Black Money for White Nights

  • Kristina Grozeva & Petar Valchanov
  • Bulgaria
  • Greece
2026
94'

A married couple in their sixties have been secretly setting aside bribe money to fulfil their lifelong dream of travelling to St. Petersburg. But when Russia invades Ukraine and the travel agency disappears with their savings, long-suppressed family conflicts and moral dilemmas begin to surface. In their sharp new tragicomedy, Black Money for White Nights, which had its world premiere at Karlovy Vary, directing duo Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov (The Father, Crystal Globe at Karlovy Vary 2019; The Lesson, ZFF 2014) highlight how an unstable socio-political context can put a marriage under threat.

Language: BG
Subtitles: HR, EN

Kristina Grozeva & Petar Valchanov
Kristina Grozeva & Petar Valchanov

Kristina Grozeva (Sofia, 1976) graduated in journalism from the University of Sofia, before going on to complete a Master’s degree in film and television directing at the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts. Her short Family Therapy won the Jameson Award at the Sofia International Film Festival in 2008. Since 2008, she has been making films together with her husband, director Petar Valchanov. Their debut feature The Lesson (ZFF 2014) is one of the most acclaimed Bulgarian films of all time.

Petar Valchanov (Plovdiv, 1982) graduated in film and television directing from the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts “Krastyo Sarafov” (NATFA) in Sofia. He has directed numerous short films and since 2008 has collaborated with his wife, director Kristina Grozeva. Their film Glory received a Special Mention at Locarno 2016, while The Father won the Crystal Globe at Karlovy Vary in 2019.

Film information

Director: Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov

Screenplay: Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov, Decho Taralezhkov

Cast: Tanya Shahova, Ivan Savov, Margita Gosheva, Ivan Barnev, Sibila Petrova

Director of photography: Alexander Stanishev

Editing: Yorgos Mavropsaridis

Producer: Konstantina Stavrianou, Irini Vougioukalou, Kristina Grozeva, Petar Valchanov

Production: Abraxas Film, Graal Films, Bulgarian National Television, Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation ERT, Greek Film Centre, Bulgarian National Film Center, Eurimages

Festivals and awards: Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2026; Sarajevo Film Festival 2026; Odesa International Film Festival 2026; Zagreb Film Festival 2026

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