Bulgarian writer, director, and choreographer Kosta Karakashyan has just wrapped production on his latest short film They, a love story between two university professors in Bulgaria who are forced to keep their relationship a secret.
The film, co-written by Karakashyan and Simeon Todorov, has been three years in the making and promises a heartfelt and authentic portrayal of the challenges that LGBTQ+ people in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe face in their pursuit of love and acceptance.
Bulgarian actors Veselin Anchev and Kal Minev play Miho and Lyudmil, a pair of charismatic professors who cautiously navigate the barrier between their public and private life amidst an air of homophobia. The film also references the 2021 attack on Rainbow Hub, an LGBTQ+ community center, which was ransacked by presidential candidate Boyan Rasate.
The narrative film will utilize dance and movement as a metaphor for freedom and authenticity, blending Karakashyan’s experience as a choreographer with the dramatic tension that the film’s two leads bring. “It has been a dream come true to bring this love story to life. Many queer people in Bulgaria are still forced to keep quiet, even secretive lives because of their safety, and we wanted to honor their experiences while still focusing on the beauty, care, and tenderness that can exist in these relationships. I couldn’t have asked for a more incredible leading pair and crew,” says Karakashyan.
As a filmmaker, Karakashyan is drawn to stories that help bridge gaps between people and create empathy in those blind spots where we feel a certain group is different, tainted, or dangerous in some way. He was immediately captivated by the script’s purity and honesty. “In Bulgaria, there is still a lot of misinformation about queer people, how we exist, and what our everyday life is like. When I first read the script for They, I was immediately drawn to how it quietly portrays a queer story with an emotion everyone can relate to—love and being protective of your loved ones.”
The choice to make the protagonists university professors was deliberate, addressing the challenge of being authentic in the workplace. “This choice addresses the tension queer people feel when they want to teach or inspire others but fear the negative stigma that they will somehow 'taint young people with their homosexual ways.' This absurd notion is still prevalent in some educational institutions, so I wanted to highlight it as a second layer to the love story because, in our script, the two are closely intertwined.”
LGBTQ+ people in Bulgaria face a lot of social stigma due to misinformation. “As in other post-Soviet countries, remnants of the idea persist that you shouldn't be too open or proud of your identity. You want to blend in, not stand out, leading to a lot of censorship and shame in the queer community,” Karakashyan says. “Many queer people themselves feel that showing your true colors only further antagonizes the ‘general public,’ but this is a result of what years of shame can cause us to think. Nobody deserves to live in hiding or split their identity into neat chunks to selectively display when they want to be ‘accepted.’ To me, that’s not real acceptance.”
Karakashyan speaks highly of his co-writer, Simeon Todorov, who is a close friend and a brilliant LGBTQ+ activist. “When he showed me the story, it became my first inspiration to move from dance films to working on my first narrative story. Seeing his wonderful story gave me the courage to challenge myself as a director and producer.” The duo developed the story through various programs, such as Film+ in Romania, ShorTS Development & Pitching Training in Trieste, and Talents and Short Film Market in Torino. “I'd like to thank Massimiliano Nardulli because his feedback made the story really sing and helped crystalize the beauty behind the tender love of the two characters, Lyudmil and Miho.”
Initially, Karakashyan wanted They to be a clean break from his dance filmmaking. “I realized that in the narrative film world, much of my previous work didn't carry any 'clout.' I had made several dance short films, but when I started applying to festivals or training programs, they did not consider them as cinema.” However, co-producer Noura Al Kadri insisted on integrating Karakashyan's dance background. “We decided to add it subtly, as a way for the bubbling sensuality that wants to come out to simmer under the surface. We were inspired by films like Anna Karenina directed by Joe Wright and choreographed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, where the movement is very subtle but adds a lot to the dramaturgy of the story.”
Securing funding for They was a significant challenge. “We pitched the film for funding in front of a panel of Bulgarian filmmakers who dismissed that there was any tangible social conflict in the story. They suggested we make it more dramatic by moving the action to a more hostile environment in the countryside or making one of the characters bicurious and questioning himself, which was not at all the heart of our story.” Karakashyan's perseverance paid off when the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria finally provided the necessary funding. “It was a dream come true for me, and I’d like to thank the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria for believing in it in the end.”
“We are very grateful to every organization that helped make the project a reality—from all the development programs to the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria and their Creation grant, as well as the GLAS Foundation, one of the main organizers of Sofia Pride, who also contributed to our budget, and MotherFathers who provided part of our catering and believed in the project.”
Although still in post-production, the initial response to the film has been overwhelmingly positive. “The feedback we are getting from everyone who's seen the footage is incredible. I can't thank my cast and crew enough. They were a dream to work with, and especially our two lead actors who channeled the layers of the story in such a three-dimensional way.” Karakashyan is hopeful that They will be seen by audiences soon. “We are in the process of our festival submissions now, and hopefully, the audience will be able to see the film as soon as January next year! Fingers crossed.”
They is produced by Noura Al Kadri and Kosta Karakashyan in a co-production between Studio Hot Potato and Studio Karakashyan with the financial support of the National Culture Fund of Bulgaria, GLAS Foundation, and MotherFathers. The film has been developed at Film+ Development Lab, Cinedans X NOWNESS Pitch, ShorTS Development & Pitching Training, and Talents and Short Film Market - You Only Pitch Twice.
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