Triumph

Triumph

TIFF65: Greek Premiere
A military satire inspired by wild real-life events from the 1990s when, in the chaotic aftermath of the fall of communism, a task force comprised of high-ranking Bulgarian army officers and psychics embarked on a top-secret military operation in the small village of Tsarichina to dig up an elusive alien artifact that would change the course of history and make Bulgaria great again. An absurdist, suspenseful comedy that digs into the turbulent past of a country in transition and a people who learn how to live without the custodial gaze over their shoulders. At the same, Bulgaria’s official entry to the 2025 Academy Awards (and a glorious Greek co-production) is the most aesthetically daring and profoundly adventurous film of the directorial duo that delivered some Festival favorites (The Lesson, Glory, and The Father) to this date.
Screening Schedule

No physical screenings scheduled.

Direction: Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov
Script: Kristina Grozeva, Decho Taralezhkov, Petar Valchanov
Cinematography: Krum Rodriguez
Editing: Yorgos Mavropsaridis
Music: Theodore Economou
Actors: Maria Bakalova, Margita Gosheva, Julian Vergov, Julian Kostov, Stanislav Ganchev, Ivan Savov, Ivan Barnev
Production: Abraxas Film, Graal Films
Producers: Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov, Konstantina Stavrianou, Irini Vougioukalou, Maria Bakalova, Julian Kostov
Co-production: GFC, ERT, Five Oceans, Red Carpet, Dystopia Films
Production Design: Ivelina Mineva
Format: DCP
Color: Color
Production Country: Bulgaria, Greece
Production Year: 2024
Duration: 97'
Contact: Bankside Films

Kristina Grozeva

Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov are the creative duo behind some of the most internationally acclaimed Bulgarian films of the last decade – The Lesson (2014), Glory (2016) and The Father (2019). Their partnership started back at the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts, where they concurrently studied directing under renowned Bulgarian directors Georgi Djulgerov and Ludmil Staikov, respectively. Petar and Kristina quickly discovered a common sensitivity for the themes, characters and style they wanted to explore through cinema. In 2009 they founded their production company Abraxas Film, through which they have been producing all of their films.

Filmography

2004 Toshka i Toshko (short)
2006 Igra (short)
2010 Avariyno katzane (co-direction)
2014 The Lesson (co-direction)
2016 Glory (co-direction)
2019 The Father (co-direction)
2024 Triumph (co-direction)

Petar Valchanov

Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov are the creative duo behind some of the most internationally acclaimed Bulgarian films of the last decade – The Lesson (2014), Glory (2016) and The Father (2019). Their partnership started back at the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts, where they concurrently studied directing under renowned Bulgarian directors Georgi Djulgerov and Ludmil Staikov, respectively. Petar and Kristina quickly discovered a common sensitivity for the themes, characters and style they wanted to explore through cinema. In 2009 they founded their production company Abraxas Film, through which they have been producing all of their films.

Filmography

2004 Vazkresenie (short)
2008 Semeyna terapiya (short)
2010 Avariyno katzane (co-direction)
2014 The Lesson (co-direction)
2016 Glory (co-direction)
2019 The Father (co-direction)
2024 Triumph (co-direction)