A new success for documentary cinema in Bulgaria! And it is the work of two ladies from the "Diplomatic Spectrum" team - the young director Elma Neykova and the producer - Tsveta Koeva.

These talented women created an exceptional film about the legend of Bulgarian medicine - Prof. Dr. Alexander Chirkov. Its premiere took place on November 7, 2024 at the Lumiere cinema in Sofia, causing thunderous applause from the audience.

The film "Who is Professor Chirkov?" aims to tell, preserve and pass on to future generations the work of the Bulgarian professor, who created the contemporary look and treatment of modern cardiac surgery, built the most famous specialized hospital in Bulgaria - "St. Catherine". A Bulgarian, carrying within himself dignity and courage, something magnetic and charismatic.

Having lived, worked and made a name for himself in the best hospitals in Germany, Great Britain and the USA, Prof. Chirkov remains an incorrigible patriot who dreams of creating a world-class cardiac surgery clinic in Bulgaria. And he did it. The construction of his "St. Catherine" did not cost the Bulgarian taxpayer a single lev. He also financed his students himself, sending them abroad to study the latest practices in the field of cardiac surgery and related specialties. He introduced the most modern treatment methods in our country, created a constellation of Bulgarian cardiac surgeons, interventional cardiologists, specialized resuscitation nurses, effectively transferring the "know-how" from the world leaders in this field to Bulgaria. Having managed to change the medicine in our country, he changed human destinies, saving thousands of patients, and also changed the thinking of doctors and his students, creating a series of initiatives that have become routine practice after him.

Prof. Dr. Alexander Chirkov performs the first heart transplant in all of Eastern Europe.

Until his last breath, he worked for Bulgaria, dreaming of establishing a cardiology hospital in the city of Varna. A true awakening and visionary in the field of medicine, today he is a legend.

The premiere of the film was attended by many representatives of the medical community in our country, including leading figures from the Medical University, St. Catherine's University Hospital and Acibadem City Clinic University Hospital, official guests from Germany, including his daughter Dr. Tatyana Chirkova and his son Alessandro Chirkov.

After the screening, which thrilled all viewers and caused thunderous applause, speeches were made by colleagues and patients of Professor Chirkov, and his son Alessandro Chirkov shared fond memories of his father.

The film crew:
       - Director: Elma Neykova
       - Screenwriters: Elma Neykova, Sylvester Silvestrov
       - Cinematographer: Deyan Rumenov - DEYAN
       - Design and animation: Vladislav Petrov
       - Consultants: Prof. Dr. Ivo Petrov, Dr. Rumen Petkov
       - Producer: VIZZART OOD - Tsveta Koeva

In the photos above /from left to right/: Professor Chirkov's daughter - Dr. Tatyana Chirkova, the film's producer Tsveta Koeva and the director Elma Neykova

Below:

1. The poster of the film "Who is Professor Chirkov?"
2. The team that filmed the film /from left to right/: Vladislav Petrov, Tsveta Koeva, Elma Neykova, at the microphone - Sylvester Silvestrov
3. Professor Chirkov's son - Alessandro Chirkov, shares his memories
4. Speech by Mr. Andrey Markov, co-founder and manager of "Acibadem City Clinic UMBAL"
5. Speech by Prof. Dr. Nikolay Dimitrov, former executive director of UMBAL "St. Catherine"
6. A patient of Prof. Chirkov expresses her immense gratitude to him as a great man and doctor
7. A still from the film with Prof. Chirkov
8. The crowded hall of the "Lumière" cinema