Balgarianovinite.com Documentary filmmaker Milena Milotinova described Bulgarian folk dance as a magical force that unites people around the world, speaking to BTA on Sunday.
She shared her impressions after the Sofia premiere of her documentary “The Magic of the Bulgarian Horo,” which took place during the Fourth Meeting of Heads of Bulgarian Folklore Ensembles Abroad.
Milotinova said that after the premiere in Sofia, the emotions were intense and energizing. She admitted she never expected to make a film that would impact her so deeply, adding that each presentation feels like experiencing it for the first time.
Milotinova emphasized how important it was for her to see the reaction of Bulgarians preserving folklore abroad. She said she was glad the audience in the hall experienced the film along with her, through applause, comments, smiles, tears, and strong emotions. What moved her most, Milotinova added, was that the guests stood up to applaud at the end, which she described as a great reward for her team’s hard work. “Maybe we really did capture the essence of what they do, and the magic they create through their dances,” she said.
Milotinova defined her documentary as a message about Bulgarian culture, originality, and identity. She noted that this film is different from anything she has done before, as it embodies the magic of music and dance.
She was pleasantly surprised to see how many foreigners now dance Bulgarian horo [folk chain dance], many not only know the steps but also often lead the horo, she said. Milotinova explained that the film follows the lives of Bulgarian communities abroad, for whom folklore has become the core of their national belonging.
Asked whether today’s journalism in Bulgaria helps preserve cultural memory, Milotinova remarked: “Journalists are those who work with information and can contribute greatly to safeguarding cultural memory.”
Recalling an example from the Bulgarian National Revival, she said that in the past, publicists were the greatest awakeners and guardians of Bulgarian identity. “I would appreciate it if this subject continued to receive regular coverage in the media, alongside the constant stream of political and economic news,” Milotinova added.
She added that the film also had a profound impact on her: “I saw Bulgarians living abroad in a new way. They have different professions, but folklore brings them together, they dance once or twice a week with great pleasure and inspire their families and local people to join.”
Milotinova said she would like to make a sequel to the film, and there are already more materials and ideas, as well as “many more stories that deserve to be told.”
At the end of the interview, Milotinova sent a message to Bulgarians in Bulgaria and abroad: “Children must get to know Bulgarian folklore from an early age. Sometimes I feel foreigners value it more than we do. Yet it is an immense national treasure.” Filmmaker Milena Milotinova: The Magic of Bulgarian Horo Unites People Worldwide 2025 THE NEWS FROM BULGARIA – NEWS AGENCY 2009-2025 2025-11-09 16:10:00 Latest news World news Country news Most important news latest news most important latest of the day Justice Petar Nizamov Feathers Petar Nizamov- Feathers Justice bg iustitia.bg iustitia iusticia usticia investigation Burgas Bulgaria news news of the last hour news of the day news of today Bulgaria news The news from Bulgaria blitz news top news most important most commented latest news Boyko Borisov news weather coronavirus news news weather facebook youtube facebook instagram news today news of the last minutes news today today news news bg news leading news hot news bg news site for news all news news bg news of the last hour latest latest news bg news of today news today news today news of the last hour latest news today news bg news news 24 hours news vesti bg novini news world bird bg bivol bg bivol trud bg novini latest news today novinite bg news hello bulgaria political party coat of arms delyan peevski scandalous Bulgarian National Television Free Europe Television scandal exclusive live tv live right now tv tv online tv program bg live now tv news online tv online live court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas court Burgas district court Burgas district court Burgas appellate court Burgas prosecutor Burgas prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Burgas district prosecutor’s office Prosecutor General Ivan Geshev Prosecutor Geshev Tsatsarov Ministry of Internal Affairs Burgas ODMR Burgas ODPR Burgas police Burgas district police Burgas prosecutor Tsatsarov SGS cases Varna court chairman of the SGS court decisions on civil cases decisions on cases Plovdiv court decision of the court decisions cases Varna court criminal cases district district court decisions work in the court SGS chairman of the SGS judges Sofia court post judges Plovdiv court Plovdiv judges Plovdiv Supreme Court Inspectorate Supreme Court Supreme Judicial Council lawyer lawyer criminal cases lawyer civil cases lawyer marriage cases lawyer administrative criminal law criminal process civil law civil process administrative law constitutional law