The Bulgarian-Italian documentary co-production “Stolliwood” will be premiered on the first edition of Sofia Short Fest
How do we create stories when our voices are silenced by societal stereotypes? “Stollywood”, a collaboration between Camila Salvatore and Ivaylo Nedyalkov, confronts this very challenge and overcomes it with sensitivity, care, and honesty. Premiering at the Sofia Short Fest in the official selection for professional documentary cinema in 2025, this 30-minute film takes us to one of the most stigmatized places in Bulgaria - the Stolipinovo district of Plovdiv.
Instead of sensationalism or social distance, the filmmakers opt for an intimate, almost observational approach. The camera confronts people’s life in the suburbs as it is - complex, contradictory, but also surprisingly full of energy, dreams, and the search for dignity.
The inhabitants of Stolipinovo tell their personal stories. The film provides them with a platform, not an interpretation. Emancipation and the need for self-determination are the guiding themes that lift the neighborhood beyond the “largest Roma ghetto in Europe” and turn it into a stage for true stories far more nuanced than media stereotypes.
“Stollywood” does not impose answers, nor does it offer easy solutions. Instead, it creates a space for voices that usually remain in the shadows, with genuine authenticity and a new perspective on that often misunderstood reality. This is not just a film about a neighborhood but rather about the people who call it home.
Don't miss the screening of “Stollywood” on 14th June at 13:00h in Odeon Cinema.
*The film is part of the official SSF selection in the Professional Documentary 2025 category.
