"Kukeri"

Bulgaria is in a region of the world that is the home of a very old civilization, reaching back to the Ancient Greeks and Thracians. While modern progress has overtaken the country, some traditions have remained in practice for centuries. Some of these, the Kukeri and Survakari festivals and rites, are said to have originated as far back as the Dionysian festivals in Ancient Greece, when followers of Dionysus would adorn themselves in the skins of goats to celebrate the life cycle. During the Kukeri rituals, men dress up in pelts of animals, decorated with beads and feathers, and wear elaborate masks and large bells. They dance and perform folk theater in large groups with the purpose of scaring away evil spirits and promoting fertility and good health. These rites often happen between New Year’s and Lent, but may also occur during the beginning of Spring and the Eastern Orthodox Easter holidays. The Kukeri performances happen all over the country, including small villages and large cities alike. That being said, the tradition is not particularly well documented, and outside of Bulgaria, little is known about the costumes, or the performers who have allowed these rituals to thrive.

My goal is to create a documentary short film investigating the people behind the masks and their process in creating the elaborate Kukeri costumes. I am particularly interested in investigating the importance of the costume and its various symbolic meanings, and to what extent the origins of the ritual are still understood. In the Winter of 2011, I plan to travel to Bulgaria along with a small experienced crew and interview some of these men and women, the makers and performers of the Kukeri ritual. Documenting this unique tradition on film is both a way of sharing this culture, and also glorifying the beauty of the costumes and performances. Most importantly, it is an investigation into a tradition in which the creation of one’s costume is as much a part of the ritual as the performance. In a world that is increasingly cynical, and technology and science have outpaced superstition and ritual, adorning oneself in a mass of fur and feathers may seem foolish and unnecessary. Yet something keeps these rituals alive, and I would argue that it has less to do with superstition than with the enjoyment of the performance itself and the communal spirit it inspires.

Expenses for this project that will be incurred are mostly travel expenses. Our largest expenses will be tickets to fly to Bulgaria and lodging and transportation within the country, including renting a vehicle large enough to transport all crew and equipment. We will also be hiring crew from Bulgaria, in order to try to keep travel expenses down. These are the largest expenses, but there are hundreds of smaller ones, like batteries and memory cards for the camera, insurance on equipment, meals, travel insurance, and any medical expenses. We will be there for the duration of approximately 3 weeks. We are also seeking funds for post-production costs, such as hiring an editor.

A few years ago I watched a film called “The Linguists” which followed two men traveling around the world in an attempt to record and study languages on the verge of extinction. In explanation of their motives they say, “When a language is endangered, we worry that some kind of unique way in seeing the world could be lost.” I think anything that inspires us in some way makes us see the world differently, and this is the reason we enjoy art and entertainment. This film is an opportunity to celebrate a tradition that has somehow survived through centuries, in hopes that seeing the costumes and hearing the stories will give us a new and unique way in viewing our own culture.

Your Help Is Much Appreciated! Every donation of $75 or more receives a copy of the finished film!

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Or Mail Checks payable to Proletina Veltcheva to:

4310 Avenue G Rear

Austin, TX 78751