“Stretch and Verse” – Animated Poetry on the Screen
October 15, 2025, 6:00 PM
With the long-awaited arrival of autumn, the Art Gallery – Ruse invites its viewers to a different cinematic experience — a screening of the unique project “Stretch and Verse” by Kompot Kolektiv.
The project combines poetry and animation in an exquisite symbiosis between word, image and sound. In it, 12 talented Bulgarian directors and animators interpret poems by 10 contemporary poets, creating short films in which poetry emerges from the page and becomes a living visual world.
Among the authors are Dimitar Voev, Georgi Gospodinov, Marin Bodakov, Maria Doneva, Petar Chuhov, Anamaria Koeva, Kaloyan Pramatarov, Dilyan Elenkov, Stefan Ivanov and Stefan Ikoga, and their poems come to life through the vision of Ivan Bogdanov, Asparuh Petrov, Boris Despodov, Milen Vitanov, Yoana Alexandrova, Dalibor Reininger, Vessela Dancheva, Natalia Atanasova, Boris Pramatarov, Dmitry Yagodin, Petya Zlateva and Ina Nikolova.
“Strich and Verse” is an internationally recognized project, shown and awarded at a number of prestigious festivals in our country and around the world. His films such as “The Milkmaid”, “Shallow Vein”, “Love During Tourism”, “The Last Day” and “A Natural Novel in 8 Chapters” expand the boundaries of poetic cinema, turning words into movement and breath.
The screening is held in partnership with kinematograf.bg — the platform for short films in Bulgaria.
Admission is free.
PROGRAM
Postindustrial (2015) director Boris Pramatarov / producer Compote Collective / screenwriter Kaloyan Pramatarov
“Eleven floors of thoughts, firmly connected with iron brackets…” “Postindustrial” is based on the original poem of the same name by Kaloyan Pramatarov. The film is part of the animated poetry collection “Stretch and Verse”, created by Compote Collective.
100% Mood (2015) director Dmitry Yagodin / producer Compote Collective / screenwriter Dilyan Elenkov
The path of an ordinary person as the only one on which he can live his life – without dreams, desires or aspirations. One of countless cells forming the organism of a huge urban monster. Based on the poem of the same name by Dilyan Elenkov.
Shallow Vein (2019)
Director Yoana Alexandrova / Producer Vessela Dancheva / Writer Marin Bodakov
A man embarks on a mysterious journey through his beloved’s vein and while witnessing her inner world, he experiences his deepest dreams and longings. The film is based on the poem “Shallow Vein” by Marin Bodakov and is part of the animated series “Stretch and Verse”.
The Last Day (2019)
Director Dalibor Reininger / Producer Vessela Dancheva / Screenwriter Maria Doneva
A woman, burdened with memories of days gone by and oppressed by the absence of loved ones, seeks peace in the confused world around her. The film is based on the poem “The Last Day” by Maria Doneva.
A Natural Novel in 8 Chapters (2015)
Director Milen Vitanov / Producer Compote Collective / Screenwriter Georgi Gospodinov
“Everyday life in its ineptitude – here only the tragic and the sublime shine.” With his individual approach and inherent artistry, Milen Vitanov paints images, creates a parallel reality in which 8 different fragments of Georgi Gospodinov’s novel sound together, united by one poetic voice.
Odeon (2015)
Director Boris Despodov / Producer Compote Collective / Screenwriter Georgi Gospodinov
“And we will grow cold someday just as the cup of tea grows cold.” Directed by Boris Despodov, “Odeon” is a three-minute animated film or, as we called it – a poem dedicated to a poem.
The Milkmaid (2015)
director Ivan Bogdanov / producer Kompot Kolektiv / writer Dimitar Voev
“I hold a colorful little crowd in my hand, I pull them with strings, I hope they don’t hurt.” “The Milkmaid” is a poetry film based on a poem by Dimitar Voev. The film is part of the project Stroke and Verse by Kompot Kolektiv.
Existential (2019)
director Natalia Atanasova / producer Vessela Dancheva / screenwriter Anamaria Koeva
The sea becomes the scene for a love story between a mortal and a mythological creature, between freedom and captivity. A film based on the poem “Existential” by Anamaria Koeva.
Tasks for the Day (2019)
director Petya Zlateva / producer Vessela Dancheva / writer Stefan Ivanov
A short visual poem in which the main character seeks an escape from the loneliness of everyday life in the routine tasks of the day. Instead of order, she finds madness and chaos that overwhelm her. The film is based on the poem “Tasks for the Day” by Stefan Ivanov and is part of the animated poetry collection Stroke and Verse.
A Little Morning Crime (2015) poster frame
director Asparuh Petrov / producer Compote Collective / screenwriter Georgi Gospodinov
A Little Morning Crime momentarily takes us out of the clouds of self-delusions about ourselves and confronts us with our true nature.
Love During Tourism (2020)
Director Vessela Dancheva / Producer Vessela Dancheva / Writer Petar Chuhov
A festive observation of tourist frenzy – a whirlwind of food, flags, candy, music, meat, alcohol, lust and desire. And all this flavored with Mexican flavor. The film is based on the poem “Love During Tourism” by Petar Chuhov and is part of the animated poetry collection “Stretch and Verse”.
Above Things (2019)
Director Ina Nikolova / Producer Vessela Dancheva / Screenwriter Stefan Ikoga
An ironic journey along the life path of a man devastated by his own melancholy and apathy, planning everything in the unforeseeable future, while inaction leads his life to disappointment, emotional catastrophes and an untimely end. The film is based on the poem ‘Above Things’ by Stefan Ikoga.
