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Where Does Parenting Success Hide? A BSS Parent Looks for the Answer in Original Short Film Production
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22 Jun 2026
Film producer Irina Gurova is a member of the BSS community and a parent of one of our students. She shared interesting details about her short film production called Wheee.
Wheee is a poetic, family-oriented art-house short film project that traces the experiences of little Anna. It sheds light on what happens to her each time her parents argue and dives deep into the journey she embarks on.
According to Gurova, this is the one key to lasting happiness.
Talking about the importance of Wheee, Gurova shared the following:
“This project is personally important due to its strong message. Additionally, it’s beautiful, magical, and approachable for every viewer.”
Jumping over a puddle is a key element in the Wheee story. Making sure a puddle was present on one of Sofia’s landmark streets, however, proved to be a challenge, especially when such a “prop” is needed for numerous takes. It was also quite challenging working with children on set, and making sure they felt confident and comfortable in front of the camera.
In the end of the day, everybody was incredibly happy to see the final production and the role they played in making movie magic happen, Gurova said.
Creating a short film that targets a child audience was a challenge enough on its own, as well. Knowing the audience incredibly well is a prerequisite for a successful outcome. Being a mom helped Gurova focus on the right audience and understand its needs within the context of the production.
Wheee is a poetic, family-oriented art-house short film project that traces the experiences of little Anna. It sheds light on what happens to her each time her parents argue and dives deep into the journey she embarks on.
Various characteristics make Wheee a remarkable project. For a start, it’s an official co-production between Bulgaria and North Macedonia. A few of the key participants in Wheee are from North Macedonia, and plans exist to organise screenings in the country, increasing propagation and the effectiveness of the production.
Film producer Irina Gurova is a member of the BSS community and a parent of one of our students. She shared interesting details about the production, the inspiration behind it, and the lessons learned during the filming of Wheee.
Every child dreams of growing up quickly and entering the adult world. What happens, however, when this dream becomes a reality too soon, when it’s tied to the actions of adults within the child’s universe?
Wheee looks for the answers to these questions.
The production is currently making the rounds during film festivals, including the upcoming In the Palace Short Film Festival. You can get a better feel for the film and its essence by watching the Wheee official trailer:
As a producer, Gurova took on the idea that two scriptwriters – Miglena Dimova and Mariana Subeva – presented. They worked on the concept and chose Gurova as the producer who could bring the vision to reality.
The original concept right off the bat revolved around the short film format. It allows for the crisp presentation of an idea, enforcing the concrete nature of the message. Wheee is also meant for a relatively young audience, which further increases the appropriateness of the short format.
The Wheee crew prioritised concise and concrete communication that would keep children focused on the message. Which brings us to the next point!
Wheee looks for the answers to these questions.
The production is currently making the rounds during film festivals, including the upcoming In the Palace Short Film Festival. You can get a better feel for the film and its essence by watching the Wheee official trailer:
As a producer, Gurova took on the idea that two scriptwriters – Miglena Dimova and Mariana Subeva – presented. They worked on the concept and chose Gurova as the producer who could bring the vision to reality.
The original concept right off the bat revolved around the short film format. It allows for the crisp presentation of an idea, enforcing the concrete nature of the message. Wheee is also meant for a relatively young audience, which further increases the appropriateness of the short format.
The Wheee crew prioritised concise and concrete communication that would keep children focused on the message. Which brings us to the next point!
Wheee’s Message
The way we parent has a profound impact on children, and that statement is no secret.
According to Gurova, Wheee delicately reminds adults to be gentle and in emotional control whenever their children are present.
Everyday life can push us all, which impacts self-expression and communication styles. The choices we make and the messages we deliver, however, can affect children in ways we can’t fully comprehend as adults. That’s the biggest takeaway for an adult audience.
Children also have something important to learn when watching Wheee.
Many dream of growing up, starting a family, and having a career. Living in the present moment and enjoying it to the fullest, however, is incredibly important. The past is behind us, and the future is yet to come. What happens right now is the one thing to immerse oneself in and experience consciously.
According to Gurova, Wheee delicately reminds adults to be gentle and in emotional control whenever their children are present.
Everyday life can push us all, which impacts self-expression and communication styles. The choices we make and the messages we deliver, however, can affect children in ways we can’t fully comprehend as adults. That’s the biggest takeaway for an adult audience.
Children also have something important to learn when watching Wheee.
Many dream of growing up, starting a family, and having a career. Living in the present moment and enjoying it to the fullest, however, is incredibly important. The past is behind us, and the future is yet to come. What happens right now is the one thing to immerse oneself in and experience consciously.
