Bulgarian National Film Centre

The Executive Agency National Film Center (NFC) is a legal entity funded by the state budget under the Ministry of Culture, and it implements the state cultural policy in the field of cinema. It was established by Decree No. 97 of May 13, 2004 (State Gazette No. 42 of May 21, 2004) as the legal successor of the National Film Center, serving as the executive body for the application of the Film Industry Act.

The main functions of the Agency are outlined in the Statutes of the NFC: supporting and coordinating film production, film producing, film distribution activities and film exhibition; financing the creation, distribution and presentation of Bulgarian films domestically and internationally and promoting the development of film culture.

The National Film Center provides state support for Bulgarian cinema. State funding is provided for the creation of scripts for feature and documentary films, the development of film projects and the production and distribution of full-length and short feature, documentary and animated films.

The National Film Center represents the Republic of Bulgaria on the Board of Directors of the EURIMAGES Fund. Bulgaria has been a member of the Pan-European Fund for the support of co-productions and distribution of European films, EURIMAGES, established by the Council of Europe, since early 1993.

The National Film Center is the coordinator for the Republic of Bulgaria in the European Audiovisual Observatory of the Council of Europe and has represented Bulgaria in the European Film Promotion organization, which promotes European films at the most prestigious international festivals, since 2005.

The National Film Center hosts a MEDIA office under the EU’s Creative Europe Program, which aims to support projects in the fields of culture, cinema, television, music, literature, performing arts and heritage. The Creative Europe Program was adopted by the European Parliament at the end of 2013, replacing the previous MEDIA, MEDIA Mundus and Culture programs. The Creative Europe office in Bulgaria has two branches: MEDIA and Culture.

The National Film Center collaborates with the Bulgarian National Television, the Bulgarian National Film Archive, the Union of Bulgarian Filmmakers and other organizations in the audiovisual sector in the creation, distribution and preservation of Bulgarian films, as well as in the protection of copyright and related rights of Bulgarian and foreign filmmakers.

The National Film Center maintains the Unified Public Register under the Film Industry Act, which registers commercial companies according to the conditions and procedures of Article 19 of the Act. The agency's annual reports, orders of the executive director related to competitive procedures under the Film Industry Act, and other documents are published on the NFC website according to an approved list.

The Center also administers the Bulgarian cash rebate scheme for film and TV production, which is aimed at encouraging inward investment, as well as the national network of independent cinemas.