BanskoFilmFestKIDS 2025, November 19–23 – Bansko Film Fest 2025 Children’s and Youth Program

An important part of the festival’s program is the special section for children and young people – BanskoFilmFestKIDS.

For several years now, the children and youth of Bansko and the region have had the opportunity not only to discover unknown lands and human stories through films, but also to meet the adventurers themselves — special guests of the event.

The BanskoFilmFest team firmly believes that these educational activities enrich children’s knowledge about nature, complement the school curriculum, and help develop their physical culture. We know that every child carries within them curiosity about the world, adventures, and exploration. Let’s show them that nothing is impossible!

Drawing Contest: “Why Do I Love the Mountain?”

Categories: class 1–4 and class 5–7
Exhibition Opening: November 19, 12:30 PM, Foyer of “Nikola Vaptsarov” Community Center
Award Ceremony: November 22, 17:00 PM, Main Hall, “Nikola Vaptsarov” Community Center

Outdoor and Workshop Program – Dates and Locations

November 19, Wednesday

Location: Central Park, Bansko
Leaders: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aleksandar Shopov, Head of the Department of “Tourism, Mountaineering, and Orienteering”, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Todor Pedev, assisted by students from the “Tourism – Orienteering” specialty at the National Sports Academy “Vasil Levski.”

Workshop “Orienteering” – focuses on essential outdoor skills. The activity will teach children how to use a compass, read maps, and recognize natural landmarks.

Group 1: Grades 5–7 – the hours to be determined
Group 2: Grades 8–12 – the hours to be determined

Location: Rock spot “Peshterite”
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Rock climbing with Doychin Boyanov. Open to students from Grades 5–12.
Leaders: Senior Lecturer Doychin Boyanov and students from the “Tourism–Mountaineering” program at NSA.

Location: Cave “Spropadnaloto”
10:30 AM – 3:30 PM – Several groups – Cave Workshop “Exploring a Cave,” led by Kamen Bonev, Stoycho Zarev, and Sasho Popov. Recommended age: Grades 4–8.
In “Spropadnaloto” Cave, children can see stalactites and stalagmites of various shapes and colors, as well as bats. The tour requires no special equipment or effort. The activity includes a 15-minute talk and a 45-minute exploration through the cave labyrinth.

November 20, Thursday

Location: Cave “Spropadnaloto”
10:30 AM – 3:30 PM – Several groups – Cave Workshop “Exploring a Cave”

Location: Courtyard of “Nikola Vaptsarov” Community Center
8:30 PM – 9:30 PM – Night Astronomy Lesson under the Stars using real telescopes.
Leaders: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alexey Stoev – scientist, astronomer, and speleologist; Prof. Penka Maglova.

November 21, Friday

Location: Ceremony Hall, “Nikola Vaptsarov” Community Center, Bansko
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM – Workshop “Teen Avalanche Awareness” – an initiative by the Bulgarian Association for Free and Extreme Skiing (BASSES), offering free avalanche safety training for youth aged 10–18.
The mission is to show that adventures in the winter mountains can be both fun and safe.

During Bansko Film Fest, the instructors from BASSES will conduct interactive games and challenges where participants will learn:

how avalanches form and how to read the terrain;
what equipment helps ensure safety;
how to react if a friend is caught in an avalanche.

The workshops are led by mountain guides, ski and snowboard instructors, and professionals who work with children both in urban and natural environments.
Instructors and facilitators: Nadezhda Angelova, Genoveva Mihaylova, Lili Toushek, Vasilena Kovacheva, Tsvetelina Ivanova

Location: Cave “Spropadnaloto”
10:30 AM – 3:30 PM – Several groups – Cave Workshop “Exploring a Cave”

Location: Rock site “Peshterite”
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Rock climbing with Doychin Boyanov. Open to students from Grades 5–12.
Leaders: Senior Lecturer Doychin Boyanov and students from NSA’s “Tourism–Mountaineering” program.

Location: Courtyard of “Nikola Vaptsarov” Community Center
8:30 PM – 9:30 PM – Astronomy Workshop under the Stars with real telescopes.
Leaders: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alexey Stoev and Prof. Penka Maglova.

The listed times and dates may change according to the students’ school schedules (except for the outdoor astronomy lessons on Thursday and Friday).

All students, regardless of age, are welcome to attend the festival’s film and accompanying programs. Organizers will send appropriate films for children under 12 to schools, while the rest of the program is suitable for all other ages.

Participation in all activities is completely free for children and youth.
The workshop leaders volunteer their time to support the event.

For inquiries:
Aleksandra Petrova, Coordinator of BanskoFilmFestKIDS
📧 Email: [email protected]