The “Kragovrat” Sustainable Film Festival opened with a call for greater personal responsibility, active public dialogue, and sustainable solutions. The event took place at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration of Sofia University and brought together students, business representatives, academics, and members of the non-governmental sector around the topics of climate change, sustainable development, and the role of every individual in the process of change.

The festival was officially opened by the Minister of Environment and Water, Rositsa Karamfilova-Blagova, who emphasized that the conversation about environmental protection has long moved beyond the boundaries of administrative debate and now directly affects the everyday lives of people.

“Each of us is confronted with questions such as what water we drink, what happens to the battery we use, how we live, and what decisions we make every day. As a minister, I clearly understand the weight of all the challenges and problems… I stand before you fully aware that there is still a very long road ahead. Our task is for all of us — in our respective roles — to strive for change. Only then do we have a chance of succeeding”, Minister Karamfilova-Blagova stated.

In her opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Marina Stefanova, PhD, Vice-Dean for Sustainability, Empowerment, and Engagement at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration and Executive Director of the FEB Foundation, highlighted the importance of presenting sustainability topics in an accessible and human-centered way.

“Today we live in a world where climate change, social inequalities, and questions about the future of resources are no longer abstract topics. They require a new way of thinking, a new language, and new stories. This is exactly why we created Kragovrat — a space where, through the power of documentary cinema, we can hold important conversations in a human, emotional, and accessible way”, Assoc. Prof. Stefanova said.

Following the opening, a panel discussion was held featuring Iliya Lingorski, member of the Governing Council of the Bulgarian National Bank and lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration; Margita Kolcheva, Sustainability Manager at Yettel Bulgaria; and Yordanka Blagoeva from the Sustainability & Compliance Center team at HP Inc.. The discussion focused on the relationship between economics, technology, and sustainable development, as well as the role of business in changing consumer behavior.

Margita Kolcheva emphasized the need for sustainability to be understandable and applicable in people’s daily lives.

“We realized that, regarding sustainability issues, we need to work actively with customers, colleagues, and suppliers in order to achieve real impact. The topic is complex, and that is why we must translate it into small steps people can easily take. Sustainability should not appear as a radical and difficult transformation, but rather as a series of everyday choices”, she said.

Kolcheva also presented Yettel Bulgaria initiatives for collecting electronic waste, extending the lifespan of devices through service and warranty programs, and encouraging more sustainable consumption.

Yordanka Blagoeva from HP Inc. stressed that sustainability should be present at every stage of a product’s creation and use.

“Our products are designed to be used for as long as possible, to be returned, repaired, and recycled. An increasing percentage of the materials we use are recycled, and our goal is for the entire product life cycle to become sustainable”, Blagoeva noted.

She also highlighted the social aspect of sustainability, including working conditions, employee training, and the establishment of clear standards for responsible business practices.

For his part, Iliya Lingorski focused on climate risks and their impact on the economy and the financial system.

“The financial industry is the first to feel the consequences of a lack of commitment to sustainability. Risks related to climate change are already part of investment and financial decisions. The private sector often moves ahead of the public sector on this issue because it truly understands the cost of climate change”, Lingorski said.

He emphasized that sustainable solutions emerge where commercial motivation and improvements in quality of life meet, while regulations are gradually becoming a tool for trust and predictability.

Following the discussion, the films “The World at Risk”, “Hope for the Future” and “Kragovrat” produced by the Kaleidoscope Center for Visual Science, were screened. The productions address global environmental and social crises, possible solutions for sustainable development, and examples of circular economy practices and responsible resource management.

The initiative is held with the institutional support of the Ministry of Environment and Water and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy.

The festival is supported by: UBB, ASS, Siemens, Paysafe, and Promeni Kartinkata.

Media partners: ESGnews.bg, Manager, Enterprise, Kapital, Dnevnik, KNext, dir.bg, B2B Media, and Obekti.