My church is cinema

Photos and words from Orange County

In the morning the venue in Orange County was a church for Koreans, in the evening a church for cinema... High prices didn't allow for an actual movie theatre, yet an enthusiastic crowd gathered and time was merry!

Kalin Krumov sporting one of our organic cotton t-shirts. Our t-shirts were printed in Bulgaria by the small business Better Brand! When filming of “Kaval Park” began in 2017 Kalin was the president of Bulgarian Society PCHELA, our executive producers and OC hosts.

Before each screening director Bogdan Darev gives some context about the world tour - where we've been and where we're headed!

Our youngest audience member to date : )

Petro Dushkov has actively promoted Bulgarian and Balkan culture over the years! Petro supports maker Lubka in Bulgaria with a purchase of one of her handmade bags!

Another fleeting hug...

After the hug, we take a picture with pianist and composer Milen Kirov, whose father Todor Kirov is featured in the film. Todor Kirov was a classmate of Alexander Eppler’s.

In the Q&A, before this heartfelt hug bellow, Neil told us of his first encounter with maestro Eppler in 1969 when Alex was 13. His presence at the premiere made us all feel that much closer to Alex!

Neil's wife is of Bulgarian heritage. On her mother's side her roots take us back to Sofia and the Thracian region. Notice her belt!

With Natalia and her mother! Natalia's great-grandfather worked for three years in the Chicago meat plants. Hard manual labour with severe winter cold and many perils. He returned to Bulgaria and gave most of his earnings to his village to build a school and better his community!

All smiles!

With actress and filmmaker Maria Bobeva who Bogdan filmed in an experimental film still to be released. In the film Maria is dressed as doll and is quite creepy and quite convincing too!

Fred Beahm and Bogdan Darev first met in 2010 during the making of the short film "This one is about love" which Bogdan wrote and directed. Fred was the editor!

Since then, Fred has gone on to work on Hollywood productions including the Robert Zemeckis's film "Pinocchio".

Bogdan and Fred have plans to work together again in the near future

"I loved the movie and the arc of the main character! I also loved the intimate setting of the world tour, the Q&A and the sense of community it creates." Fred

Once upon a time two t-shirts and their humans met... To champion love! To honor cinema! Until two became many and many became one!!!