Niki Iliev is a renowned Bulgarian actor and filmmaker known for his versatile talent and creative vision. With a career spanning over two decades, Iliev has made a significant impact on both the Bulgarian and international film scenes. He has starred in numerous critically acclaimed films and television series, showcasing his range and depth as an actor. As a filmmaker, Iliev has directed several successful projects, earning accolades for his innovative storytelling and cinematic excellence.
His works often explore profound themes and resonate deeply with audiences, reflecting his commitment to creating meaningful and impactful cinema. Niki Iliev continues to be a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, inspiring many with his dedication and passion for the art of filmmaking. During our conversation with Niki Iliev, he illuminated his vision and insights.
Can you share a bit about your background and how you got started in acting? What do you enjoy most about acting?
I started acting when I was 15 years old. I played the lead in a TV movie for The National Television. That experience ignited the spark for acting and filmmaking in me. But Bulgaria is a small market and after the first movie, I didn’t get any offers for more. When I was 18 I got accepted in University, studying film directing then I also studied acting. I started working as a TV host and model in the meantime. I was doing small parts in American movies shot in Bulgarian, but nothing significant. When I was 25 years old, I thought I was never going to do acting or movies again, so I decided to quit TV hosting and modeling. I started acting in theater and a month later I was chosen to play the lead in a Russian movie shot in Moscow, called “Zolushka.ru”. A bit after I came back to Bulgaria I was offered to play one of the leads in a TV series called “Forbidden love” for Nova TV. We shot 300 episodes in a span of two years. When that finished I decided that I should start making my own movies. So, that was the beginning of a new career as a director, actor, producer and writer. I did the following movies: The Foreigner 2012, Living legends 2014, All She Wrote 2018, Reunion 2019, Reunion part 2 2022 and Wingless 2024. I’m directing TV series on the side and I’m acting in movies and theater as well.
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What motivated you to transition from acting to directing? What is your approach to working with actors when you’re directing?
I always wanted to make movies. I was writing stories since I was a kid. I just didn’t have the courage to start. But after “Forbidden love” ended I thought that I wanted to do something myself. I wanted complete control to express myself. That was my dream since I was a kid and after making my first movie as a writer/director I decided that that’s what I want to do in life. And I’m doing it ever since. The transition to directing was very easy, I just love doing it and since I was an actor and I’m continuing to be, it’s very easy to deal with the other actors, cause I know how they feel. Acting and directing at the same time was very difficult at the beginning though. I had to think about so many things at the same time. I was going crazy. But with practice I got used to it. My approach to working with actors is different depending on the situation, but usually I try to do some rehearsals with them before the shooting starts, so everything should be settled before we go to set.
Can you describe your directorial debut? What were the biggest challenges you faced?
The first movie I made was The Foreigner 2012. We shot in a village in Bulgaria, in Greece and in France. It was insanely difficult cause the budget was low and we were filming in foreign countries. We were using film stock which made it even harder. The movie stars Christopher Lambert, from The Highlander movies, which was kind of nerve racking for me. But we managed to film everything. The movie came out and it was very successful, so it was worth it.
What themes or messages are you most passionate about exploring in your films?
I aim to inspire with every film I create. This is the recurring theme in all my work. I hope it resonates with my audience.
How do you hope your work will impact the audience and the broader community?
I strive to create timeless and universal films that resonate across generations. So far most of them are very successful in Bulgaria, but we have a limited impact abroad. We have sold some of our movies to NETFLIX and HBO MAX. But haven’t had a hit world wide. I think the language is a problem. In order to reach a wider audience you have to make an entirely English speaking movie and there is no guarantee. We might make one in the future, we’ll see.
What are your thoughts on the current state of the Bulgarian film industry?
It’s getting better, but it’s not great. The industry is very divided, it’s between arthouse and commercial movies. The commercial movies are less, because most of them are made with private funds (my case) and can not make big profits because of the small market in Bulgaria. All the government funds are going to arthouse movie which are made for film festivals. This is good, but the problem is that the movie going audience is paying no attention to them, so they make zero box office. I think the situation should more balanced and the government money should be divided between art house and genre movie, so that the tax payers would have something to watch which made by their money. But, we’ll see.
Tell us about your experience at the Third edition of Sveti Vlas Film Festival 2024.
It was great. I had a blast. Watching movies by the sea was a great experience. I had a great time with the other guests. The events were very well organized and a lot of people showed up to them. The movies we watched could’ve been better, though. Most of them had the same plot – a character is trying to save some money in order to be able to immigrate west. Which was kind of 90’s theme here. The situation is not like that anymore, but a lot of film makers choose to present it like that, so they can get more attention from film festivals. That’s the problem I just mentioned.
Creative economy, the development and support of industries related to culture and art is a trending topic worldwide. I would like to know your opinion on the impact of cinematography in general and in Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian business is very supportive of the movie industry in the past 10 years or so, and I’m very grateful about it. Without their support I wouldn’t had made my first five movies. We gathered most of the funds with Product Placement. And most of the movies were very successful, so the companies wanted to join for the next one. I think that European movie industry is so far behind Hollywood because they don’t have skin in the game. Most of the European movie are made with government funds and nobody cares if they are going to make their money back. So the effort of making and marketing them is less. That’s why everyone is watching American movies. They just care about the outcome. I think the governments should support more movies, but with less money, so the producers should have to look for private funds in order to complete their movies. That way the competition will be higher and the movies will be better.
How do you stay inspired and motivated in your work?
I find meaning in it. That keeps me going. Knowing that the movies I make will live forever. So I put all the ideas I care about in them.
Are there any upcoming projects you’re particularly excited about?
We have a movie coming out this fall. It’s called Wingless and it is a true story of a Bulgarian who is a paralympian and competes in long jump. I wrote and directed it. I have two more projects that I already written. But they will be shot next year.
What are your long-term goals as a filmmaker?
I want to keep making movies. I want to make them a little better every time. And I want to make them more and more universal.
Is there a specific genre or type of film you would like to explore that you haven’t yet?
I’m trying to create my own genre, which is a combination of comedy, drama, sport and action. So I’m trying to become better at it. I believe that in order for a film maker to be creative he has to mix genres or make a genre on his/her own. I just want to express myself through movies.
Egor Sharay, Journalist, Cultural analyst, Art consultant
Interview conducted by Egor Sharay
Egor Sharay is a prominent figure in media, known for his dynamic role as an editor and cultural analyst. Through his articles and analyses, Egor Sharay provides valuable commentary that helps shape public understanding and appreciation of the modern culture.
