Private Project

Shears

Living under the Communist regime in a culturally isolated Eastern European country, four friends join forces, determined to turn their craft into an art. Shears is a documentary film about the founding fathers of contemporary Bulgarian hairdressing. This is the working group K.E.N.T., or Christian Kapanov, Evgeni Petroff, Nedyalko Nedyalkov and Todor Toshev. In times that are difficult for creative expression, they have to overcome all kinds of challenges in order to practice and perfect their profession in restrictive and closed off Communist Bulgaria.

  • Nikolay Stefanov
    Director
    The Jewel
  • Ralitsa Golemanova
    Writer
    The Jewel
  • Rusko Rusev
    Original idea by
  • Rusko Rusev
    Producer
  • Ralitsa Golemanova
    Producer
    The Jewel
  • Nikolay Stefanov
    Producer
    The Jewel
  • Hristo Dobreff
    Music by
  • Christian Kapanov
    Key Cast
    "Himself"
  • Evgeni Petroff
    Key Cast
    "Himself"
  • Nedialko Nedialkov
    Key Cast
    "Himself"
  • Todor Toshev
    Key Cast
    "Himself"
  • Adrian Gougov
    Re-recording mixer
  • Deljan Georgiev
    Colorist
  • Iva Konstantinova
    Graphic designer
    The Jewel
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Остриета
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Drama, Comedy
  • Runtime:
    58 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 26, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    10,000 EUR
  • Country of Origin:
    Bulgaria
  • Country of Filming:
    Bulgaria
  • Language:
    Bulgarian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Black & White and Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Official Premiere
    Sofia
    Bulgaria
    January 28, 2018
    Bulgarian Premiere
Distribution Information
  • Smarty Pants Shooter
    Country: Worldwide
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Nikolay Stefanov

Nikolay Stefanov has worked as a cinematographer with most major production companies in Eastern Europe in the last 15 years. Currently his professional focus is on documentaries and music videos.

His debut as a director is the feature documentary The Jewel (2016). It follows the process of creating a Buddhist monument of Enlightenment (stupa) in its entirety. In an inspiring and understandable way, it reveals the deep symbolism and meaning of stupas around the world.

Shears (2018) is Nikolay's second film. He is also the Director of Photography and one of the producers of the project.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

Shears tells the story of four stars of Bulgarian hairdressing who developed their art during the Communist era in the country. The documentary is weaved from present-day interviews with the characters and carefully selected archive footage from the 1960s to 1980s.

The four characters share their experiences - personal and professional - from living under a restrictive political regime that affects every aspect of existence. Their narratives are down to earth and full of humor, yet the difficult reality of the times transpires through them.

While seemingly a story about the hairdressing art, Shears offers an insight into the effects of a political regime on the everyday life, careers and dreams of people.