September 25. One date. One word: LOVE

We invited Dessy Tenekedjieva (producer, actress, visionary) and in an open conversation, we talked about life, signs of fate, mentors, dreams, unforgettable films... and last but not least, about the upcoming grand spectacle "LOVE"! 

Therefore, our first question to her will be related to it:

On September 25 at Hall 1 of NDK, your grand authorial spectacle “LOVE” is coming up. On stage, there will be 77 musicians and artists, and the conductor is Maestro Yordan Kamdjalov, leading the GENESIS ORCHESTRA. The musical and theatrical critics define the performances you create as a cultural phenomenon. What exactly is “LOVE” and what makes it so different?

We open the season with “LOVE”! And this year we will experience it only once in Sofia – on September 25 at 8 PM in Hall 1 of NDK. This is an exceptionally large, complex, and costly production, and with this huge ensemble, we can afford to perform it only once this year. Imagine a musical journey from classical to rock – from Chopin, Vivaldi, Mozart, and Piazzolla to Queen, Metallica, and Michael Jackson. How do they sound with a large classical orchestra and our incredible “Soloists of the Future”? This alone must be heard… The guest star is Krisia – the grown-up child prodigy and favorite of Bulgaria, and the special guest is the fantastic violinist Zornitsa Ilarionova.

“The Soloists of the Future” are laureates of the “Stoyan Kambarev” Foundation and are among the most prominent and talented young musicians in their fields not only in Bulgaria but also worldwide. They have won numerous elite international competitions and awards and are nominees or recipients of the most prestigious award for young talents in Bulgaria – the “Stoyan Kambarev” Award for Flight in Art.

But “LOVE” is much more than a concert. On stage, we encounter music, cinema, theater, poetry, ballet, and contemporary dance, multimedia, and an impressive light show. Musicians and artists create a shared world… And most importantly – “LOVE” is not a performance that you simply watch. We experience it together. We laugh, cry, dream, meditate, get excited, and for two hours, we leave everyday life outside.

“LOVE” is in the style of our “Christmas Tale,” but it is a completely different spectacle – with a different concept, program, and soloists. And while “LOVE” this year will be only once in Hall 1 of NDK, the tradition of “Christmas Tale” continues to travel and visit different cities in Bulgaria. On December 22, we will be in Ruse for the first time, and on December 23 – for the first time in Plovdiv.And for both cities, there will be two performances each evening. Tickets for both events will go on sale literally in a few days, so stay tuned.

And for “LOVE,” there are only a few tickets left on Eventim, and we expect Hall 1, as usual, to be completely full. It is a great privilege for me to invite your readers to be with us on September 25 and to experience “LOVE” together.

Because love cannot be told, explained, or described..It can only be experienced. For example, I am totally obsessed with my puppy Andy and for 6 years I have not been able to breathe without this Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. How can I explain to someone who has never seen him or to someone who does not have a pet why? It’s the same with this spectacle, which is true magic... Come to see, feel, and experience together LOVE!

If you had to introduce yourself beyond the CV, positions, and social networks – who is the person behind the profession?

I believe that the meaning of human life is to leave something behind. I love to tell stories through films, performances, music, and to create causes and opportunities for young people and the talented. Curiosity, strong empathy, and the desire to support ideas are the driving force in my life. They are no less important to me than professional successes.

I work almost around the clock because I try to develop my business at the highest level, producing large international film productions and fulfilling my mission to support talent. Sometimes 24 hours are simply not enough, and I often sacrifice my sleep. But when I see how someone’s dream becomes a reality, I know it makes sense. 

 

What are the three strongest qualities that you think best describe your character and way of working?

Unconventional thinking, courage, and honesty. I have always tried to think “outside the box” and find solutions where others see obstacles. I take bold risks and believe that great ideas never arise in the comfort zone. And my uncompromising honesty... sometimes even becomes excessive and often turns into a disadvantage because the truth, unfortunately, often hurts. Many people prefer beautifully presented illusions. However, I believe that only the truth builds trust, strong partnerships, and long-term relationships.

