Sofia

sofia : Lowdown on Bulgarian cinema in 2011

Lowdown on Bulgarian cinema in 2011

Of the at least dozen films released in Bulgaria this year, two were screened at the Cannes film festival whilst seven were backed by the national film council. Here’s hoping for a better 2012

by Anne Coralie @ // 12/12/11

sofia, cinema, underground, festivals, film review, film festival, art

INTERVIEW sofia : Gravity Co: 'We shy away from traditional Bulgarian limelight’

Gravity Co: 'We shy away from traditional Bulgarian limelight’

They have scooped practically all the music awards in Bulgaria, such as the national music channel MMTV's 'band of the decade' gong in 2008, like magnets deftly reinvigorating progressive music in a post-socialist country. The four-piece Sofia-based rockers stand out from the Bulgarian musical landscape like liquorice-black aliens - and a fourth album is promised for 2011. Interview

by Ili Puskás @ , Ili Puskás @ // 06/09/11

sofia, indie, festivals, hungary, interview, culture calendar, sziget

Bulgaria’s Svetlio Vitkov: rock star for president in October elections? Watch the video

- Video Bulgaria’s Svetlio Vitkov: rock star for president in October elections?

26/08/11

sofia, president, elections, politics, music, culture, bulgaria

OPINION sofia : 'Magic Lives Here': Bulgarians disagree with pan-European tourism advert

'Magic Lives Here': Bulgarians disagree with pan-European tourism advert

One sleepy morning the oriental sounds coming from an advert on a European news channel jolted us awake. The 30-second spot promotes Bulgaria abroad. Or does it, with its beach volleyball and flying skiers amidst sunrises and sunsets? Four natives react

by Nabeelah Shabbir @ // 15/09/10

sofia, advertising, tourism, romania, european union, youth, society

DEBATE sofia : To be or to be in Berlin: poor but (creatively) rich

To be or to be in Berlin: poor but (creatively) rich

Money and the crisis are not on the agenda for Berliners who can focus on different things, such as art. 'Being poor is not cool, but OK,' is the word on the street. It all looks very promising for someone from Bulgaria, the EU's officially poorest country, where a lack of money, unlike cheap glamour, can never be a virtue

by Camelia Ivanova @ // 29/06/10

sofia, eucrisis on the ground, labour, unemployment, berlin wall, berlin, cities

The new idea behind Sofia

The new idea behind Sofia

January 2007 was a historical time: Bulgaria passed several preconditions to join the European Union, of which some standards - organised crime and corruption - have famously not been met since. When five cafebabel European journalists travelled to Sofia in November 2009, their own preconditions were surpassed by a booming generation of artists, social entrepreneurs and media types who prevail in a climate of crisis and tradition. Add to that the growth of an idealistic political youth and a forward-looking ethnic minority, and it becomes clear why three years on, this city is an eclectic EU capital for the future. After Turin, read the second of our 'EU crisis on the ground' monthly cities special edition from the Balkans

Vox-pop: three Bulgarians on being ethnically Turkish Watch the video

- Video Vox-pop: three Bulgarians on being ethnically Turkish

08/01/10

sofia, eu crisis on the ground, religion, video, cities, turkey, youth

DEBATE sofia : Kinda green: five myths about sustainable development in Bulgaria

Kinda green: five myths about sustainable development in Bulgaria

Ah, the Bulgarians. They're relatively apathetic. Most companies are interested in either doing only the legally required minimum for the environment or in using their ‘green’ activities as marketing tools. But counterintuitive though it may seem, the financial crisis actually promotes sustainability

by Hanna Sankowska @ // 16/12/09

sofia, green cities, copenhagen, cities, marketing, myth, environment

REVIEW sofia : European bloggers describe their Berlin walls

European bloggers describe their Berlin walls

Monday is 9 November, the day when the Berlin wall was brought down. To reflect on this iconic modern historical event for the eurogeneration, citizen journalists from five cafebabel.com local teams - Sofia, Budapest, Turin, Strasbourg and Istanbul - simultaneously blogged one day about the walls they see in their cities

by Nabeelah Shabbir @ // 06/11/09

sofia, istanbul, berlin wall, tourism, cities, event, opinion

FEATURE sofia : Bulgarian migrants: 'thieves don’t go to prison but become MPs instead'

