Sofia Vergil Kancheva is 10 and was born in Pleven. She studies classical guitar at the Panayot Pipkov National School of Arts with teacher Nikolay Mihaylov. Besides being in front of a camera, Sofia loves being on stage, so she also attends ballet at Saglasie Community Centre with choreographer Manya Nikolova. She appears in many ballet performances. Her encounter with the Film Academy for Talents began when her mother registered her for a casting, and now, at just 10, Sofia Kancheva has been invited to play roles in two films.
How did your story with cinema and the Film Academy for Talents begin? How did you hear about them?
Sofia Kancheva: Mum saw a social media post and sent a photo of me. Some time later, they called to invite me to a casting in Sofia. It was at Hotel Moskva, there were lots of people, and we waited all day for my turn. Mum wanted to leave, but I refused. It was very exciting.
Another casting followed, with Nati (Nataliya Dukova) there this time. Afterwards, Stoyan Stoyanov convinced my parents that I had talent and it would be good to continue at the Talent Academy school. We travelled to Sofia every Sunday, and I adored the hours with Nati and Tsvyatko (Tsvyatko Tsenov). We had interesting tasks, some of which we filmed, and I liked being in front of the camera more and more. That is the short version. /Laughs/
What made you go to the casting, and what happened there?
Sofia Kancheva: More like what made my mother do it. /Laughs/ From a very young age I constantly wanted people to film me dancing and reciting poems, demanded applause, and everyone said I was very artistic. I kept climbing onto stages when we went to the theatre or concerts and wanted to see what was backstage. /Laughs/
So Mum signed me up to get it out of my system, but it made me even more enthusiastic.
I hear you have acted in two films, most recently a remake of “Scarecrow”. Tell us more about the films and your roles.
Sofia Kancheva: Both films are student assignments by directors from NATFA.
The first is a thriller called “Swing”, directed by Dimana Pastrakova. Nataliya Dukova recommended me, and Dimana Pastrakova gave me the chance, for which I am extremely grateful to both. Bilyana Kazakova-Ugrinska and Zafir Radzhab are in the film. We filmed for three days, and they were the most magical three days of my life!
A few days ago, I also filmed a remake of a scene from Rolan Bykov’s great film “Chuchelo” (“Scarecrow”), starring Kristina Orbakaite as Lena Bessoltseva and Yuri Nikulin as her grandfather Nikolay Nikolayevich Bessoltsev. My “grandfather” was National Theatre actor Lyubomir Petkashev, and the director was Dzhuliya Pastrakova. I am infinitely grateful to Dzhuliya for trusting me with this role.
In both films, I was lucky to work with incredible actors who treated me as a colleague. I learnt a lot from them, they helped me, and things worked out. The directors also guided me. I easily understood what they wanted and did it.
What was it like working with the short-film teams? What was hardest and easiest during filming?
Sofia Kancheva: What can I say about the teams? They are all young, talented and devoted to what they do. They treated me wonderfully throughout; nothing was difficult with them. I just wanted to keep filming.
Do you see your future in major films?
Sofia Kancheva: Of course I dream of that. I am ready to work hard to achieve it. If I get a chance, I will not let it slip away.
What films, advertisements or videos would you like to appear in?
Sofia Kancheva: I want film roles to be interesting, complex and challenging. I would appear in music videos too, because I could meet performers I like, and that would be great. I have not thought about advertisements... perhaps it depends on the advertisement.
Did what you learnt from the Film Academy for Talents team help you in front of the camera? What was it, and how did it help?
Sofia Kancheva: Of course it helped. Everything I know and can do has developed thanks to Nati and Tsvyatko. They taught me how to act, listen to what is required of me, prepare and express emotions with my face. I really am very grateful to them and love them very much. I see them as friends as well as teachers.
How would you use this training in real life? How does it inspire you?
Sofia Kancheva: Mum often says, “Sofia, do not act in front of me!” It works on everyone else, but not her; she always catches me. /Laughs/
I use what I learnt at the Film Academy for Talents all the time. I am not nervous about speaking in public or standing in front of a camera, and I memorise quickly, whether movements or words. In the ballet performance “The Gramophone – A Tale in Dance”, in which I appear, I am not nervous on stage: I just feel pleasant excitement and have fun. When I am on stage with my guitar, I can let my emotions flow but also control them, and that is wonderful too.
What motivates you to keep going, and will you continue acting?
Sofia Kancheva: I really want to keep acting, become an actress and show my parents that this is a passion, not a whim. So many people tell me I have talent, and I feel it too. I like becoming someone else, and that is unique.
