BLAGOEVGRAD, Bulgaria – The European Independent Film Festival, South Western University “Neofit Rilski", The International Documentary and Short Film Festival, Early Bird Student Film Festival and In the Palace International Short Film Festival will share for three days at the American University in Bulgaria during the fisrt edition of AUBG Short Film Festival from the 24th to 26th of November.

AUBG Short Film Fest will showcase 28 short films from more than 13 countries. The films, ranging from Academy award winning documentaries and shorts to independent shorts and student films aim to encourage creativity through film.

Scott Hillier, President of ÉCU the European Independent Film Festival, cinematographer and director of photography of the Academy award winning short documentary Twin Towers kicks off the AUBG FilmFest on November 24th with a lecture that will bring insight into the joys, frustrations and creative pleasure of being a film director.

On Friday the AUBG FilmFest will be devoted to screenings of some of the latest independent short films produced around the world. One of the highlights from the selection is Belgian director Kevin Meul’s film The extraordinary life of Rocky which tells the story of a boy who grows up surrounded by death. ÉCU will warm-up the audience with the documentary Salam Rugby, (Dir. Faramarz Beheshti) about women playing rugby in Iran and winner of ÉCU best non-European documentary category. This selection of films has been curated by Alexander Acosta Osorio, our very own ÉCU marketing and communications representative for Latin American and the Balkans.

Saturday brings surprises for everyone. Dokufest will look to the past with a selection of Vasque short films from 2003, followed by six films made by Bulgarian students from South Western University. ÉCU on the road, a selection of the best award winning films from 2011, will close the evening.

AUBG Short FilmFest will take place on the 24th, 25th and 26th of November at AUBG Balkanskii Academic Center located in the city of Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria.

For more information and a full list of films visit the AUBG facebook page (www.facebook.com/pages/AUBG-Short-FilmFest/183589915043910?sk=wall)