“Four Metres Above the Ground” film by students from Etropole wins Harlequin 2024 Award
The film “Four Metres Above the Ground” made by students from Hristo Yasenov Secondary School won Best Documentary Award – a diploma and a statuette at the 13th edition of Harlequin International Children and Youth Media Art Festival in Varna.
The students Hristian Vasilev, Ilian Vasilev, Velina Grigorova, Stefan Stanev, Hristina Markova, Stefani Ovcharova and Simona Lazarova also took part in the script writing, shooting and sound recording. The teacher in charge of the project was Mrs Petya Georgieva from Hristo Yasenov Secondary School. ‘We are so proud that our project has been highly rated. We are delighted because our students who took part in the last year’s festival have broadened their knowledge, and the new ones have learned valuable lessons on how to stand up for their ideas and embrace creativity,’ said Mrs Petya Georgieva.
More than 50 students and teachers from 7 schools took part in the second edition of Let’s Make a Movie project. The schools are from Etropole Municipality and Srednogorie region where the Group operates: Todor Peev Vocational High School and Hristo Yasenov Secondary School in the town of Etropole, Zlatitsa Vocational High School and St Paisii Hilendarski Secondary School in the town of Zlatitsa, Savo Savov Secondary School and the Vocational High School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering in the town of Pirdop, and Lyuben Karavelov Secondary School in the town of Koprivshtitsa. At the Harlequin Festival, some of the students presented to the jury seven documentaries about mining professions – a mining excavator operator, a motor grader operator, a motor transport fitter, an electrical fitter, a welder, an ore-dressing engineer, and an auto mechanic. The films were shot at Ellatzite-Med AD with a focus on the opportunities provided by the dual training and mutual cooperation between the mining industry and the education system.
Assoc. Prof. Yuri Dachev and Assoc. Prof. Rositsa Ilieva from the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts “Krastyo Sarafov” (NATFA), Ms Natalia Cheshmedzhieva from the Bulgarian National Radio and the journalist Magdalena Gigova appreciated the qualities of the documentaries and all film crews received diplomas for excellent filmmaking.
‘The project Let’s Make a Movie is one of the most amazing events that have happened at Harlequin Festival,’ said Dr Rositsa Mladenova, Festival Director, adding ‘I am deeply grateful to Prof. DSc. Eng. Tzolo Voutov for his consistent support to the initiative and the festival, and for giving young people the opportunity to broaden their horizons beyond the industry.’ Assoc. Prof. Yuri Dachev concluded, ‘The project Let’s Make a Movie combines young people’s energy, curiosity and talent with the joy of work, of getting in touch with a world changed by human willpower and fortitude. Cinema has the power to capture exciting moments, like this striking encounter with the world of mining.’
Harlequin Festival aims to support young people in creating fresh, original media products. It is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Science.
