SHORT SYNOPSIS
How did a 19-year-old boy from Kyustendil cross Europe at the beginning of the 20th century and become one of the most significant figures of Italian Futurism? And why does he remain almost forgotten in Bulgaria to this day? This is the first feature-length documentary about Nicolay Diulgheroff (1901-1982), an artist who brought painting, design and architecture together in a distinctive visual language and left a legacy that transcends national borders.
The film follows his journey between Bulgaria and Turin, the city of his architectural education and his formative encounters with the European avant-garde. For the first time, a film explores how Bulgarian folklore and traditional art (carpets, folk costumes, architecture, church murals of the Bulgarian National Revival and ceramics) influenced his visual language and artistic world. It reveals the Bulgarian roots of a body of work previously viewed primarily through the lens of Italian Futurism.
The film is being made with the support of Nicolay Diulgheroff’s heirs, his sons Radoslav and Romano. Materials from his personal archives, correspondence and artworks will enrich the story of his life and creative journey.
The film’s consultant is Professor Gabriele Simongini, one of the leading scholars of Futurism. Through his expert perspective and contribution to the narrative, he will shed light on Diulgheroff’s place in the movement and his contribution to the European avant-garde.