Fairyland: Hobbiton (PHOTOS / VIDEO)
Even if you’re not a fan of fantasy adventure stories like The Lord of the Rings, you will agree that such titles show some pretty beautiful places. Extremely impressive is one of the locations used for the filming of The Hobbit. And although many of the shots look unimaginably unique, we will tell you that they are not the work of an artist, but of the nature. It’s a real place in the middle of New Zealand.
The plot
The films from the “The Hobbit” trilogy based on the novel of the same name by J. R.R. Tolkien traces Bilbo Baggins’ experiences in Middle-earth. Fans of the author are probably aware that the events here take place 60 years before those in The Lord of the Rings.
The beginning
It all started in 1998, when the team of New Zealand director, screenwriter and producer Peter Jackson began researching for suitable locations. They discovered a unique 1,250-acre sheep farm in the heart of Waikato, New Zealand (10 km southwest of Matamata). The unique hills and lush green pastures were strikingly similar to those described by the author Tolkien, and the cinematographers immediately realized that this was the right place to shoot.
Attraction
And to date, this is a real tourist attraction, where you can see 44 traditional cave houses with the same fantastic details of the film production. To screen the history of Tolkien, the caves are decorated with beautiful round windows and doors and lined with wood. Just as we remember them from the screen – without right angles and with carefully maintained gardens. And especially for the people who want to relax like in a movie theater, the Green Dragon Inn now also functions as a landmark and visitors can have a drink there.
Top 5 Most Famous Beaches in the Cinema
It’s a summer and probably everyone is making plans to collect some tan by the sea. That’s why we ranked our top 5 on the popular beaches in the cinema. Here are some locations that are not only preferred by millions of tourists each year (even in the new reality), but are also among the favorites of the representatives of the Seventh Art.
Top 5 of the Famous Cinema Beaches
Petit Tabac, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
The Caribbean paradise on Earth – exotic with turquoise lagoons, dazzling white sand, huge palm trees, coral reef and wild beaches… What more do you need?! Well, maybe Johnny Depp to make you feel like in the movie “Pirates of the Caribbean”.
We will not go into details about the history of this beautiful place, discovered in 1498 by Christopher Columbus. But let’s get back to cinema. The exact location where most of the footage for the various episodes of “Pirates of the Caribbean” was taken is Wallilabou Bay, on the northwest coast of St. Vincent. There, Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) found himself in the company of Elizabeth Swan (Keira Knightley), but their stay was not at all romantic, especially after the beauty set fire to the hideout with rum.
Laughing Waters Beach, Jamaica
Fans of the Agent 007 series have probably heard of this beach, especially fans of older episodes. A private exotic place that became famous after the shooting of the first James Bond movie. There, Ursula Anders (one of the girls of the agent) appears from the surf. Her photos from the production can be seen at the local restaurant.
GoldenEye is the most famous address in Jamaica, which is a magnificent high-end resort, including a lagoon and a private beach. There is also the villa where Ian Fleming writes all his James Bond novels.
Mónsul Beach, Almeria, Spain
Captivating beauty, incredibly fine sand and crystal clear water appear in many movies and commercials. One of the favorite destinations of directors of western, military and fantasy films. Among the most popular titles are Lawrence of Arabia (1962), A Fistful of Dollars (1965), Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). Lucky Luke (2004), Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) and others.
Undoubtedly, the charming nature is not the only reason why this is a preferred destination. Costs here are often significantly lower than in the United States. And another plus – the desert is close to all the amenities of the big city, necessary for the film crew. Just 30 minutes away are the fantastic natural beaches of the Mediterranean – Cabo de Gata Nature Park.
Capriccioli Beach, Sardinia, Italy
Another location of Agent 007 from the time of the incarnation of the late Roger Moore (1977). Some of the shots were taken in one of the most expensive hotels in the world – Cala Di Volpe, a favorite of many celebrities. It is located in Porto Cervo, one of the most luxurious resorts in Sardinia. Most of the film was shot south of Porto Cervo and around San Pantaleo. Somewhere here is shot the white Lotus Esprit “jumping” into the ocean.