According to Gurova, this is the one key to lasting happiness.
Talking about the importance of Wheee, Gurova shared the following:
“This project is personally important due to its strong message. Additionally, it’s beautiful, magical, and approachable for every viewer.”
The Challenge of Being a Filmmaker in Bulgaria
Being a filmmaker in Bulgaria can be incredibly challenging, Gurova said.
Making Wheee happen involved numerous steps. “We lacked a contract with one of the funding entities until the very last minute,” Gurova told us. We faced both bureaucratic and production challenges.
She recounts one of the more curious situations the team had to handle during filming.
Making Wheee happen involved numerous steps. “We lacked a contract with one of the funding entities until the very last minute,” Gurova told us. We faced both bureaucratic and production challenges.
She recounts one of the more curious situations the team had to handle during filming.
Jumping over a puddle is a key element in the Wheee story. Making sure a puddle was present on one of Sofia’s landmark streets, however, proved to be a challenge, especially when such a “prop” is needed for numerous takes. It was also quite challenging working with children on set, and making sure they felt confident and comfortable in front of the camera.
In the end of the day, everybody was incredibly happy to see the final production and the role they played in making movie magic happen, Gurova said.
Creating a short film that targets a child audience was a challenge enough on its own, as well. Knowing the audience incredibly well is a prerequisite for a successful outcome. Being a mom helped Gurova focus on the right audience and understand its needs within the context of the production.
A Filmmaking Future
Currently, Gurova is working hard on presenting Wheee and giving the project enough exposure during various international film festivals. She recently came back from the Cannes festival, during which Wheee was presented to potential partners.
The production company already has plans for film screenings in 22 schools in Scotland. That partnership will significantly broaden the audience, giving Wheee an opportunity to impress viewers outside of Bulgaria.
In the end of June, Wheee screenings will occur as a part of In the Palace festival in Pernik.
The team hopes for Wheee to get sufficient exposure. They’re working on participation in various film festivals, potentially contributing to a larger viewership and even receiving rewards for the production.
Wheee’s most important goal, however, is to reach school-aged children. The team’s strategy is to organise as many screenings within primary schools and kindergartens as possible. Many of these children are too young, or they simply lack the option to attend a cinema screening. That’s why the production team behind Wheee intends to bring the film to the places these children spend time in on a daily basis.
Gurova also gave us a little glimpse at her professional future. Currently, she is working on a feature film that is once again directed towards a young audience. The film discusses the topic of loss and the way children can overcome it. The project falls within the magic realism genre – a characteristic that makes it incredibly challenging but quite promising at the same time.
The production company already has plans for film screenings in 22 schools in Scotland. That partnership will significantly broaden the audience, giving Wheee an opportunity to impress viewers outside of Bulgaria.
In the end of June, Wheee screenings will occur as a part of In the Palace festival in Pernik.
The team hopes for Wheee to get sufficient exposure. They’re working on participation in various film festivals, potentially contributing to a larger viewership and even receiving rewards for the production.
Wheee’s most important goal, however, is to reach school-aged children. The team’s strategy is to organise as many screenings within primary schools and kindergartens as possible. Many of these children are too young, or they simply lack the option to attend a cinema screening. That’s why the production team behind Wheee intends to bring the film to the places these children spend time in on a daily basis.
Gurova also gave us a little glimpse at her professional future. Currently, she is working on a feature film that is once again directed towards a young audience. The film discusses the topic of loss and the way children can overcome it. The project falls within the magic realism genre – a characteristic that makes it incredibly challenging but quite promising at the same time.
The Importance of Bringing Up Important Topics
We ended the discussion by focusing on the future. Here’s Gurova’s message to British School of Sofia students, especially those interested in pursuing art or filmmaking as a career.
There are wonderful universities meant to prepare graduates for a successful career. Gurova’s wish for all young creative people from BSS is to come up with original concepts and inspired projects. “It’s important for us as filmmakers to discuss important topics and consider the impact our work has on audiences. Gaining life experiences and being curious are both incredibly helpful. The career journey in the field of filmmaking can be incredibly rewarding, but it demands dedication and patience,” she concluded.
There are wonderful universities meant to prepare graduates for a successful career. Gurova’s wish for all young creative people from BSS is to come up with original concepts and inspired projects. “It’s important for us as filmmakers to discuss important topics and consider the impact our work has on audiences. Gaining life experiences and being curious are both incredibly helpful. The career journey in the field of filmmaking can be incredibly rewarding, but it demands dedication and patience,” she concluded.