Bulgarian migrants: 'thieves don’t go to prison but become MPs instead'

Between 12 and 15% of Bulgarians are migrants. The 2007 entry of this Balkan country into the EU is encouraging the return of those who at one time decided to leave it. It is also easier to ride out the crisis from home. We speak to three people on the move

by María Montes Vicente @ // 31/03/09

sofia, economical crisis, últimas ampliaciones, immigration, society, politics, eudebate on the ground

Gallery

Image : Sofia's discreet Turkish minority

Sofia's discreet Turkish minority

INTERVIEW sofia : Sofia's clubs: what American jazz?

Sofia's clubs: what American jazz?

Balkan sounds and American influences are in search of space. The jazz scene in particular is in rapid evolution, after the darkness of the communist period. A meeting of several of the major musicians on the Bulgarian music scene - Theodosii Spasov, Elitza Todorova, Stoyan Yankoulov and Anton Duchev

by Giacomo Rosso @ // 31/03/09

sofia, jazz, eurovision, eurovision song contest, music, culture, eudebate2009

FEATURE sofia : Bulgaria: energy in transition

Bulgaria: energy in transition

Bulgaria was the member state most affected by the gas crisis of January 2009. It is currently dealing with problems of corruption, the old dependence on Russia for energy, questions of national pride and 'the stupid decisions' in Brussels - not forgetting ecology

by Pedro Picón @ // 31/03/09

sofia, energía nuclear, renewable energies, energy, balkans, past enlargements, communism

FEATURE sofia : Elections, elections: buy a vote for 50 euros in Bulgaria

Elections, elections: buy a vote for 50 euros in Bulgaria

That's how much a vote can be worth in some areas of Bulgaria. Shortly after the country’s entry into the EU, in the 2007 national election, the problem was so prevalent in local elections that Brussels became alarmed

by Dave Keating @ // 30/03/09

sofia, democratisation, enlargement, best of cafebabel.com, european elections 2009, eudebate2009, corruption

Gallery

Image : Martenitsa: Bulgarian festival ushers spring in

Martenitsa: Bulgarian festival ushers spring in

INTERVIEW sofia : ‘German businesses want to invest even more’

‘German businesses want to invest even more’

Corruption stops German businesses settling in Bulgaria. But Mitko Vassilev of Sofia's German-Bulgarian Industry and Trade Council is optimistic

by stephan ozsváth // 23/02/07

sofia, germany, economy, brain drain, internal market, central and eastern europe, politics

FOCUS sofia : Chalga folkpop: 'forget yourself in our rhythm'

Chalga folkpop: 'forget yourself in our rhythm'

Arabian disco, gypsy rock and house music boom from buses, taxis and radios throughout Bulgaria. But the knives are out

by srebrina bognar // 09/02/07

sofia, sex, youth, multiculturalism, central and eastern europe, society, music

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Sofia in the babelblogs

Being an Erasmus student in Bulgaria: a Café Babel Sofia survey

150 foreign students come to spend a semester in Sofia. Why have they chosen the Bulgarian capital, how do they like the country, what do they like and dislike here? Café Babel Sofia offers you a panorama of this question.

Babel Sofia by Babel Sofia on sofia

Sofia: Bright at night

The typical night out in Sofia consists of three important steps: 1. Preparation (a couple of drinks while getting used to noisy places); 2. Dance the night away and 3. A recovery chat Meeting friends will be normally around 10 p.m. At the first club we’ll stay till ...

Babel Sofia by Babel Sofia on sofia

Let’s talk about Europe!

Let’s talk about Europe! This debate is part of the initiative « National Civil Forum for the European elections ». The European Information Centre Europe direct, Café Babel Sofia, the Centre for Policy Modernisation and the portal Europe have the pleasure to invite you to the debate Let’s talk about ...

Babel Sofia by Babel Sofia on sofia