By – Herojit Nongaithem
Imphal, August 17:
Bulgaria has officially thrown its hat into the ring for the 98th Academy Awards, selecting Milko Lazarov’s poignant drama, “Tarika,” as its contender for the Best International Feature Film category. The film, which takes on the original Bulgarian title “Ñòàäîòî” (The Herd), delves into the intricate themes of tolerance and the ongoing battle between good and evil, centering on a young girl named Tarika with a unique medical condition causing “butterfly wings” – a bone condition inherited from her mother – which becomes a focal point of village superstition.
“Tarika” first captivated audiences at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2024, receiving positive reviews and setting the stage for its subsequent success. The film continued its winning streak, securing both the Best Film and the prestigious FIPRESCI Award at the Kolkata International Film Festival in December 2024. This international recognition highlights the film’s compelling narrative and strong performances.
Milko Lazarov, a seasoned director whose previous film “Ága” represented Bulgaria at the Oscars in 2019, according to Screen Daily, co-wrote the screenplay for “Tarika” with Ekaterina Churilova and Simeon Ventsislavov. The film features a talented cast led by Vesela Valcheva as Tarika and Zahari Baharov as her protective father, Ali. Ivan Barnev, known for his roles in five previous Bulgarian Oscar submissions, including 2024’s “Triumph”, also appears in the film.
The narrative unfolds around Tarika and Ali, who live in relative peace but isolated from their rural Bulgarian community. Tarika’s physical difference is initially accepted, but when a mysterious disease begins to claim the village livestock, ancient superstitions resurface, and the villagers turn against her, fueled by fear and intolerance. Ali’s unwavering love and desire to protect his daughter become the core of the film’s conflict as he confronts the community’s prejudice and escalating danger.
“Tarika” now joins a competitive pool of films from around the globe vying for an Oscar nomination. The deadline for submissions for the International Feature Film category is October 1, 2025. The Academy will then announce a shortlist of fifteen films on December 16, 2025, narrowing it down to the final five nominees on January 22, 2026. The 98th Academy Awards ceremony is scheduled for March 15, 2026. While Bulgaria has a long history of Oscar submissions, starting in 1970, with one film, “The World Is Big and Salvation Lurks Around the Corner” shortlisted in 2009, no Bulgarian film has yet secured an Oscar nomination. Whether “Tarika” will break this streak remains to be seen, but its strong critical reception and powerful message position it as a film to watch in the upcoming awards season.
(The writer is Contributing Journalist, with additional information compiled from film related sources)