Q&A with 24 Films' Georgi Kerezov, Hristo R. Hristov, and Ana-Maria Lakova

Based in Sofia, Bulgaria, 24 Films has been in the business of filmmaking since 2012. They are a full-service film and video production company, with a long roster of both commercial and creative projects. To explain what makes 24 Films stand out from the crowd, KFTV spoke with co-founders and producers Georgi Kerezov and Hristo R. Hristov, and producer Ana-Maria Lakova.

Can you describe 24 Films' mission statement and ethos?

H: Each of us separately had a long-time passion for filmmaking and more than fifteen years of experience in the field. Eventually, this brought us together to start our own company - 24 Films.

Coming from different backgrounds in film, it was our dream to start something on our own that blends our skills together and makes the whole production process satisfying for each person involved in it.

G: This passion we share is a powerful motivation to get up and do the best we're capable of every day. Each project we execute is treated with attention to every detail and no compromises when it comes to quality. 

What services does 24 Films provide?

G: We're a full-service production company for commercial videos and films, but we can also help you develop your project from idea to final export. 

A.M.: We're a boutique company so that makes us very flexible in terms of time and budgets. It also gives us the freedom to choose the projects that we work on and then really focus on them, delivering great quality on every stage of the whole process.  

What specialist skillsets distinguish 24 Films from the competition?

Ana-Maria Lakova, Hristo R. Hristov, and Georgi Kerezov

H: The main thing that separates us from the competition is the careful selection of just the right people for the job. Over the years we have worked with and tested pretty much everyone in the local industry and we know every crew's strengths and weaknesses.

This way we are able to make the best selection of crews suited for this project, director, DoP and client, improving the overall experience, service and final product to the maximum level.

G: Apart from that, I wouldn't call it a skillset but being based in Bulgaria allows us to execute high-end productions in very budget-friendly ways. Right now the local market offers very compelling prices and this certainly makes you consider outsourcing your production here.

This being said, Bulgaria has a long history in filmmaking and the local creative departments and crews are very talented. There are also lots of beautiful locations to explore.  

What have been the biggest changes in Bulgaria in terms of local studios, financial incentives, and infrastructure — and what are the benefits of those changes for those potential clients?

G: More and more foreign productions choose to film here every year. The local industry is flourishing, and this results in a very professional and modern environment.

Since July 2021 the cash rebate mechanism has been working and numerous productions have already successfully received the incentive.

H: The country recently became a member of the open border area of the European Union - Schengen, so travelling here from every part of the world is now easier than ever. 

What is the most challenging element of a production that you have been part of, and how do you overcome those challenges?

H: For one production we had to film across seven different locations — a snowy ski slope, golf course, green forest, big lake, SPA centre, bowling alley and Italian restaurant — in just 2 shooting days. On top of this, we had to recreate two different seasons: summer and winter.

It was quite a challenge but we managed to put an order to it. We had a second unit crew setting the next location while we were still filming on the first one. It was a successful operation with only a few hours of overtime in the end.

The fact that the distance between different locations in Bulgaria is usually quite small helped us a lot. 

What are the biggest differences between the types of productions that 24 Films works on?

G: We've done all sorts of productions in all sorts of genres. Maybe the biggest differences come from the budget we're working with. 

 A.M.: Obviously, bigger budgets give you a certain comfort and safety net, but our personal insight is that tight budgets usually resonate in finding very unexpected and creative ways of completing the project.

Maybe this is what we love the most in our work — being pushed to think out of the box and finding quick and effective solutions which not only do the job but improve it as well.