About Us

Sofia DocuMental is the first international festival in Bulgaria for creative non-fiction film with a focus on human rights. Organised by the Balkan Documentary Center, the event is a platform for human rights debates, open to a wide range of Bulgarian and international audiences, that presents a selection of documentaries that aim to showcase the truth about the times we live in, in a visually appealing manner. Through screenings, special events and discussions between the filmmakers and the audience, the festival focuses on the most pressing social issues in society, making the subject matter accessible to a wide audience in order to increase the degree of social engagement.

SOFIA DOCUMENTAL 2025

The sixth edition of the Sofia DocuMental Int. Film Festival with a focus on human rights will take place between September 25 and October 6, 2025 under the motto 'Natural Intelligence Strikes Back'. The festival will present 30 premiere films for Bulgaria, amongst which are winners of the most prestigious international awards.

The films in this years selection face the fragility of democracy with clarity and courage, giving a field for expression to women acting outside of their imposed role. The films follow personal revolutions, beginning from the most unexpected circumstances. Stories, which revisit the past, to understand the present. Portraits which do not fit into a mould. A deeper look into nature, technology and everything in between.

There will be exclusive meetings with the filmmakers and a number of special events, discussion panels and masterclasses. Part of the program will be available online nationwide until the end of October in partnership with Neterra TV+. 

TEAM

Martichka Bozhilova, festival director

Georgi Bogdanov, executive director

Neda Milanova, industry director

Radina Vladimirova, programmer, partnerships manager

Anna Messechkova, festival coordinator

Kevork Vanlyan, technical supervisor

Georgi Velev, technical support

Nelly Rousseva, editing and administration

Mihail Ilievski, festival production

Nadezhda Moskovska, public relations

Ivana Valcheva, Rosen Tzakovski, Georgi Velev, social media