A French TV crew from Toulouse is to make a documentary about the folklore festival Surova (or Surva) in Leskovets village near Pernik. The French journalists are working on a European project connected with masquerade traditions. They will see how masks are made at a specialized workshop, will go to different homes in the village to see how the locals are getting ready for the festival and what kind of food they are preparing.

Surva is part of Bulgaria’s intangible cultural heritage. It is held in Pernik and nearby villages on 13 and 14 January every year as a ritual for welcoming the coming of the New Year (old style) with a positive transition from the old to a new beginning.

On the first night a group of survakari – men, women and children wearing masks and costumes - go to the village square where they light a fire and dance. Early on the following morning they make the rounds of the homes in the village to extend blessings for health and prosperity.

The crew will film masquerade traditions in other countries as well – Portugal, Sweden, Italy, France and Latvia.