Black Money for White Nights
| Black Money for White Nights | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Bulgarian | Черни пари за бели нощи |
| Directed by | |
| Screenplay by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Alexander Stanishev |
| Edited by | Yorgos Mavropsaridis |
| Music by |
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Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Cercamon |
Release date |
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Running time | 94 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | Bulgarian |
Black Money for White Nights (Bulgarian: Черни пари за бели нощи) is a 2026 tragicomedy film directed by Petar Valchanov, and Kristina Grozeva who co-wrote the screenplay with Decho Taralezhkov.[1] Starring Tanya Shahova, Ivan Savov, Margita Gosheva, Ivan Barnev, and Sibila Petrova, the film follows middle-aged couple sixty-year-old Marina and her husband Gosha from Bulgaria, who lose their life savings in a travel scam.[2]
The film, a co-production between Bulgaria, and Greece premiered at the 60th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on 6 July 2026, where it was nominated for the Crystal Globe.[3][4]
Cast
- Tanya Shahova as Marina
- Ivan Savov as Gosha
- Margita Gosheva as Lyudmila
- Ivan Barnev as Kosyo
- Sibila Petrova
Release
Black Money for White Nights had its world premiere at the 2026 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival on 6 July 2026 in Crystal Globe Competition.[5] Cercamon has acquired the international sales rights of the film.[6]
Reception
Mariana Hristova, reviewing the film at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival for Cineuropa, praised the film as a well-crafted social drama that uses an intimate family story to explore wider issues of corruption, morality, and political divisions in contemporary Bulgaria. Hristova also commended the performances of Tanya Shahova and Ivan Savov. Specifically cinematographer Alexander Stanishev's work was praised as it created an atmosphere that shifts between "bittersweet nostalgia" and "stilled, mouldering decay." Hristova concluded that Black Money for White Nights is a "well-scripted, visually impeccable, rhythmically balanced, engaging and bitterly funny," film. She also observed that inspite of this its thematic message leaves relatively little room for alternative interpretations.[7]
Accolades
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karlovy Vary International Film Festival | 11 July 2026 | Crystal Globe Grand Prix | Black Money for White Nights | Nominated | [8] |
References
- ↑ Valchanov, Petar (2 July 2026). "Black Money for White Nights". Cineuropa. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
- ↑ Horst, Carole (5 July 2026). "Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov Probe Corruption and Pro-Russia Nostalgia in 'Black Money for White Nights'". Variety. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
- ↑ "Black Money for White Nights". Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. 3 June 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
- ↑ Economou, Vassilis (9 June 2026). "Black Money for White Nights heads to Karlovy Vary's Crystal Globe Competition". Cineuropa. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
- ↑ Tim Dams (2 June 2026). "Karlovy Vary International Film Festival unveils 2026 official selection". ScreenDaily. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
- ↑ Barraclough, Leo (5 June 2026). "Tragicomedy 'Black Money for White Nights' Boarded by Cercamon Ahead of Premiere at Karlovy Vary (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
- ↑ Hristova, Mariana (6 July 2026). "Review: Black Money for White Nights". Cineuropa. Retrieved 7 July 2026.
- ↑ Kudláč, Martin (2 June 2026). "Karlovy Vary unveils a kaleidoscopic competition line-up for its jubilee 60th edition". Cineuropa. Retrieved 7 July 2026.