Bulgarian Action-Comedy Restavrazov to Compete at Hollywood IndieX Festival

Restavrazov, a short film produced by Nightmare Studio and written and directed by Bulgarian filmmaker Adrian Al Jazzar, has been invited to compete at the IndieX Film Festival in Hollywood. In January, it will vie for the awards for “Best Comedy Short” and “Best Ensemble Cast.”

This is the first time that the Silistra-based studio has entered a prestigious festival with a comedy that runs for over 20 minutes.

“For us, this is a huge success, as comedy is the most challenging film genre, and translating it was no less difficult,” Adrian Al Jazzar told Radio Shumen.

The IndieX Film Festival, based in Hollywood and Los Angeles, showcases the work of independent filmmakers from around the world every year.

Restavrazov is an action comedy that tells the story of a restorer obsessed with repairing old equipment. Seeking a challenge, he decides to revive a forgotten local radio centre. According to the director, the film is a metaphor for how a generation shaped during the communist era struggles to adapt to modern life.

Al Jazzar’s work reflects real human experiences and addresses social themes such as rejection, loneliness and missed opportunities. His 2021 short film Empty Life won the Grand Prize for films under five minutes at a festival in Las Vegas and received the “Hollywood Gold Star” for Best Short Film at the Hollywood Gold Awards.

Editor: Miglena Ivanova
Posted in English by E. Radkova