Scent of Linden
A recent immigrant, Stefan moves into the Bulgarian enclave in Tennessee, where comical rivalries, suspicions, and hijinks conspire to come between him and his American Dream.
Interview with Director/Producer Sissy Denkova
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
To communicate the experience of Bulgarian immigrants abroad, the nostalgia, and the search for the American Dream and the idea of home.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
This film is about a microcosm of Bulgarian society, but it's universal dealing with longing, nostalgia, and the ups and downs of belonging to a community and feeling at home somewhere foreign.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Personal and universal themes work in the film through the prism of my personal experience as an immigrant from Bulgaria to the USA, and the displaced, unstable feeling of having two homes. Universally, a lot of people share the immigrant experience; the struggle to replicate the past sense of belonging and aspire to a better life at the same time.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The script was probably an even darker a dark comedy than the film turned out. The film took a life of its own and went through a lot of lucky accidents in order to become the meaningful comedic drama it is now. The ending changed on set. We lost the light in early November and decided to shoot the last scene as the day went on, and it turned out to be a better ending (The Graduate ending!) than intended in the script.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The film has been called "human", "personal", "wonderful", "film with a message". The film also has been seen as more commercial than arthouse.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I was probably intending to make a more arthouse dark comedy, than the way it's perceived as commercial, but in turn, it did help us find distribution and it gives the movie longer legs to find its audience. So I'm happy with that either way. Definitely challenged the way I look at defining genre going forward.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I'd love to reach more people who will relate to the movie and amplify our cast and crew of women. We had women and/or underrepresented voices in 70% of Heads of Departments on our crew. This film is made very independently and it's a testament to what we can do as women without waiting for permission.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Digital distributors and buyers. Critics from the industry trade for reviews.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I'd love to reach as wide an audience as possible.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
In a more globalized world, where do we find home?
Would you like to add anything else?
This film is made independently with lots of love and faith, and we are hopeful for more industry trades writing it up and sharing it forward into our digital release next year, 2024.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Nothing to announce yet, as early development is a long process.
Interview: November 2023
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Scent of Linden
A recent immigrant, Stefan moves into the Bulgarian enclave in Tennessee, where comical rivalries, suspicions, and hijinks conspire to come between him and his American Dream.
Length: 1:52:00
Director: Sissy Denkova
Producer: Megan Key Jordan
Writer: Jordan Trippeer
About the writer, director and producer:
Immigrating to the US from Bulgaria at 10 years old, TZVETANA “SISSY” DENKOVA, spent a decade in NYC, studying and working in theater and independent film. She first directed No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre at the 45th Street Theater. In short film work, she’s made The Bureau of Short-Term Affairs and two 16mm films titled Bklyn’17 and Sabine, after which she worked in film development at Gidden Media, in Los Angeles. In 2021, Sissy directed her debut feature, Scent of Linden, receiving fiscal sponsorship through The Film Collaborative and being approved for the TN Entertainment Commission Rebate. The team acquired US Immigration approval for 8 Bulgarian Artist Visas for a star cast, making the movie the first feature American film about the Bulgarian community produced in the United States. Sissy has a degree in Political Science from the University of Memphis. She’s currently a script consultant and a member of Women in Film LA and Film Independent.
JORDAN TRIPPEER is a producer/writer who has worked on projects for James Franco and Indigenous Media, distributed by Amazon and Netflix. As a Nicholl finalist, Universal Fellowship Finalist, and PROJECT HER filmmaker, her TV and film work has focused on underdogs, outsiders, and everymen confronting the extraordinary, fantastical, and heartrending in their grounded lives. She also serves as part of the development team at the International Screenwriters Association.
Born and raised in a suburb not far from Philadelphia, MEGAN KEY JORDAN can’t remember a time when she wasn’t planning to work in entertainment. Inspired at an early age by watching the Behind the Scenes making of the music video Thriller, she knew she wanted to be one of the people who could make that magic happen. With over a decade of steady work in film and television, Megan is passionate about creating quality content. She was selected to produce the short film Just A Drill for the Women In Film Production Program with Lab Fellow Julianne Donnelle and Producer Sabrina Stoll. The film stars Sally Pressman and Jackson Pace. Megan recently produced the feature film Scent of Linden, a film about a Bulgarian immigrant finding his place in America, which is completing post-production now. Additional credits include the short 2BR02B as well as Big Breaks, a short film directed by David Krumholtz, which included an all-star cast of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Elizabeth Banks and Jane Lynch. Megan is a Board Member of the PGA (Producer’s Guild of America) and has spent more than a decade working on TV shows like The Afterparty (Apple+), Our Flag Means Death (HBO), Animal Kingdom (TNT) and Atypical (Netflix).
Key cast: Ivan Barnev, Albena Koleva, Toncho Tokmakchiev, Yoana Bukovska, Albena Mihova, Ivan Petrushinov, Georgi Zlatarev, Reni Vrangova
Looking for: distributors, buyers
Facebook: Аромат на Липа / Scent of Linden
Instagram: @scentoflinden_movie
Hashtags used: #scentoflindenmovie #ароматналипа
Website: www.scentoflindenmovie.com
Other: YouTube
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month?
Indie Memphis Film Festival October 29th 12:00pm; Theatrical distribution in Bulgaria October 27 in theaters country wide.