” for inclusion in the ART DOK festival? How did you discover his work, and what drew you to his story?
Hristo Hristozov: Thank you for having me. I first encountered Gunnaropoulos’ work many years ago when I visited Sozopol and stumbled upon his gallery there. His paintings were unlike anything I’d seen before, with a unique blend of surrealism and realism that immediately captivated me. When the opportunity arose to curate the ART DOK festival, I knew that Gunnaropoulos’ story was one that needed to be told on the global stage. His roots in Bulgaria and Greece, as well as his international success, made him the perfect fit for the festival’s theme of exploring the intersection of art and identity.
Interviewer: Elisaveta, can you share your experience in bringing Gunnaropoulos’ story to life through the documentary film? What were some of the challenges you faced in capturing his life and work on screen?
Elisaveta Stancheva: Creating a film about such a prolific artist like Gunnaropoulos was both an honor and a daunting task. We wanted to ensure that we did justice to his legacy while also showcasing his art in a new light. One of the main challenges was gaining access to his personal archive, which was quite extensive. We also had to navigate through different languages and locations to film interviews with those