 

What problem in the world, business, or society provoked you enough to dedicate your life and career to what you do today?

On one hand, the lack of opportunities for talented young people. I believe that enormous potential is lost simply because someone did not receive a chance and support in time. That is why I dedicate such a large part of my life to discovering and developing young talents through the “Stoyan Kambarev” Foundation. For me, this is also a way for a piece of Stoyan Kambarev to continue living through young people.

As for cinema, I am not driven by a specific problem, but by a love for stories. I believe that good cinema can touch, inspire, ask questions, and sometimes even change human destinies.

Today I am also entering the world of technology together with my new business partner Martina Striguleva, who is exceptional, and I am very lucky that she saw in me a true ally. Our company is called MD Next Ventures and it is a company of the future. www.mdnextventures.com  We are developing technological solutions that address real global problems – in education and the ecosystem around children, for example. I believe that when technologies are meant to solve specific problems with people in mind, they can be a powerful tool for positive change. Currently, we have attracted a major partner from Italy and are in the process of completing our first app, which we will launch on the global market, but of course, we will start here in Bulgaria. 

Photo: Georgi Markov 

What is the story or moment that has most strongly shaped your character and the way you view life?

The loss of my husband Stoyan Kambarev when I was still very young changed my life forever. I was 26 years old, and our son Yosif was four and a half.... To this day, I have not managed to overcome this loss and probably never will completely.

But instead of remaining solely in pain, I chose to turn sadness into flight, beauty, and love. Thus, the “Stoyan Kambarev” Foundation was born – a mission that has been giving wings to talented young people for so many years and helping them believe in themselves.

Perhaps this is the most important lesson that life has taught me – that even the greatest loss can turn into something beautiful and meaningful if you find the strength to turn it into love for others.

 

Is there a difficult period, failure, or life situation that has “knocked you down,” but later made you a much stronger person?

There is nothing more motivating for me than someone telling me: “This cannot be done.” Or: “You are a dreamer. This is impossible.” The harder a task seems, the bolder and larger I start to think. That is when I begin to search for and discover solutions that I had not seen before..

I believe that great changes always start with people who dared to believe in the possible before it seems possible. One must dream boldly, but even more boldly work for their dreams. Because dreams do not come true on their own – they come true with immense effort, perseverance, and faith. And perhaps the most important lesson I have learned is that we must learn to fall in order to understand how high we can fly.

Do you believe in signs of fate?

Definitely yes. I do not think that everything in life is coincidence. There have been meetings, decisions, and seemingly insignificant events that at the time seemed completely ordinary to me, but later turned out to be pivotal in my life. I believe that fate gives us signs. The question is whether we are open enough to recognize them and brave enough to follow them.

 

If you had to name your life after a famous movie, what would it be called and why?

This is a fun question because my life cannot be summed up in a single film. It is an extraordinary mix of drama, comedy, action, fantasy, thriller, and sometimes – horror:) Something between “Die Hard,”  “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown”, Indian tear-jerker drama and “Devil's Games” – because this film is part of me and my professional path and “Cabaret” – because life is a stage where every day you have to find the strength to go out, no matter what happens behind the scenes.

 

Who do you consider your mentors?

Two personalities have influenced and changed my life in completely different ways.

The first is Stoyan Kambarev. He is a universe and it is a true privilege that fate brought us together and that HE is the father of my son. But the most valuable thing he taught me was not how to create art, but motivation. Art should never be created with the thought of whether and what will please the audience. This puts the creator in an unenviable, bent position. The artist tells a story, and if he does it really well, regardless of whether through film, music, theater, poetry, or painting, his work will find its audience. 

The other person is Ermanno Olmi – one of the last great masters of Italian and world cinema. He opened the doors to great cinema for me, but even more important were our conversations.. Communicating with him was on an almost cosmic level.

