How did they know this artifact was there?
you’re able to watch the full conversation in the video above or read the transcript below.
Can you give a brief synopsis of your film?
Image by Photagonist at TIFF
PETAR VALCHANOV: The film is part of a trilogy.
The first film was 10 years ago, here,The Lesson, after isGloryandTriumph.
The stories are inspired by very emblematic, real events in Bulgaria after the communist period was fallen.
Image by Photagonist at TIFF
You mentioned it is part of a trilogy.
VALCHANOV: One of the elements is that all these stories take place in the democracy period in Bulgaria.
After this cameGloryand after,The Lesson.
Image by Photagonist at TIFF
One thing you said caught my eye; The story underwent several transformations.
Can you walk me through the transformations that it went through during that period?
The first time you saw her was when she was studying in school.
Image by Photagonist at TIFF
We invited her for our previous film,The Father, for one very important role.
It was amazing experience.
After that, we are very thankful that she came on board forTriumph.
Image via Amazon
I’m gonna let you give Petar and Kristina [Grozeva] some flowers.
You worked with them before onThe Father.
MARIA BAKALOVA: I’ve been a fan of their work ever since I started watching their movies.
Image via Amazon Studios
That’s so interesting.
I wanna do it one day.
And then, I got into the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts.
Image by Photagonist at TIFF
I just want to be around you, hey.
I want to be helpful as much as possible.
If you’re shooting something, I can be on set.
Image via HBO
I can bring coffee oranything.
I just wanna be learning a lot from you.
It’s been just a dream to be a part of something that they do.
Now, having the chance to collaborate onTriumphhas been achieved, and I want more.
VALCHANOV: Thank you.
So, I’ve always felt very safe in their hands, even before we started shooting.
So, if you know the character, it kind of unfolds.
So, it was very nice to know, also, that I connect in my own language.
How about for you, Maria?
Anything you want to add to this one?
I want to dip into the tone and the extreme nature of this story.
We have this huge hole in the ground that felt real.
We’re gonna do this.
VALCHANOV: They were amazing.
We love when actors surprise us, and it was plenty of surprising moments with them.
[Laughs] So, we are so happy.
VALCHANOV: For example, one of the favorite scenes for us is near the end, between them.
I might spoil it if I explain more, but the chemistry between them.
They were so organic, and they provoked each other and brought something more thats not in the script.
We love this process.
KOSTOV: I think I know which scene you mean.
They’re opposing things.
Do whatever you wanna do.
You have as long as you need.
So it was really so alive, like theater.
BAKALOVA: He’s right.
Some of my favorite moments, some of the funniest moments have been just happening in real time.
They’re, like, crawling on the ground and doing exercises on how to not get deactivated.
It’s like, Okay, so this is a triumph.
This is a mission.
KOSTOV: Incredible, right?
She came up with all the exercises herself.
VALCHANOV: Yes, her task was to prepare.
It’s very meta to watch them because they’re also uncomfortable doing it, not just their character.
So, it’s very funny.
You two have Five Oceans.
Just put yourself on tape, and one day you might end up in a different country.
I did it, and I met him.
They never get a chance to work internationally or to bring productions to work internationally in our country.
So I was like, I wanna keep this person forever.
KOSTOV: Thank you, Maria.
I was like, We have the people who can get an Oscar nomination and win an Oscar.
And so eventually, I turned out right.
I was like, Oh no, you don’t need to do that!
She’s like, No, no.
So, she created this vinegar garlic potion that she would pepper herself with.
BAKALOVA: I did!
[Laughs] They didnt want to be near me.
KOSTOV: So I was like, That’s commitment.
And so her bravery throughout all of that.
And I’m like, No, I promise.
But why would you say that?
And she’s like, Because things like this don’t happen to people like us.
And this is the short answer for why we created, then, our production company.
I love all of that so much.
KOSTOV: We chose well.
I was constantly talking about this directing duo, that, They’re phenomenal.
We should do something.
They were like, Yeah, he’s great.
We’re gonna do all the things together, all of us.
The story just felt the right story to be told by our company as the beginning of this.
BAKALOVA: That’s our duo!
KOSTOV: So, well do one of these and then one of those.
The next one is this creature that we’re developing called bolotnik, which is like a swamp thing.
It’s a very, very, very cool story that we’re working on.
Ilovesci-fi and horror, so this sounds like it’s right up my alley.
KOSTOV: Thank you so much.
Julian, I have a specific upcoming project that I must ask you about,White LotusSeason 3.
Can you tell me anything about your character?
KOSTOV: Nothing you don’t know from the press release, but he is Russian.
There’s gonna be a lot of surprises, I think.
This is an absolutely stacked ensemble.
I can’t separate them.
Carrie Coon, Leslie Bibb, Michelle Monaghan, they’re incredible, and they’resogood in this.
You’re gonna die.
And also Roxstar Entertainment, our event producing partner and Photagonist Canada for the photo and video services.
