Bulgaria as a spiritual place

"The material world is not enough for the contemporary artist. He needs the spiritual environment of certain places. Bulgaria is among them", says Smilen Savov, a young man whose enthusiasm seems contagious.

He smiles almost all the time, a friendly state of mind looked upon with certain suspicion by most Bulgarians distressed during the so called "Transition Period". The reason - Smilen has spent the last 14 years in the United States where he built a successful career as a Danser, Choreographer, Director and Filmmaker. His US experience has taught him the importance of “optimism of the success in every activity”. Author of indipendent art-house movies, he intends to live and work in Bulgaria, a decision too eccentric for those Bulgarians who are planning to try more lucrative jobs abroad. For his last art film called “Adam’s Onions” Smilen won in 2003 the Pittsburgh Filmmakers Eastman KODAK Film Award, The Communicator Crystal Award of Distinction, and in 2004 won the prestigious Telly Award. Svetlana Dicheva from the Bulgarian National Radio interviewed him for Heritage radio.