Ko Phi Phi Le, Thailand
Unearthly beautiful, exotic and devoid of the vulgarity of the commercial world. This is exactly the beauty we see in the thriller “The Beach” with Leo DiCaprio. The Hollywood star walks around this fine sand and trembles at the terrifying sharks. But don’t worry, on-screen marine predators predominate in movie production, so if you get a chance to bounce to this beautiful beach, don’t worry about your life.
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And if you have to travel to Sofia and are wondering where to stay, we are waiting for you at Art Hotel Simona. The artistic atmosphere of each of our six themed art floors, the incredibly delicious food and the special attitude towards each guest will make your stay an unforgettable experience.
Rushi Vidinliev with an International Award for Best Male Role
Rushi Vidinliev’s path to success started from the music scene, but he also successfully established himself in the cinema circles. So much so that he can now boast an International Award for Best Actor. He received one at the 66th Taormina Film Festival (Italy) for his role in the film “18% Gray” by Viktor Chuvkov-son, the production team boasted.
Cinema Fest
The Bulgarian title was part of the Indieuropea competition program for independent European films. At the closing ceremony of the event it became clear that Vidinliev won the jury with his interpretation.
“This award is a wonderful surprise for me and I am very grateful. In this film, I play a man who is lost, who has no more love and who falls in love with life again. This is a topic that is becoming more and more relevant in these times and I am very pleased that the film has touched you “, the artist shared in a special video for the festival.
The movie
The production “18% Gray” is based on the novel of the same name by Zahari Karabashliev and realized in partnership between Bulgaria, Great Britain, Germany, Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Belgium and Hungary. The script is by Hilary Norish, Dolya Gavanski and Zahari Karabashliev, and in the main roles we see Rushen Vidinliev, Dolya Gavanski, Ron Cook and others.
The story tells of Zachary and Stella, who move from Varna to London to make their dreams come true. However, it turns out that many challenges await them on the Island and their survival is not so easy. Eventually, Stella decides to abandon Zachary and he embarks on a crazy journey across the Old Continent in search of himself. Along the way, however, he meets a bunch of extraordinary people who help him discover the truth about his lost love.
BG Film takes the Big Prize at the Annecy Festival (VIDEO)
The Bulgarian short film “Physics of Sorrow” by Teodor Ushev won the grand prize at the International Festival of Animated Films in Annecy, France (Festival international du film d’animation d’Annecy). It also received the FIPRESCI Award for International Criticism.
“Annecy has always been an important part of my life as a filmmaker, from my first projects on the web in 2002 to my latest film, The Physics of Sorrow. The festival practically took me by the hand and taught me to walk, as a father would for his child. I’ve won several awards at Annecy, except one: the spectacular Cristal Award. I’m extremely happy to receive it now, and feel like a mountaineer who has finally reached the summit after 18 years of climbing: this is my Everest!”, wrote Theo Ushev at his Facebook profile.
BG pride
“Physics of Sorrow” by the artist Theo Ushev reveals a universal vision of sadness from the novel of the same name by Georgi Gospodinov. The animation is drawn with the ancient Egyptian technique of encaustics (wax painting) and captures the time and sadness of every person and his place in the world. Ushev worked on the project for eight years and did not strictly follow the plot of the book for the script.
Online program
Due to the COVID situation, for the first year part of the program of the festival in Annecy will be available online – until the end of June. The total number of animated films received in the period November 2019-March 2020 is quite impressive – 3171 from 94 countries. Of these, 59 short films, 44 student, 21 television and 35 advertising productions have been selected and will be part of the online program. Fans of the animation can follow what is coming on the official website of the festival.
For the festival
The event dates back to 1960, when it was founded by Pierre Barben. It was originally held every two years, but since 1997 it has been held annually. Its purpose is to promote animations created using a variety of techniques. The categories in which the titles are divided are feature, short, television and student.
