Bulgarian Drama 'Made in EU' Garners Accolades Following Venice Debut

Stefan Komandarev’s compelling dramatic feature, “Made in EU,” has received significant critical acclaim and industry recognition following its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival in August 2025. The film was selected for the prestigious Spotlight section, positioning it among just eight titles showcased there. This selection underscored the high level of interest the cinematic world holds for the film’s artistic originality and innovative storytelling.

Director Komandarev, known for his focus on the struggles of marginalized communities, highlighted the significance of this selection for his home country. He noted that with this inclusion, Bulgaria had achieved a cinematic “Grand Slam,” confirming its presence at all three major global film festivals: Cannes, Venice, and Berlin. Komandarev referenced the previous showings of his films “Dog's Home” in Berlin in 2001 and “Directions” in Cannes in 2017, cementing Bulgaria’s consistent high-level representation.

The film’s success continued domestically at the 43rd National Film Festival “Golden Rose,” held in Varna, Bulgaria, from September 16 to 23, 2025. There, “Made in EU” secured the Grand Prix for Best Feature Film, in addition to winning the Best Actress Award and the Youth Jury Award. The jury for the 43rd edition—the oldest review of Bulgarian feature films, established in 1961—was led by Bulgarian writer Zdravka Evtimova, who oversaw the assessment of 16 submitted pictures.

The narrative unfolds in a small Bulgarian town, centering on Iva, a 43-year-old seamstress employed at a local textile factory. Iva is unjustly scapegoated during the initial outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic when she is declared the town’s first infected person. This designation turns her into an outcast, compounding the exploitation she already faces at the hands of the unscrupulous factory owner, Mancini.

Komandarev, who co-wrote the screenplay with Simeon Ventzislavov (whose mother had also worked in a sewing factory), emphasized that the film drew inspiration from real-life incidents. These cases were uncovered during investigations by the “Clean Clothes” campaign, which documented working conditions for seamstresses in Bulgaria comparable to those found in India and Cambodia, including the denial of sick leave and the use of bonus payments for blackmail. Lead actress Gergana Pletneva dedicated a year to preparing for the role, including four months of sewing lessons, to fully embody the spirit of the factory workers. The ensemble cast also features Todor Kotsev, Gerasim Georgiev-Gero, Anastasia Ingilizova, and Ivaylo Hristov.

The 118-minute feature is a co-production involving Bulgaria, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Turkey, and features music by Ludwig van Beethoven. Filming took place across several locations, including Haskovo, Dimitrovgrad, Madan, and Rudozem. Following its festival triumphs, “Made in EU” is slated for a nationwide theatrical release in Bulgaria in November 2025, with its North American premiere scheduled for December. This string of awards highlights the film’s timely engagement with themes of social justice, resilience in contemporary Europe, and a sharp critique of aggressive capitalism and inequality exacerbated by globalization.