In Hell With Ivo by US-based Bulgarian director/producer Kristina Nikolova world-premieres May 9 in International Competition of the 40th DOK.fest Munich. See exclusive trailer below.
In the film, Bulgarian queer artist Ivo Dimchev captivates audiences worldwide with his electrifying art shows, which blend singing and songwriting, theatre, dance, and visual art. Despite being HIV-positive, Ivo responded to the Covid lockdowns by performing a series of no less than 400 free, intimate concerts in people’s homes. But for an artist who challenges societal norms surrounding sexuality, identity, and power, Bulgaria is too small, homophobic, and conservative. So Ivo leaves in search of artistic fulfilment in New York, where his raw physicality takes even experimental-theatre audiences out of their comfort zones.
“It was the most difficult project I’ve ever worked on,” says Nikolova. “The first time I saw him perform, in 2020, in a small art space in Sofia, I was stunned. I genuinely thought someone like him couldn’t exist in Bulgaria. Friends warned me: ‘Don’t get involved—he’s the most difficult person you’ll ever meet.’”
“I think, in a weird way, I’m the perfect person for that movie because I’m the most patient person I know,” she continues. “I spent five years quietly following him, trying to get behind the mask, and building trust through many ups and downs—and a lot of fighting. We even stopped speaking several times. But patience was the foundation of the entire process: knowing where you want to go but not forcing the path. You keep your goal in mind, but you approach it slowly—very slowly.”
“It felt like working with a wild animal in a cave. You take one step at a time, always gently, always with care. That’s how it felt working with someone like Ivo, a force of nature, both as an artist and a personality.”