In the world of art, my eternal light remains Charlie Chaplin. In his fragile body resides an immense universe: humor and drama, pain and hope, lightness and depth. He simultaneously makes you laugh and touches the deepest strings of the human soul. For me, this is the highest form of art.

I also admire people who have the courage to dream the impossible and then turn it into reality. Steve Jobs, Richard Branson, and Elon Musk are examples of individuals who do not take boundaries for granted but continuously expand them. I believe that it is dreamers who drive the world forward.

 

What were your dreams as a child?

To be Lili Ivanova. I walked around in my mother's high heels, held deodorant instead of a microphone, and sang all her songs in front of the mirror. This is one of my brightest childhood memories. I also trained in rhythmic gymnastics in my hometown Varna from the age of 4, and my other big idol was Lili Ignatova.. 

At 14 years old I won a casting for my first film – “Forbidden for Adults” directed by Plamen Maslarov. This encounter with the magic of cinema in front of and behind the camera turned out to be pivotal in my life, and from then on, I do not believe there is anything “forbidden” for me in my dreams.

 

What do you love to do outside of your profession?

The truth is that I work almost 24/7 and for years I have found it difficult to separate work from my life. As a child, after rhythmic gymnastics, I seriously trained tennis and to this day I continue to play, mostly with my son Yosif. We also love to ski together – these are some of our best moments together.

I love to read, go to the cinema and concerts, travel a lot, but almost always for work.. And I have a special weakness – Wimbledon. For years, this was almost a sacred July tradition for me. It started with the incredible semifinal of Tzvetana Pironkova and continued with the historic successes of Grigor Dimitrov. I have lived mainly in London for over ten years and whenever I can, I adjust my schedule to the tournament. There is something magical about tennis – it is much more than a sport. Emotion, psychology, beauty, but also a true social phenomenon.

 

What are you really good at?

Turning ideas into reality and inspiring people to believe in themselves. And purely humanly – I am extremely empathetic. And I think I am probably the best friend one could dream of.

 

What is the problem for which people most often seek you out?

When something seems impossible, but a solution needs to be found. But the truth is that I receive countless requests daily through all possible communication channels of various natures. Sometimes this is incredibly burdensome because I drop my own tasks to solve others.. but I always try to be helpful whenever I can.

 

What distinguishes a truly valuable professional?

Character. Knowledge and experience can be acquired, but integrity, honor, empathy and responsibility cannot be learned.. 

Tell us about a project, solution, or situation that you are most proud of and that best describes your way of thinking and working?

The mission - “Stoyan Kambarev Foundation”! / www.kambarev.org

Because for over 17 years it has changed destinies and given chances to the young and talented..

It is really very difficult for me to choose just one project. I have several companies, with NOVA Film / www.novafilm.eu/ being the producer of all over 200 realized projects of the Foundation..

If I still have to highlight a few, these are definitely the Annual Awards for Flight in Art, the FILM AWARD 355 – a truly unique competition, as well as our extremely inspiring Masterclass with Hollywood star and my partner Gary Stretch. For another year, it was held as a unique summer camp for talent at the SPA hotel Orpheus in Devin, for which we sincerely thank for the wonderful partnership!  Everyone tells us that what we create there is truly revolutionary in method and overall experience in training young actors in Bulgaria and changes destinies. When you hear this from our students, it means a lot to us with Gary and our entire team.

And now I would like to take this opportunity to invite your readers to get acquainted with one of our most beautiful initiatives – The Charitable and Ecological campaign TREES OF TALENT,  which we are conducting for the eighth time this year.

The idea is very clear and inspiring. Every company, firm, or individual can “adopt” their three-meter live Christmas tree, through a donation to the Foundation. The funds go specifically to support talented children from large families in need, as well as to the laureates of the “Stoyan Kambarev” Foundation.

