The Jury of Golden Rhyton 2020 Bulgarian Documentary and Animated Film Festival
Presided over by Prof. Mikhail Meltev, director;
Members: Andrey Tsvetkov, animator; Veselina Bojilova, journalist; Dimitar Stoyanovich, screenwriter and Olga Markova, film critic/journalist
Gave awards as follows:
Golden Rhyton for Best Documentary goes to Before the End, producer: ProFilm – Assen Vladimirov, writer: Assen Vladimirov, cinematography: Emil Christov, dir.: Eldora Traykova
For the masterful artistic suggestion of a looming apocalypse;
Golden Rhyton for Best Animated Film goes to Santiago; producer: Koulev Film Production – Anri Koulev, writer: Andrey Koulev, dir.: Andrey Koulev, production designers: Assia Kovanova, Andrey Koulev
For the truthful and emotional narrative, compassionate message and salient graphical imagery;
Special Jury Award for Animated Film goes to Phantom represented by director Sotir Gelev, producer: Four Hands Studio – Sotir Gelev, Penko Gelev, writer and director: Sotir Gelev, animation: Blagoy Dimitrov, artist: Penko Gelev, music Roumen Boyadjieff Jr.
For a strong psychological metaphor translated over time into the language of animation;
Special Jury Award for Documentary Film goes to Passengers represented by directors Zdravko Dragnev, Tzvetan Dragnev, producer: Gala Film ltd – Galina Toneva, Kiril Kirilov, cinematography: Krassimir Stoichkov
For the moral fibre, for the ineradicable human dream;
Best Documentary Director goes to Eldora Traykova for Before the End; producer: ProFilm – Assen Vladimirov, writer: Assen Vladimirov, cinematography: Emil Christov
For the skilful handling of art techniques of documentary filmmaking, for the emotional insight into human destinies;
Cartoon Designer Award goes to Vladimir Shomov for Brainstorming. producer: ART 47 Ltd – Mariyana Pavlova, writer/animator/dir.: Vladimir Shomov, music: Kalin Nikolov
For the easiness of developing a metaphorical language;
Best Animated Film Debut Award goes to director Iliya Shekerdzhiev for Bolt, producer: Attract – Rumen Barosov, writer: Ivan Vesselinov, animator Iliya Shekerdzhiev, music: Ani Svinarova,
For a skilful artistic suggestion, achieved with 3D animation techniques; the precise composition and the clear message;
Best Documentary Debut Award goes to Dolya Gavanski for Women’s Day, producer: Thea Films – Dolya Gavanski, in co-production with: Agitprop – Martichka Bozhilova, Elemag Pictures – Borislav Chouchkov, Viktor Chouchkov, cinematography: Mariana Kroutilin, Dmitry Lokhtionov, music: Sasha Puttnam, writer/dir.: Dolya Gavanski
For following the metamorphoses and the role of women in recent history;
The Award of the City of Plovdiv goes to director Maria Nikolova for her documentary Lucifer, producer: Four Hands Studio – Sotir Gelev, Penko Gelev, cinematography: Sotir Gelev, Blagoy Dimitrov, music: Blagoy Dimitrov, writer/dir.: Maria Nikolova
For the innovative approach to educational documentary filmmaking;
An Honourable Mention for a Documentary Portrait goes to Partsalev, producer: Korund-X Ltd – Hristo Hristov, writers: Marin Damyanov, Pencho Kovachev, cinematography: Tsvetan Nedkov, dir.: Valentina Fidanova-Kolarova
For the director’s skilful revealing of the Man behind his person’s popularity;
A Special Mention for a Documentary Film goes to The White Eagles, producer: Doli Media Studio – Dobromir Chochov, writer: Dimitar Nedyalkov, cinematography: Emil Topuzov, dir.: Vladimir Shterianov
For revealing the role of the individual in unique and specific historical events;
A Special Mention for a Documentary Film goes to Dorina; producer: Ars Digital Studio – Ivan Tonev, cinematography: Ivan Tonev, co-director of photography: Dimitar Mitov, writer/dir.: Atanas Kiryakov
For finding a captivating character related to this country’s recent history;
A Special Mention for an Animated Film goes to Marmalade, producer: Korund X Ltd – Hristo Hristov, writers: Radostina Neykova, Hanna Schwartz, cinematography: Blagoy Kostov, music: Petko Manchev, dir.: Radostina Neykova
For the unusual technique used in building the overall atmosphere of the film;
A Special Mention for an Animated Film goes to The Mud Man, producer: N Film Productios – Plamen Nikolov, writer: Ivan Vesselinov, music: Javier Navarrete, animator/dir.: Plamen Nikolov
For the specific animated expression of the self-destructive aggression in contemporary society.
The following awards were also presented:
The Award of Academica 21 Association of the Academic Screen Arts Lecturers goes to the crew of the documentary We Loved Them So Much, producer: Magic Shop – Georgi Nikolov, writer: Irina Ivanova, Georgi Dimitrov, cinematography: Ivan Ilchev, dir.: Ivan Ivanov
For the particular view of the existence of non-commercial cinema in Bulgaria and the inspired attempt to preserve and pass on the lover for such a cinema;
The Bulgarian National Film Archive Award goes to the documentary Silence with Dignity, represented by director Adela Peeva, co-director Antoniy Donchev, producer: Adela Media – Adela Peeva, writers: Adela Peeva, Luciena Krumova, cinematography: Emil Topuzov, dir.: Adela Peeva, co-director: Antoniy Donchev
For the artistry and passion with which the film preserves the enduring values of the national mettle and character;
The Award of the Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers (UBF) goes to the documentary Against the Course of Time, producer: Screening Emotions – Poli Angelova, Nikolay Todorov, writer: Fani Tsurakova, cinematography: Kiril Prodanov, music: Mira Iskarova, dir. Dimitar Sardzhev
For the great civic awareness in treating a complicated and socially significant thematics;
The Documentary Critics Guild Award, UBF goes to Silence with Dignity , producer Adela Media – Adela Peeva, writers: Adela Peeva, Luciena Krumova, cinematography: Emil Topuzov, director Adela Peeva, co-director Antoniy Donchev
For preserving our cultural memory and translating it into an emotional and moving film;
The Animated Film Critics Guild Award, UBF goes to Phantom, producer: Four Hands Studio – Sotir Gelev, Penko Gelev, animator: Blagoy Dimitrov, artist: Penko Gelev, music: Roumen Boyadjiev Jr., writer/dir.: Sotir Gelev
For the accomplished visual work, exquisitely built psychological narrative and strong emotional effect.