Directors Georgi Djulgerov and Mohammad Rasoulof Receive FIPRESCI 100 Platinum Award

In 2025, the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) celebrates its 100th anniversary. On that occasion, two special prizes were presented at 29th Sofia Film Festival: one to the international and one to the national director.

The FIPRESCI Platinum Award was conferred for the first time in Bari ten years ago for the Federation’s 90th anniversary. Over the years, the prize was presented on behalf of the Federation at several festivals around the globe, including Sofia Film Fest. In 2025, the winners of the Platinum Award were Bulgarian director Prof. Georgi Djulgerov and Iranian independent filmmaker Mohammad Rasoulof.

Georgi Djulgerov is one of the most emblematic creators in Bulgarian cinema. International film critics have followed Djulgerov’s films at festivals and admired his pivotal role in Bulgarian cinema. His talent in filmmaking, mastery in adapting to changes both in history and technology, and his position as a professor paved the way to younger generations in a country that had to reclaim its freedom and identity more than once through the ages.

Film critics deeply appreciated the integrity of Djulgerov’s films in which he was able to tell the stories of ordinary people trying to take the right decisions in critical moments of their lives. He authentically expressed their emotions while making accurate social commentary in the backdrop. Yet, he allowed his characters and his audience to dream, smile and delve into their subconscious.

“Djulgerov being among the laureates is not only an acknowledgement of his talent and place in the history and present of world cinema but also an expression of respect for Bulgarian cinema’s achievements”, the Sofia Film Fest team commented. The Masterclass in Sofia was moderated by scholar and FIPRESCI member Petya Alexandrova, while the Platinum Award was presented by Ljudmila Djakova, president of the Bulgarian film critics guild and also a FIPRESCI member.

Mohammad Rasoulof is an Oscar-Nominated independent Iranian filmmaker. At this year’s Sofia Film Fest, he presented his critically acclaimed film The Seed of the Sacred Fig, which won the Special Jury Prize at the last Cannes Film Festival. In 2020 Rasoulof received the Goden Bear at the 70^th Berlin Film Festival for his film There Is No Evil, which was banned in Iran. Until now, Rasoulof received FIPRESCI prize three times: for Manuscripts Don’t Burn at 66th Cannes Film Festival; A Man Of Integrity at 14th Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival; The Seed of the Sacred Fig at Cannes 2024.

“In the spring of 2024, Mohammad Rasoulof took an immense risk by attending Cannes in person, as he still has an outstanding sentence, and a travel ban from the authorities preventing him from leaving his homeland. His film The Seed of the Sacred Fig offers a dramatic and insightful analysis of the reality in which he and his fellow citizens are forced to live. In a tense thriller-like plot, the protest movement Women, Life, Freedom is indirectly referenced, and the story centres on the fate of a family whose two daughters are trying to understand their father’s involvement in the country’s political regime,” commented the SFF organizers.

Within a framework of the festival, Rasoulof also gave a masterclass, moderated by the FIPRESCI member Savina Petkova. The Platinum Award was presented to him by longtime FIPRESCI member and former Vice President Bojidar Manov. Both Savina and Bojidar highlighted the importance of FIPRRSCI’s 100^th Anniversary and spoke about the history of the Federation.

Photo: Boryana Pandova
© FIPRESCI 2025