The 39^th edition of the Apollonia Arts Festival opens in Sozopol, a resort town on the Black Sea combining antiquity with modernity. The festival features various literary events, music, theatre, cinema and exhibitions, and will go on until 5 September.

The opening is at 8.30 tonight with a gala concert by the Stefan Makedonski national music theatre with magnificent music by Lehar, Kalman and Johann Strauss II. In the course of the week visitors to the festival will be able to see exhibitions at the Art Gallery in Sozopol’s old town, plays staged by renowned Sofia theatre houses, as well as other performing arts, and popular Bulgarian rock bands. Master classes for young artists and performers are an important part of the festival programme.

• Georgi Gospodinov becomes first-ever Bulgarian winner of the International Booker Prize

Booker prize winner Georgi Gospodinov will head the creative writing master class, while instructor of the violin master class will be renowned violinist Mincho Minchev. The fans of Bulgarian cinema will be offered documentary as well as feature films.