Autumn has brought citizens of Sofia the first edition of the Fotofabrika international festival – a platform for contemporary art and press photography. In September lovers of photography could enjoy two exhibitions: “The Protesters” and “Human: States of Mind.”

Here is what one of the organizers of the event Emi Baruh told Radio Bulgaria:

“We launched the Fotofabrika Festival with the idea to create an interactive platform in which photographers from Bulgaria and photographers from the biggest news agencies in the world can show their photos from interesting and important events from various places across the world. In this way we are trying to become part of the map of Europe and the globe. To the joy of the whole team agencies like France-Presse, DPA and Reuters welcomed the idea and sent databases on the topic of ‘The Protesters’. We selected photos from the hottest spots across the globe where turbulent events take place. We show all these in open city space – in front of the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, in front of the Military Club and the bridge near the National Palace of Culture in Sofia.”

The first edition of Fotofabrika aims to bring the world to Sofia but Bulgarian participation is also visible. Protests are what characterized this year, Emi Baruh says and adds:

“I would like to point out that in 2012 the Times magazine wrote the protester was the man of the year. This is a metaphor, a symbol of a very important process showing political and social changes across the globe. The reasons for protests are different but I would say that they all show the energy and desire of ordinary people to make their voice heard. Whether the reason is a bus ticket, as the case in Brazil was, or the attempted destruction of a park that triggered protests in Istanbul, or much deeper reasons as those which caused the protests in Ukraine, people go to the streets. In Bulgaria protests began because of a scandalous political appointment. Reasons are different but they show the will of people for a change."



The festival aims to become an annual event and combines press and art photography. More about the art exhibition entitled “Human: States of Mind” from Emi Baruh.

"Art photography requires to be placed under a roof, in order to show the best examples of this art. What we put on display this year in the National Art Gallery is one of the richest collections of works by master photographers of the Alcobendas Museum in Spain. It includes notable names such as Cristina Garcia Rodero, a member of the global Magnum Photos Agency and Chema Mados. They are very different and exquisite photographers. Both will come to Bulgaria to meet Bulgarian lovers of photography and to talk about their work," Emi Baruh says.



Curator of the exhibition and professional photographer José María Díaz Maroto has also arrived to Sofia. Here's what he said:

"The exhibition was organized thanks to the enthusiasm of Emi Baruh, who has been acquainted with the Alcobendas collection for four years and decided that it should visit Bulgaria. The exhibition includes 85 photos of 50 Spanish authors and may be viewed as a creative photographic tour of Spain in the last 50 years. We worked together with Emi on the selection of the photographs. What we sought was the direct or indirect presence of man. We put the focus on impressive photos with human presence and on a variety of authors. Documentary, experimental, and traditional portrait photography is presented. There is receptive audience in Bulgaria when we speak about culture and I think the exhibition will be an important event for the city of Sofia.”

English: Alexander Markov
Photos: BGNES, BTA