The Bulgarian – American coproduction „Immunity”, premiered in Veliko Tarnovo
On March 22 and 23, 2014, the Bulgarian-American co-production "Immunity" will be premiered in Veliko Tarnovo. The event is in support of the candidacy of Veliko Tarnovo for European Capital of Culture and the team and the actors who created the film will participate in it. The performance in the Big Hall of the Municipality of Veliko Tarnovo will present some of the equipment used for the capturing of the movie. The screenings will take place at 16:00 and 18:30 on February 22 (Saturday) and 15:00 on February 23 (Sunday).
The movie is a noir thriller about an unknown stranger in Eastern Europe and was filmed last year on a 35 mm film in Novo Gradishte village, Strazhitsa region. Written and directed by Raymond Steers, an American who has settled in Novo Gradishte since 2006. Starring the Dutchman Renier Yarsma, whose hero, while traveling round the world, comes to a small town in Bulgaria. To avoid attracting attention, he presents himself as a photographer. He inherited a mysterious book containing the "something" that creates a creepy curiosity in people who have heard the rumor of it and who have paid to see it. Starring Robert Yanakiev, Georgi Zlatarev , Houben Nurev, Manuela Sarkisyan, Evelyn Kostov, Raya Andreeva, and in the role of the grandfather is the unique Vasil Mihaylov.
"Immunity" involves many of the residents of New Gradishte and the neighboring villages. Except as extras they provide locations and properties and some are entrusted with roles because they turned out to be surprisingly good non-professional actors.
"I wanted to create a simple yet intriguing story, with which both Eastern provincials and English-speaking urban Westerners could identify themselves", says director Raymond Steers. He was definite that movie art can be created by small groups of dedicated people outside the major studios and with a small budget.
According to the idea of director Raymond Steers, the funds raised from ticket sales during the first screenings will be donated to a home for children deprived of parental care in Strazhitsa.