Gambit
Konstantin Bojanov
Contrast Films
NINA (24) initiates a daring heist of Rotterdam’s famed Kunsthal. Her problems, however, begin when her ex and his cohorts manage to make away with six masterpieces worth over fifty million euros.
Ever since NINA (24) split up with her petty criminal boyfriend, ALEX, she has been crashing on her friend's couch and covering for her as an office cleaner. Shortly after meeting a young art student, FILLIP, Nina visits him at Rotterdam’s Kunsthal, where he works as a nightguard. After learning about the weakness in the security system, she proposes to Alex to rob the museum. Alex recruits two Romanian ex-cons, and they manage to break into one of the galleries and make away with six masterpieces worth fifty million euros.
The security cameras expose Nina and Fillip’s midnight exploits of the Kunsthal, and the police question them about the heist. This development gravely alarms Alex and his cohorts, and they conclude that the only way to silence Nina would be to have her kidnaped. Meanwhile, Nina and Fillip’s dire predicament makes them bond further. Nina manages to escape from her kidnaper and flees with the priceless loot, but a big surprise awaits all players in the game.
Director’s biography: Konstantin Bojanov / IMDb
KONSTANTIN BOJANOV is a writer/director and a visual artist, who holds a B.A. from the National School of Fine Arts in Sofia and an M.A. from the Royal College of Art, London. Bojanov’s first feature film AVÉ (2011) premiered in the Critics’ Week in Cannes and screened at over 70 international film festivals, winning 20 prestigious awards. His second feature, LIGHT THEREAFTER (2017), premiered in competition at the IFF Rotterdam. Bojanov is currently in pre-production on his third feature film, THE SHAMELESS.
Producer’s biography: Katya Trichkova / IMDb
After graduating in law and filmmaking, in 2009 KATYA TRICHKOVA founded and managed Contrast Films, a production company whose main objective is to develop and produce fiction and documentaries. Her filmography includes ROUNDS by Stephan Komandarev (2019, Sarajevo FF), DIRECTIONS by Stephan Komandarev (2017, Un Certain Regard, Festival de Cannes ), CAINI by Bogdan Mirica (2016, FIPRESCI Prize, Un Certain Regard, Festival de Cannes).
She is alumni of EAVE, EURODOC, Sarajevo Talent Campus, Kyoto Film lab. As a freelancer, Katya was producer of several award winning fiction films.
Where are we at?
Total estimated budget: 1,702.100 €
Finances pending: 1,202.100 €
Financing in place: 500.000 €
Production timeline
May 2021-July 2022 - finding co-producers, sales agents, application for additional financing in Bulgaria and abroad
September 2022 - application at EURIMAGES
October 2022 - February 2023 - casting, location scout, setting up the main crew
March-April 2023 - shootings
May - October 2023- post-production
December 2023 - film is completed
January - June 2024 - international and national premiere
Looking for at CineLink?
Co-producers, sales agents, financiers
Director’s statement
I have been obsessed with crime literature and cinema ever since I was a child. I don’t know why it took me so long to begin working in the genre, but finally, I feel I have found my true calling. GAMBIT is an intense crime drama with elements of thriller aimed at broader audiences that balances a forward plot motion with complex character development.
The initial spark came from a NY Times article about a band of petty criminals who in 2012 stole eight masterpieces worth over 50 million euros. Rather than following the traditional framework of “whodunit,” I decided to center the story around a young female protagonist and, through her to examine the larger themes of value and trust.
Gambit will employ a dynamic visual style, meeting the demands of the sophisticated contemporary viewer. The camera will remain in near-constant motion, the editing will be rapid, and the color palette vibrant. The sound design and original score will add to the dramatic tension and suspense.
Producer’s statement
I wanted to work with Konstantin since I've watched his first feature film Avé, which premiered in 2011 at Semaine de la Critique, Cannes. I liked Konstantin's imaginative, unconventional, and entertaining approach to this road movie and its characters. So when he came up to me with an idea for a script for a genre movie, I didn't hesitate, moreover myself I am a big fan of heist movies. The screenplay of Gambit was written by Konstantin Bojanov and Petar Krumov between Feb 2019 and August 2021. The project got production support from the Bulgarian National Film Center, from where we expect to receive approximately 500.000 EUR. As per script, the vast majority of the story takes place in Rotterdam, however we are open to consider to take part elsewhere- like Barcelona, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Rome...
Principal photography of Gambit is planned for the spring of 2023 at an estimated budget of 1,7 million EUR. We are looking for a co-production partners, financiers, and world-sales.
Production company profile
CONTRAST FILMS is a production company established by Katya Trichkova in Sofia, Bulgaria. The company develops and produces author-driven fiction and documentary films for national and international markets and audiences. Credits include the feature documentaries SILENT LEGACY by Petya Nakova (in coproduction with HBO Europe), IKARUS FROM KOCHERINOVO by Emil Spahiyski (Best Documentary Debut at Golden Rhyton Festival of Bulgarian Documentary and Animated Film 2019) and short films CHAIN by Eicke Bettinga (Best Short Film at Emden IFF and Asiana IFF 2015) and CLOTHES by Vesselin Boydev.
Email: contrastfilms@gmail.com