SAVE THE FILM ARCHIVE AND “ODEON” CINEMA! CANCEL THE DECISION TO REMOVE THE DIRECTOR OF THE BULGARIAN NATIONAL FILM ARCHIVE

SAVE THE FILM ARCHIVE AND “ODEON” CINEMA!
CANCEL THE DECISION TO REMOVE THE DIRECTOR OF THE BULGARIAN NATIONAL FILM ARCHIVE

Today, 07.01.2026, in the early afternoon, the Ministry of Culture unexpectedly and unreasonably dismissed the Director of the Bulgarian National Film Archive (BNF), Ms. Antonia Kovacheva.

This decision was made even though the government is in resignation and without respecting the legal requirement to hold a competition for the position—which has not been announced for nearly a year.

During her tenure, Ms. Kovacheva completely transformed an institution that was declining and almost forgotten. The Archive’s income was tripled, the administrative building was fully renovated, a new modern digitization center was set up, and critically needed repairs in the film storage facilities began.

It is expected that Ms. Kovacheva will be replaced by someone without experience in film or archival work.

A large-scale plan to digitize the audiovisual collection of the BNF is currently underway, aiming to preserve highly endangered film reels.

The shocking decision by the Ministry of Culture seriously jeopardizes the funding and progress of key projects and threatens to block the implementation of the digitization plan — especially when those making these decisions will no longer be responsible for the consequences in less than a month.

We must not allow the political games of this compromised government to undermine what has been achieved so far!

We demand that Ms. Kovacheva remain in her post until a legitimate competition is held according to legal requirements.

Signed,
Employees of the Bulgarian National Film Archive

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