Beneath the Skin

In the present day, when racism and stereotypes still circulate around the Roma population in Bulgaria, Roma-Bulgarian actress Nataliya Tsekova reveals emotional and compelling stories about her journey to become an actress, and her battles with mis-representation in the film industry.

"Beneath the Skin" delves into the mis-representation of Roma minorities on-screen in Bulgaria, and the stereotypes Roma communities face in the modern day. Roma-Bulgarian actress Nataliya Tsekova delivers personal stories about her struggles to pursue acting as a career, and the constant challenges she faces in the industry. This film features Nataliya’s props and costume from her theatre plays centered around Roma characters, and shows the contrast between her identity as an actress, a Roma, and a woman. A poetic and touching story, this film aims to inform viewers of the inequalities and mis-representations of Roma within the film industry, and gives hope of a more positive and inspiring portrayal of Roma characters in the future.