The Bulgarian director and screenwriter Yana Lekarska will present her award-winning film "Because I Love Bad Weather" (2024) at the European Union Film Festival in Ottawa on November 16, and in Toronto on November 21. The trailer of the film is available here.

Ms. Lekarska's Canadian tour includes free screenings for Bulgarian audiences of "Because I Love Bad Weather" in Niagara Falls (November 20), Toronto (November 22), and Montreal (November 23).

"Because I Love Bad Weather" is Yana Lekarska’s debut feature film. It premiered in March 2024 in the International Competition Section of the 28th Sofia International Film Festival and won the Audience Award. The film also received the Best Debut award at the 42nd Bulgarian Feature Film Festival Golden Rose. Neda Spasova and Vladimir Mihailov play the main roles.

The Bulgarian director will also present three of her short films shot in Korean (English subtitles) and with Korean actors, at the Korean Cultural Center in Ottawa on November 18 – “The Bridge”, "November Will Be May", and "Here and Now." The event is free to the public and includes also a screening of “Heartbeat” by Korean director Lee Chang-dong.

Yana Lekarska holds an MFA in Film Directing from both Chung-Ang University in Seoul, South Korea, and New Bulgarian University in Sofia, Bulgaria. She will participate in all of the above events and will hold a discussion with the viewers.

“Because I Love Bad Weather” will also be screened in Vancouver on November 26 as part of the European Union Film Festival.

Here are the complete list of Yana Lekarska’s movie screenings in Canada and ticket links:

Ottawa

-November 16, 6:15 p.m.: "Because I Love Bad Weather," Ottawa Art Gallery, Alma Duncan Salon; 10 Daly Avenue, Level 3. EU Film Festival: Tickets here. Director participation and discussion with the audience.

-November 18, 6:30 p.m.: Short Films made in Korea (English subtitles), Korean Cultural Center, 150 Elgin St #101. Free entrance. Director participation and discussion with the audience.

Niagara Falls

-November 20, 5:30 p.m.: "Because I Love Bad Weather," St. John of Rila Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church, 4871 Willmott St. Meeting with the Bulgarian community. Free entrance. Director participation and discussion with the audience.

Toronto

-November 21, 8:30 p.m.: "Because I Love Bad Weather," Alliance Française, 24 Spadina Rd. EU Film Festival: Tickets here. Free entrance. Director participation and discussion with the audience.

-November 22, 7:30 p.m.: "Because I love bad weather," St. Georgi‘s Church, 17 Regent St. Meeting with the Bulgarian community. Free entrance. Director participation and discussion with the audience.

Montreal

-November 23, 2 p.m.: "Because I Love Bad Weather," Collège Notre-Dame, 3791 Chemin Queen Mary. Meeting with the Bulgarian community. Free entrance. Director participation and discussion with the audience. Registration here.

Vancouver

-November 26, 6:30 p.m., “Because I Love Bad Weather,” The Cinematheque, 1131 Howe Street. EU Film Festival: Tickets here.

For up-to-date information, please follow the Facebook page of the Embassy of Bulgaria in Ottawa.

The Canadian tour of Yana Lekarska was made possible with the financial support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, with the exclusive support of the Embassy of Bulgaria in Ottawa, the assistance of the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Toronto, and the local coordinators of Bulgarian communities in Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and Niagara Falls.

The EU Film Festival in Canada is organized with the joint efforts of the EU Member States, the EU Delegation in Ottawa, the Canadian Film Institute, EUFF Toronto and Cinematheque - Vancouver.