Sofia
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
sofia, cinema, underground, festivals, film review, film festival, art
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
sofia, indie, festivals, hungary, interview, culture calendar, sziget
'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
sofia, advertising, tourism, romania, european union, youth, society
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
sofia, eucrisis on the ground, labour, unemployment, berlin wall, berlin, cities
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
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
sofia, green cities, copenhagen, cities, marketing, myth, environment
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
sofia, istanbul, berlin wall, tourism, cities, event, opinion
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
sofia, economical crisis, últimas ampliaciones, immigration, society, politics, eudebate on the ground
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
sofia, jazz, eurovision, eurovision song contest, music, culture, eudebate2009
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
sofia, energía nuclear, renewable energies, energy, balkans, past enlargements, communism
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
sofia, democratisation, enlargement, best of cafebabel.com, european elections 2009, eudebate2009, corruption
‘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
sofia, germany, economy, brain drain, internal market, central and eastern europe, politics
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
sofia, sex, youth, multiculturalism, central and eastern europe, society, music
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