The festival also has an open call for their BOB (Based-on-book) industry days
The forthcoming 11th edition of Cinelibri International Book-to-Film Festival (Cinelibri IFF) is to be held in the fall of 2025 between 10th to 28th of October. As the venerators of this delightful and incomparable event already know, it is a showcase of the best book-to-screen adaptations completed during the last year. This year Cinelibri welcomes inventive, distinctive, engaged, topical, sharply critical of today’s reality book-to-screen adaptations, full-length feature films or short films, as well as documentaries dedicated to famous creators. The session for the three film categories is already open for submissions from all over the world!
Submissions, deadlines and fees (for all film categories) are announced here: https://filmfreeway.com/CinelibriBooktoFilmFestival
Why should you apply?
Proven to be the world’s first international book-to-film festival, Cinelibri is an extraordinary and prestigious forum, inspired by the fruitful and often absolutely ingenious interaction of arts – cinema and literature in particular. It is held in Sofia every fall, and shows the best examples of high-quality European/Non-European film productions and co-productions whose scripts are based on literary works – contemporary, modern or classic. Each of the 3 competitions has a reputable international Jury, represented by undisputed professionals in the respective field.
What is BOB?
BOB (Based-On-Books) is a one-of-a-kind cinema forum within Cinelibri IFF, which is dedicated to exploring the creative and industry trends shaping the art of literary adaptation for the screen. Through a dynamic blend of panel discussions, masterclasses, and hands-on workshops, BOB brings together an inspiring line-up of acclaimed writers, directors, actors, producers, festival programmers, and cinema journalists. This year BOB promises to be even more engaging, with a host of exciting new speakers joining the conversation. Among the distinguished guests are renowned industry professionals such as Mike Downey (Green Border, Franz), Rudolf Biermann (The Interpreter), and Aton Soumache (The Little Prince), who will delve into the art and challenges of translating stories from page to screen. Acclaimed British actor Michael McKell (Allied) will lead a compelling masterclass on the craft of building characters from written text, while journalist and festival programmer Davide Abbatescianni will conduct an intensive workshop focused on elevating your film into the international spotlight. This year’s edition will culminate in the highly anticipated premiere of Agnieszka Holland’s latest cinematic masterpiece, Franz, which will debut in Sofia in the esteemed presence of the director herself and the producer Mike Downey, followed by an exclusive Q&A session. The film will have its world premiere at the 50th edition of the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival which will be the first triumphant festival appearance of the Czech-German-Polish biopic dedicated to the iconic 20th-century Czech writer Franz Kafka.
BOB will take place in the city center of Sofia on 25th October 2025.
To register for BOB, applicants must send a brief motivation letter explaining their expectations and reasons for wishing to attend to stasi@cinelibri.com between 17th July and 25th August. Approved applicants will be invited to purchase a ticket for 87 euros, with availability on a first come, first served basis. This process applies to all international participants. While attendees from outside Bulgaria will receive additional guidance and support, BOB does not cover travel or accommodation expenses.
BOB offers participants access to:
- The forum
- An acting masterclass with the acclaimed British actor Michael McKell
- The workshop “How to Get Your Film into the Spotlight?”
- Full access to all Cinelibri festival screenings and events, including the premiere of Franz and a Q&A with Agnieszka Holland
- A networking lunch and cocktail dinner with fellow creatives and industry professionals
- An invitation to Cinelibri’s prestigious awards ceremony, featuring the Best Adaptation Prize presentation before 3,500 guests, followed by an exclusive screening and cocktail reception
Due to the intimate and interactive nature of the event, spaces are limited to ensure the best possible experience and practical value for all attendees.