Sofia Film Fest Returns With Summer and Autumn Editions
After the spring false start of the most anticipated cinema event in Bulgaria – Sofia Film Fest, due to the epidemic situation in the country, the organizers still found an alternative way to reach the audience. A summer edition is coming, and then an autumn edition, so that the fans of the Seventh Art can enjoy of many Bulgarian and foreign movies.
Sofia Film Fest Summer – indoors, outdoors and online
The festival has already restarted with preliminary screenings at the Cinema House in Sofia on June 5th. However, the official opening will be on June 25 in Platform A6 of the National Palace of Culture with something very special – the film “Parasite”, winner of 4 Oscars, “Golden Flame” from Cannes and more than 200 other awards around the world.
Online movies
Sofia Film Fest will offer part of its program online – about 80 titles. The movies will be available for a certain number of views in a little over 3 weeks.
Home of the cinema
A special selection of movies will be presented at the Cinema House in Sofia. With the exception of some Bulgarian films, the program will contain titles that are not repeated with the online edition or open-air screenings. And there is another bonus for the viewers – an opportunity to meet some of the Bulgarian authors.
Outdoor
The third module of the summer edition is on open platforms. The opening and the ceremony, as well as some other gala screenings will be in Platform A6 of the National Palace of Culture. There will also be the Open Stage platform in the park of the Military Academy, and content will be shared in the new Sofia Summer Fest platform behind the Earth and People Museum.
Awards
The awards were determined by a specially selected international and Balkan jury and will be presented on July 6th. The chairman of the international commission is the British director Peter Weber (“The Girl with the Pearl Earring”), and his assistants are the producers Nicholas Selis (Mexico, producer of “Roma”) and Jim Stark (USA, producer of the early films of Jim Jarmusch), and the Bulgarian actress Irmena Chichikova.
Sofia Film Fest Autumn
The autumn edition will be from the end of September to the middle of October this year. This will take place in several cinemas in Sofia, and the program will mainly include titles that were not part of the summer festival.
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If you are big fans of the Seventh Art and you want to be part of the upcoming editions of Sofia Film Fest in Sofia, welcome to Art Hotel Simona. It matters where we spend the night, so we offer you to turn your stay in the capital into a real art experience.
Want to be a Part of the Biggest Film Festivals in the World? This is How to Do it
The proliferation of COVID-19 turned the art world upside down. Due to the infection, a number of film festivals were canceled and therefore the organizers of the events quickly reoriented themselves and found a way to reach the audience. That is why we will have the unique opportunity from the sofa at home to watch some of the hit titles from the programs of the most prestigious forums.
A unique opportunity
More than 20 film festivals come together to delight fans of the Seventh Art for free. For 10 days we can be part of the virtual event “We are united: Global Film Festival”, which starts this Friday, May 29. It will include titles from festivals in Berlin, Cannes, Venice, Toronto.
How to watch the movies?
For this purpose, a special channel has been created in the YouTube video sharing platform – We Are One. A On the official website of the festival you can see the full program. Among the movies we will be able to watch are short and full-length titles, web series, 360 VR offers.
What does the program include?
There will be the world premiere of the Ricky Powell: The Individualist – movie which traces the life and the fame of a street photographer in New York in the 1980s and 1990s. The character travels with the music stars of the Beastie Boys and captures some of the most memorable moments in the pop culture. The winner of the Mumbai Film Festival – the Indian Eeb Allay Ooo !, is other movie from the virtual fest. It tells about a young migrant in the heart of New Delhi.
The online festival will also include specially supervised talks from past festivals, as well as new discussions. World cinema legends such as Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, Guillermo del Toro and others will take part.
As a bonus, the audience will also have access to 50 of the best documentary short titles. A special selection of 360 VR offers has also been made. The Emmy-nominated documentary Traveling While Black and Alteration will be presented, as well as a science fiction story starring Bill Skarsgård and other productions, too.
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And in case you have a trip to the Bulgarian capital Sofia, welcome to Art Hotel Simona – an artistic place for artistic natures. We promise you to make your stay unforgettable!
