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THREE CANDLES: Scars from the Balkan Wars

"THREE CANDLES: Scars of the Balkan wars" is a film about forgiveness and reconciliation.
Why do we Bulgarians, Serbs, and Greeks not love each other and what can not be separated for more than a hundred years? Do we know our History or blindly believe what they tell us, profitable for us? What are the facts, what is hidden and why? Answers to these questions are looking for Diana Zaharieva in her debut film.

The large-scale film project was filmed on the territories of Bulgaria, Macedonia, Serbia and Greece. The film follows events that create and continue to fuel tensions on the Balkan Peninsula for an entire century. It reveals little known but terrifying facts about the Balkan tragedy of 1913 - А mass genocide over the peaceful population, atrocities and outrages over thousands of prisoners. Creepy prison camp on the island of Trikeri, a prototype of monstrous concentration camps of World War II in Europe...
Topics that are still taboo.

  • Diana Zacharieva
    Director
  • Diana Zacharieva, Gospodin Nedelchev
    Writer
  • Gospodin Nedelchev
    Producer
  • Diana Zacharieva
    Key Cast
  • Dimitar Nedelchev
    Cinematographer
  • Boris Todorov
    Cinematographer
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 19 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    January 31, 2015
  • Production Budget:
    50,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Bulgaria
  • Country of Filming:
    Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of, Serbia
  • Language:
    Bulgarian, English, French, Macedonian, Serbian
  • Shooting Format:
    HDCAM
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Sofia International Film Festival 2015
    Sofia
    Bulgaria
    March 16, 2015
    Bulgarian Premiere
    Official Selection in the "New Bulgarian documentary"
  • Bulgarian Film Academy Awards 2015
    Sofia
    Bulgaria
    May 18, 2015
    Award for best directorial debut in documentary cinema
  • V International Historical Scientific and Practical Conference 2015
    Moskow
    Russian Federation
    November 26, 2015
    Russian Premiere
    Special Jury Diploma
  • Sose International Film Festival 2016
    Yerevan
    Armenia
    September 23, 2016
    Armenian
    Special Competition Programs “Independence” - Best Interpretation
  • INTERNATIONAL HISTORICAL AND MILITARY FILMS FESTIVAL 2016
    Warsaw
    Poland
    October 24, 2016
    Official selection
Distribution Information
  • Didofilm Productions
    Country: Bulgaria
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Diana Zacharieva

Diana Zaharieva
writer and director

Born in 1972, defended a Master's degree in "Directing a film and television editing" at SWU "Neophyte Rilski", Blagoevgrad in 1999. Works in the Bulgarian National Television since 2002 as video editor. Has realized many television documentaries and hundreds of TV programs.

Some of the films to which shi`s director of editing:
• "Creation" 2011, dir. Ekaterina Minkoff;
• "The world is Ours" 2011, dir. G. Nedeltchev;
• "One for a long time," 2011, dir. Kapanov Joanna;
• "Old dream" 2010, dir. Adela Peeva;
• "Mayor" 2009, dir. Adela Peeva;
• "245.5" 2009, dir. Oleg Kovachev;
• "I'm coming in fire" 2008, dir. Mr. Nedeltchev;
• "Living Water" 2007, dir. Yanev Teodor
• "Divorce Albanian Style" 2007, dir. Adela Peeva;
• "Bulgarian Siamese twins" 2004, dir. Nushka Grigorova

As co-written films:
• "The world is Ours" 2011, dir. G. Nedeltchev;
• "I'm coming in fire" 2008, dir. G. Nedeltchev;
• "Old men of Sushitsa" 2006, dir. G. Nedeltchev

Most of the films he has worked on are carriers of Bulgarian and international film awards.
The documentary "Three Candles" is the directorial debut of Diana Zechariah.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Winner in the category "Debut in documentary cinema" - Bulgarian Film Academy Awards 2015 /May 2015/
Winner in the Special Competition Programs
“Independence” - Best Interpretation - Sose International Film Festival 2016 in Yerevan, Armenia