- event type:WOMEX 26 Film Library
- date:22 Oct 2026 - 24 Oct 2026
- time:11:00-17:00
- city/area:Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
- venue:Auditorio Alfredo Kraus | WOMEX 26 Venue
- country:Spain
- event posted by:Piranha Arts
Directed by Kristina Nikolova
Duration 78’ | English and Bulgarian with English subtitles
Bulgarian queer artist Ivo Dimchev captivates audiences worldwide with electrifying performances blending music, theatre, dance, and visual art. HIV-positive, he performed over 400 free concerts in people's homes during Covid lockdowns, documented in In Hell With Ivo. Resisting a world that pushes back against his radical individuality, and bearing the isolation and emotional cost of artistic freedom, Dimchev turns personal vulnerability and collective hardship into powerful art and activism — a celebration of authentic, uncompromising self-expression.
Born in Bulgaria, Kristina Nikolova grew up in a family of cinematographers. Her directorial feature debut, Faith, Love and Whiskey, was nominated for Best Debut Feature by the Bulgarian Film Academy. Kristina is currently finishing her feature documentary In Hell With Ivo and shooting another feature documentary, Project CETI, about a group of scientists who are attempting to communicate with whales using AI.
Ivo Dimchev is performing at WOMEX as part of its Showcase programme.
Production Country, Year Bulgaria, USA, 2025
Produced by Kristina Nikolova
Co-Produced by Georgi Nikolov
Producers Kristina Nikolova, Georgi Nikolov, Faridah Gbadamosi, Dimitra Kouzi
Executive Producer David France
Associate Producer Amelita Lijek
Director of Photography Alexander Stanishev
Sound Tom Paul for Som Vivo
Music Ivo Dimchev
Editor Anastas Petkov
