My name is Gabriela Kostadinova and I am an actress and filmmaker, born and raised in Bulgaria, currently based outside of Baltimore, MD. I've been strongly influenced by film and history since an early age, until the chance presented itself to create a personal film production dedicated to the lore of the world.

And thus, "Unleashed". 

What is "Unleashed"?

When I wrote this script two years ago I was very strongly moved and reminded of the brutal history of a part of the world people don't really know too much about. A land torn by the very rule and oppression, which earned Vlad the Impaler his title - the Ottoman Empire. 

This short film focuses on one particular story, which carries on its back all of the unspoken stories of so many families, which suffered in a silent horror and fear. It focuses on the stories of those too weak and unable to defend themselves against any tyrant of any period. 

And it focuses on those who will not take any more of what dehumanizes any living person. Those who rise against.

It's a story of revolution and boldness. A story of sacrifice. A lesson of morality and value. We need these virtues in everything we do.

So who is the story about?

This is a story about a girl (Vyara), whose father (Georgi) is presumed dead after dealings with an Ottoman high officer (Ali Agha). Georgi is one of the organizers of a substantial uprising, which truly happened in April, 1876. Vyara is so stricken by her father's fate that she takes on his rebel legacy, causing the Ottomans to go after her, and her rebel companions. Her family is kidnapped as a warning from the Ottomans and she sets out to rescue them with the help of a particular rebel (Slav). Unbeknownst to Vyara, Georgi is back and alive, but anonymous until he avenges Ali Agha. These two character lines move independently of each other until they come together in the climactic village square scene where Vyara is determined to rescue her own, Georgi - to end Ali Agha, and Ali Agha - to teach the local rebels a lesson once and for all. The question is - will any of them accomplish their goal?

It is a story about the sacrifices, hard choices and pain people go through during such extreme times, what the rules of war are and what can the human spirit overcome. 

What do we want to achieve with "Unleashed" ?

What we plan to accomplish with this project is to tell a story and inform people, to make them more knowledgeable and compassionate, and to intrigue them with a piece of real history so dramatic that it relates to human emotions of any decade, century and millennia. Our human nature doesn't change, just the time around us.

We are shooting with a crew of very talented people from Maryland, USA (Gabriela Kostadinova, Steven Shulgach) and Sofia, Bulgaria (No Blink! ) - all equally passionate about compelling storytelling and film.

Gabriela Kostadinova in 'Letters' by Blueprint Productions.

No Blink! in action, Bulgaria

Steven Shulgach - Director of Photography- Driving, 2014

To see more of our work, please visit: 

Gabriela's Acting Reel

http://noblinkstudio.com/

http://steven.shulgach.com/

http://www.gabrielakostadinova.com/

The Furies - Joint Project of Gabriela, Steven and The Forge Studios

How do we bring "Unleashed" to life?

Our plan is to allocate 7 shooting days in Bulgaria in the city of Koprivshtitza - near the Bulgarian capitol - Sofia. We will be shooting in outdoor and woodland areas, as well as in the beautiful and 19th C period-like Koprivshtitza. We are also including era-appropriate costumes, props, equine life, and periodic Bulgarian speech. Subtitles will be provided for the non-Bulgarian speaking viewers.

Koprivshtitza, Bulgaria

The project also has a sentimental value to it since Gabriela's mother - Petya Vasileva and father - Georgi Kostadinov, will be playing the mother and father of her character (Vyara) in the film. 

Petya (Gabriela's mother) on the left, with Steven and Gabriela in Rousse, Bulgaria (2015)

Any challenges?

First off -funding. We have several stretch goals - our ideal funding amount is $20, 000. If we get up to the currently desired $10, 000 we will be able to really go down to the smallest detail with the film like rent live horses and engage even larger sets for the massive scenes in the film. The more the merrier!

The challenges that might come after the project is successfully funded would be of historical nature - the ability to accurately portray the historical period and do it justice. How we plan to overcome such potential obstacle is consulting with historic and period museum scholars and representatives, and acquiring photographic and written material which will help us to recreate the era down to the smallest detail.

What about distribution?

We plan on entering the film in numerous festival, Festival de Cannes being one of them, Brussels Short Film Festival, European Youth Film Festival, International Heritage Film Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria, as well as Sundance Film Festival, Chicago Underground Festival, Miami International Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, etc. We hope the film also peaks the interest of our own country and is recognized by official production companies like NU Boyana Film Studios and national television.

Our main promoters in the USA will be The Forge Studios, whose vision focuses on period and fantasy/sci-fi film-making and with whom Gabriela and Steven have had a long lasting relationship, through six different projects over the course of 2 years. They are a strong platform and influence among independent filmmakers on the American East Coast and are more than happy to see our efforts to their successful end.

More about The Forge Studios: http://www.theforgestudios.com/