National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, Bulgaria

The National Academy for Theatre & Film Arts(NATFA) is Bulgaria's premier tertiary school and one of the top training European institutions in the fields of Stage and Screen Arts. It was founded in 1948 and remains the only state-funded such educational institution in the country. It is located in Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria. The population of Sofia is about 1.5 million; it is a busy city with a long history, a colourful mixture of antiquity and modernity. The climate is considered moderate. Traveling around the city and the region is easy and there are lots of exciting places to see.

The National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts aspires to give a first-rate professional and academic education to each of its students, to foster their creativity and to broaden their cultural horizons. The academic staff consists of distinguished practising artists, critics, researchers and educators in the field of Stage and Screen Arts, with a deep commitment to  their work.

The process of applying theory to professional practice is essential to our educational philosophy. The graduates of NATFA acquire a wide range of  creative, critical, performing and productive skills and qualifications. Many  of them build rewarding careers in Bulgaria and abroad.

International cooperation at all levels of academic and artistic exchange has always been among the top priorities of NATFA. Its outstanding graduates' achievements are recognized through yearly participation in more than 80 students' and professional festivals, workshops, seminars, congresses, conferences and symposia.NAFTA is actively engaged in many international projects in the field of theatre and film arts. Since 1982 NATFA has been a full member of CILECT (Centre International de Liason des Ecoles de Cinema et de Television), since 1990 it has been a full member of ELIA (The European League of Institutes of the Arts). NATFA is also a member of UNIMA (The International Puppeteers Association) and ITI (The International Theatre Institute). It has established long-term contacts with universities and art academies all over the world. We are an active partner in projects developed through ERASMUS, TEMPUS and other educational programs.