Acclaimed Bulgarian filmmakers Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov have returned to the Karlovy Vary Film Festival competition with “Black Money for White Nights.” The film examines corruption and pro-Russia nostalgia through the story of an elderly couple whose plans unravel amid personal and geopolitical upheaval.
The couple at the center of the story, nurse Marina and railway agent Gosha, spend years gathering small bribes to fund a dream trip to Russia for the White Nights. Their scheme collapses when a travel agent disappears with the money and Russia invades Ukraine, leaving them without recourse from any authority.
Grozeva explained that the project began with interest in people whose loyalty to Russia distorts their moral compass even after 2022. The directors aimed to portray the characters as fully human rather than stereotypes, capable of both tenderness and deception.
Valchanov noted their satisfaction at Bulgaria’s place in Europe and their hope that communist-era censorship will not return. The film was shot in real locations using documentary techniques to heighten urgency, while also critiquing institutions from healthcare to the church.
Produced by Abraxas Film with partners including Bulgarian National Television and the Greek Film Center, the movie is being sold internationally by Cercamon. The directors hope the story lingers with viewers after the credits through an extended final scene.
