Zift (2008)

Director:

Javor Gardev

Writers:

Vladislav Todorov (novel)
Vladislav Todorov (script)

Release Date:

25 September 2008 (Bulgaria)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

The night of the man who chewed asphalt.

Plot:

Moth is freed on parole after spending time in prison on wrongful conviction of murder. Jailed shortly before the Bulgarian communist coup of 1944...

Plot Keywords:

Jail | Neo Noir | Grave Digger | Cemetery | Public Bath

Awards:

11 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Zahary Baharov	...	Moth
Tanya Ilieva	...	Ada
Vladimir Penev	...	Slug
Mihail Mutafov	...	Van Wurst-the Eye
Djoko Rosic	...	Priest (as Djoko Rossich)
Tsvetan Dimitrov	...	Sergeant Major
Dimo Alexiev	...	Private
Jordan Mutafov	...	Bijou
Hristo Peev	...	Warden 1
Vasil Ryahov	...	Warden 2
Veselin Mezekliev	...	Warden 3
Ivo Krastev	...	Superintendent
Dimitar Dimitrov	...	Mole Cricket
Yavor Vesselinov	...	Valentine
Dj Ayvan	...	Freak (as DJ Ayvan)
Krum Netzov	...	Rachitis
Stefan Stefanov	...	Inmate - Boxer
Marin Nakov	...	Inmate - Coach
Alexander Dimitrov	...	Inmate - Barber
Orhan Tair	...	Inmate - Referee
Aleksander Iliev	...	Warden 1 - 1940s
Stefan Goranov	...	Warden 2 - 1940s
Mircho Mirchev	...	Barber-Anarchist
Iliya Raev	...	Uncle Timme
Mariana Makova	...	The Insect Merchant
Yosif Shamli	...	Raycho the Skin
Rossitsa Dicheva	...	Woman in a private bathtub
Tzeko Tsekov	...	Gypsy Infant
Svetla Yancheva	...	Swarthy Gypsy
Gergana Arnaudova	...	Pioneer Group Leader
Snezhina Petrova	...	Doctor
Anastassia Liutova	...	Nurse
Yordan Slaveikov	...	Man with bottle of Buza
Blagovest Blagoev	...	Man with Mustaches
Antonia Ara Vladimirova	...	Whimpering Woman
Simeon Lyutakov	...	Man with cotton balls in his ears
Petrunka Dimitrova	...	Old Woman in the Clinic
Antony Argirov	...	Tipsy Student 1
Pavlin Petrunov	...	Tipsy Student 2
Alexander Kadiev	...	Tipsy Student 3
Milen Aleksiev	...	Lab Assistant
Borislav Mladenov	...	Leonid
Emil Petkov	...	Badzho
Yordan Bikov	...	Truck Driver
Simeon Panov	...	Mower
Ivan Barnev	...	Tin
Tzvetan Alexiev	...	Grater
Stoyan Radev	...	Nail
Ivaylo Dragiev	...	Waiter - at Tavern
Vladislav Todorov	...	Man with Pencil
Bojka Velkova	...	Lady at the Bar (as Boyka Velkova)
Velislav Pavlov	...	Barman
Danail Obretenov	...	Man with Bowtie
Sava Dragunchev	...	Waiter
Nikolina Yancheva	...	Nightclub Waitress
Yavor Dachkov	...	Nightclub Band Pianist
Hristo Petkov	...	Deputy Chief Gravedigger
Antonio Dimitrievsky	...	Gravedigger
Lilia Abadjieva	...	Lovebirds on Bench
Vasil Abadjiev	...	Lovebirds on Bench
Marian Marinov	...	Voice from the Radio

Directed by
Javor Gardev

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Vladislav Todorov		novel
Vladislav Todorov		script

Produced by
Lyubomir Anev	....	line producer
Georgi Dimitrov	....	producer
Ilian Djevelekov	....	producer
Stefan Goranov	....	executive producer
Matey Konstantinov	....	producer

Original Music by
Kalin Nikolov		(music by)

Cinematography by
Emil Hristow		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Kevork Aslanyan

Casting by
Antonia Ara Vladimirova

Art Direction by
Nikola Toromanov

Costume Design by
Daniela Lyahova

Makeup Department
Snejina Merdganova	....	head of makeup department
Krassimir Mihaylov	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Todor G. Todorov	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ivan Vladimirov	....	first assistant director
Antonia Ara Vladimirova	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Emil Zlatanov	....	set constructor
Mitko Zlatanov	....	props on set
Nikolay Zlatanov	....	propmaster

Sound Department
Mihail Dichev	....	dialogue editor / re-recording mixer
Pierre-Yves Lavoué	....	production sound mixer
Petko Manchev	....	sound
Ivaylo Natzev	....	sound re-recording mixer
Boyka Orlovska	....	m&e and foley mixer
Silvia Stefanova	....	sound editor
Petar Yosifov	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Georgi Dimitrov	....	special effects supervisor
Svilen Dimitrov	....	special effects
Veselin Dochev	....	special effects
Kiril Ivanov	....	special effects
Plamen Ivanov	....	special effects
Zdravko Milenov	....	special effects
Filip Popov	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Veselin Dochev	....	digital artist
Alexander Tsvetkov	....	digital compositor

Stunts
Emil Videv	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Petar Anev	....	grip
Orlin Ruevski	....	camera operator
Plamen Soklev	....	electrician
Boyan Todorov	....	junior assistant camera
Tzvetomir Tzvetkov	....	grip

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Yoanna Kraeva	....	wardrobe
Irena Tsokova	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Cornelius Moldovan Jr.	....	digital intermediate colorist
Todor G. Todorov	....	telecine colorist

Other crew
Christina Alexieva	....	production coordinator
Emiliya Vasileva	....	script supervisor

Production Companies

• Bulgarian National Film Center
• Bulgarian National Television
• Miramar
• Miramar Film

Distributors

• AmaFilms (2009) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Cultmovies (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Feelgood Entertainment (2010) (Greece) (DVD)
• IFC Festival Direct (2009) (USA) (all media)
• Miramar Film (2008) (Bulgaria) (all media)

Special Effects

• Cinemotion (digital intermediate)

Other Companies

• Digital Post Services  international servicing
• Cinemotion  digital intermediate

Also Known As:

Runtime:

Bulgaria:92 min | Argentina:92 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

Bulgaria

Language:

Bulgarian

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Hong Kong:III (Hong Kong International Film Festival)

Filming Locations:

Bulgaria

Company:

Bulgarian National Film Center

Trivia:

Bulgaria's 2009 Academy Awards official submission to Foreign-Language Film category.

Movie Connections:

References Gilda (1946)

The perfect movie

This movie has given back to me the hope that Bulgarian cinema is going upward! Tha last few bg titles that i've seen all seemed to have a problem - they were weird (in terms of plot, acting, locations, camera angles). And just because a movie is tragic, strange, original and twisted doesn't mean it's good. Yes, maybe it can move you. Maybe. Maybe one can admit that the movie is totally genuine. But that still doesn't mean it's a masterpiece. Something is just missing for the movie to be enjoyable and moving while you're in the theater and mind blowing when you get out and think it over. The missing parts probably are the perfect storyline of Zift, the look of Zift, the action of Zift, the soundtrack of Zift, the grotesque humor of Zift! That's what makes the film of Yavor Gardev so successful - perfection itself!