07/06/2022 - Bulgarian director Nikolay Stefanov's first feature-length documentary pulls the viewer into the world of football hooligans from the country's roughest city of Pernik

After its world premiere at CPH:DOX and outings at Visions du Réel, Movies That Matter and the Krakow Film Festival, and prior to its participation in Sheffield DocFest (23-28 June), Cineuropa presents the exclusive trailer for Bulgarian director Nikolay Stefanov's first feature-length documentary, No Place for You in Our Town [+see also:
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The film pulls the viewer into the heads of the football hooligans from the roughest city in Bulgaria – Pernik. A once-flourishing industrial centre, today all that’s left is the urban legend about its citizens’ toughness – an echo of the miners’ brave and glorious past underground. Enjoying exclusive access, Stefanov’s camera silently follows Tsetso, a skinhead and single father; gang leader Dado; and Mimeto, the only woman in the group. They are all devoted to helping their team rise from the bottom league, reliving the strength and unity of their ancestors, the miners.

Their usual lifestyle, however, gets seriously challenged when Tsetso falls ill and stays in hospitals for months, while the decaying city faces a grave water crisis caused by corruption and crime. Amidst the serious personal and communal crises, Stefanov’s camera peeks underneath the hooligans’ tough and rough appearance and explores their lives – and the lives of millions like them across the globe – with openness and genuine human curiosity.

Co-written by Mariana Sabeva, Stefanov and Ralitsa Golemanova, No Place for You in Our Town is a co-production between Ralitsa Golemanova, of Bulgaria's Smarty Pants Shooter, and HBO Max. Switzerland's Lightdox is in charge of sales.

Check out our exclusive trailer below: