Windless

Windless

TIFF65: Greek Premiere
Koko, portrayed by the Bulgarian rapper Ognyan “FYRE” Pavlov, returns to his hometown after the death of his estranged father, aiming to settle the sale of their family house, a place he and his mother left behind years ago. Initially treating his visit as a simple formality, Koko soon finds himself embarking on an unexpected journey of self-reflection and reconciliation with his troubled past. In Windless, director Vesnakov, arguably one of the most influential Bulgarian filmmakers of today, delivers a powerful meditation on family ties and personal identity. Simultaneously, he delves into the socio-political costs of modernization and economic progress in Bulgaria, a country where cemeteries are turned into golf courses, thus erasing cultural history and memory. With its stark realism and tenderness, Windless uses its carefully crafted square frames to evoke a sense of introspection, infusing the harsh reality with a poetic touch that elevates the emotional depth of the narrative.
Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.

Direction: Pavel G. Vesnakov
Script: Pavel G. Vesnakov, Simeon Ventsislavov, Teodora Markova, Nevena Kertova, Georgi Ivanov
Cinematography: Orlin Ruevski
Editing: Victoria Radoslavova
Sound: Federico Cabula, Alessandro Fusaroli, Riccardo Marsana, Alessandro Quaglio
Music: Ascari
Actors: Ognyan Pavlov – “FYRE”, Veselin Petrov, Mihail Mutafov, Nadya Derderyan, Lidia Vulkova, Konstantin Trendafilov, Vasil Binev
Production: Red Carpet
Producers: Veselka Kiryakova
Co-production: dispàrte
Co-producers: Alessandro Amato, Luigi Chimienti
Costumes: Marieta Spasova
Production Design: Severina Stoyanova
Format: DCP
Color: Color
Production Country: Bulgaria, Italy
Production Year: 2024
Duration: 93'
Contact: Alpha Violet

Pavel G. Vesnakov

Pavel G. Vesnakov graduated from the New Bulgarian University in 2011 with a Bachelor's degree in Visual Arts and Film Directing. He is one of the most successful young Bulgarian film directors, known for his provocative ideas and deeply realistic films that explore the degradation of modern Bulgarian society and the relationships between people. He is the screenwriter and director of the short film trilogy Inches of Suburbia. The trilogy was shown at a number of international film festivals such as the Clermont-Ferrand ISFF, the Locarno IFF, the Sarajevo IFF, and many others. He has been awarded more than 30 prestigious awards, including the Grand Prix for Best Film at the Clermont-Ferrand ISFF in France in 2014, and was nominated for the European Film Awards in 2014.

Filmography

2011 Trains (short)
2012 The Paraffin Prince (short)
2013 Pride (short)
2015 Zeus (short)
2019 Chimera (short)
2020 German Lessons
2023 Georgi Gospodinov in Time Shelter (doc)
2024 Windless