As part of the Contemporary Art Festival – Ruse 2026, a workshop with actress Martina Apostolova was held for young artists and anyone interested in exploring their stage and on-screen presence. With curiosity and enthusiasm, participants from the “Patilantsi” Theatre School and other attendees took part in practical exercises focused on building confidence, overcoming anxiety in front of a camera and an audience, and developing an individual artistic language.
Martina shared her personal experience and techniques for working with voice, attention, reaction, and presence, emphasizing that the goal was not acting technique itself, but learning to feel comfortable and natural in one’s own presence. The discussion focused on personal inhibitions and fears, as well as on the courage each artist needs to discover their individual way of expressing themselves. Participants had the opportunity to put what they had learned into practice, discuss their own challenges, ask questions, and exchange ideas.
The workshop demonstrated that video and public presence can be spaces for expression rather than sources of fear, while offering a safe environment for experimentation, attention to detail, and the development of individuality. Martina Apostolova’s presence as an internationally acclaimed actress, including a European Shooting Star at the 2020 Berlinale, created an inspiring atmosphere in which participants discovered how to turn naturalness and courage into tools for personal and artistic expression.
