Best Editing

The Funeral

by Petya Maleshevska
National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, Bulgaria

Jury Motivation by Phil Peters

Editing is at the heart of any successful comedy. The Funeral lives up to this statement with the attention to detail in its pacing and timing which matches the action. The quirky family dynamic of this understated comedy is revealed to us as we learn about each character and their eccentric behavior. The edit alternates between fast-paced and long pauses which are played out by the characters for the best comic moments. This attention to editing detail can also be said about the music edit as well. It so often punctuates the action and helps to push the story forward.

Synopsis

In the heart of a small Bulgarian village, two estranged sisters, Lina and Mila, reunite for their father's funeral, only to find themselves embroiled in a series of absurd and comical misadventures. Accompanied by Lina's foreign boyfriend George, the family navigates confused corpses, broken hearses, chicken chases, unexpected phone calls from the afterlife, and poignant revelations. Despite all the chaos that unfolds, the two sisters manage to iron out their differences, and Lina realizes the importance of her roots.

Director's biography

Petya Maleshevska was born on March 7, 2001, in Blagoevgrad. She completed her secondary education at the National Art School "St. St. Cyril and Methodius" with a focus on pop and jazz singing, but her passion for the visual arts led her toward cinema. In 2024, she graduated with a degree in Film and Television Directing from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts "Krastyo Sarafov" (NATFA).

During her studies, she worked across various genres and formats, directing a student short documentary, an advertisement for Philip Morris Bulgaria, a music video, and participating as a director and editor in NATFA Reality. Her graduation short feature film is a black comedy, which is set to participate in festivals.

Petya also has experience in screenwriting—almost all of her projects are based on her own scripts, or she has contributed as a co-writer in developing the story. She enjoys exploring satirical and provocative themes, and her long-term dream is to create a film set in a utopian world.

She has worked with renowned names in film and theater, both among actors and her mentors at NATFA. With each of her works, she strives to blend an unconventional visual style with a deep, thought-provoking narrative, evoking both reflection and emotion in the audience.

Credits

Director: Petya Maleshevska
Screenplay: Petya Maleshevska, Lorine Musakova
Cinematography: Lydia Ahchiyska
Editing: Vasilena Lakova
Music: Tsvetoslav Toshev

Specifications

Original title: Погребението
Running time: 26
Film type: Fiction
Country: Bulgaria
Completion date: January 2025