The Cruel Way

2025, Bulgaria, 109 min., Documentary

Director: Deyan Bararev
Script: Elena Ermova, Stanislav Grozdanov, Diliyan Pavlov
Director of Photography: Georgi Marinov
Cast: Ivan Valchev, Metodi Savov, Nikolay Petkov, Kiril Doskov, Doychin Vasilev, Kancho Dolapchiev, Ognyan Baldzhiyski
Producers: Radoslav Spasov, Ivan Spasov
Production: Kanina Film in co-production with BNT (supported by NFC, National Culture Fund, BNR, and Prostor)

In 1984, Bulgarian mountaineers climbed Everest via the West Ridge – the last to successfully conquer the world’s deadliest route. This extraordinary achievement was marked by heroism and mutual aid, but also by fatal mistakes and relationship crises that remained hidden for over four decades. Until now.

Deyan Bararev

Deyan Bararev (born 1987 in Sofia) is the director of award-winning short films such as “Botev is an Idiot”, “Maika mi calling”, and “Batmobile”. “Botev is an Idiot” earned him international recognition and significant popularity, reaching over 650,000 views on YouTube. Bararev also has extensive experience in television as a film editor for hit series (“Brothers”, “Lies Within Us”). “The Cruel Way” is his first documentary feature.

FILMOGRAPHY

FESTIVALS, AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

2025 – Golden Rhyton Documentary Film Festival – GRAND PRIX Golden Rhyton (Best Documentary), National Film Archive Award, Critics’ Guild Award.
2025 – Echo Mountain Film Festival, Skopje – GRAND PRIX for Best Film.
2025 – Krakow Film Festival – Best Mountain Film Award.
2025 – Bansko Film Fest – Best Adventure Film Award.
2025 – Rhodope Documentary Film Fest – Two Awards.
2025 – Sofia Film Fest – Official Selection.