The campaign has three lives. First, the huge row of fairy-tale trees in front of NDK turns the center of Sofia into a true Christmas fairy tale. If you have wondered whose trees these are – these are our TREES OF TALENT.  After the holidays, the trees are planted in “The Forest of Talent” and thus we donate them to the Sofia Municipality, so they can continue to live and make our city greener. And most importantly, every adopted tree becomes real support for someone's talent and someone's dream.

I want to sincerely thank the incredible Petya Nanovska from ProPlants, without whom this campaign would not have been possible. Thanks to her dedication, for the eighth year we are turning this idea into reality together. I also thank all our partners and donors, led by my closest friend- Neli Beshirova, who is like a true angel in my life and always finds a way to partner with me in my extravagant ideas regardless of the field they are in.

For me, THE TREES OF TALENT gather in one idea everything I believe in – beauty, talent, care for nature, charity, and human solidarity. And I would very much like this year even more people and companies to adopt their tree. Because in this way, they not only give a tree to Sofia – they give a chance to a talent.

Photo: Georgi Markov 

What is the most valuable thing you have learned about people?

I have learned to accept that people are different. And to try to look at the world through the eyes of another, even when I categorically disagree with them.

We cannot live trying to constantly convince others of our own correctness. People have different perspectives, problems, ideals, goals, and different meanings of life. We must learn to accept this difference and live with it. 

The truth may be one, but it has many faces.

 

What helps you in difficult moments?

I believe that difficult moments build us. I wish no one the pain of anyone, but it is precisely from pain, sadness, and loss that countless great works have been born. Perhaps we, people of art, are made this way – we are emotional, we experience everything more intensely, but we also have the gift of turning pain into beauty, sadness into light, and falling into flight.

How are AI and technology changing your profession?

For this question, I will need more time than for the entire interview. But in short – I am categorically “for” AI.

I believe that the future is not for AI to replace humans, but for good professionals to work hand in hand with it. I myself use ChatGPT daily and it helps me save a huge amount of time. Of course, you have to be very precise in asking questions and prompts, otherwise, you can easily be misled.

In cinema, AI is already changing everything and certainly many professions will be affected, and some will almost disappear. AI films are becoming technically better and better. But at the heart of cinema remains the story. A good script, meaning, emotion – they must come from humans, while AI helps us realize the specific film much more economically.

I hope AI gives us new wings, not takes away our humanity. “I, Robot” by Isaac Asimov was my favorite science fiction book as a child. Just think of the vision he had for the future – the laws of robotics… This is the world today.

 

What is your opinion on social networks?

They are an extremely powerful tool, but they have also led to a serious distortion of the value system – including for my generation, and even more so for the youngest. In this sense, for me, they are a dangerous phenomenon.

On the other hand, they have made the world smaller – they have given us the incredible freedom to communicate and share ideas with people all over the world.

I myself am not particularly active and mainly use them for my professional projects. The paradox is that one of my personal photos, generates many times more interest than a film or performance behind which stand a year of my life and the work of hundreds of professionals. This says a lot about the time we live in. But social networks are reality, and instead of rejecting them, we must learn to use their power without allowing them to define our values. Quite a difficult task… 

 

What is the biggest misconception about success?

That it comes quickly and easily. True success is the result of years of perseverance, immense effort, and many falls along the way. Banally, but a fact.

But above all, we must distinguish success from popularity. Being famous does not mean being successful. Success has a different face for each person – for one it is recognition, for another freedom, for a third family, meaning, or the opportunity to do what they love. Perhaps true success is living the life you have chosen for yourself.

What would you like people to say about you when you are not in the room?

That what I do makes sense and leaves a mark. That I am an honest and dedicated friend, someone you can rely on. And perhaps the best: “She does not give up on making dreams come true.”

 

If in 20 years someone comes across this interview, what would you like them to understand about you?

That I never stopped believing in the power of humans to make their dreams come true. If my words give someone the courage to overcome their fear and follow their path, I will know that I have left a mark and my life has had meaning.