In June the American Research Center in Sofia organized screenings at the Consulate General of Bulgaria in New York City and at the American University in Washington, D.C. of "Göç: Stepping Across the Border," a documentary on the forceful renaming of Bulgarian Turks in the mid- and late 80ties of XXth century. The screening was followed by a discussion with Irina Nedeva, co-director of the documentary. 

Stepping across the border – not only across the state border but also across the border of tolerability. Göç offers a journey beyond the border of oblivion more than two decades after the forcible name-changing (1984 - 1985) and the mass deportation (1989) to the Republic of Turkey of thousands of Bulgarian citizens ethnic Turks. The event in New York attracted about forty people, some of whom travelled from Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Among the attendants were at least half a dozen ethnic Turks who experienced the renaming process first hand. The discussion continued for hours at the reception that followed the event. The screening of Göç in Washington, D.C. was attended by Ambassadors Sol Polansky and James Pardew, among others. 

Ms. Irina Nedeva is a Senior Editor at the Bulgarian National Radio. In 2012-13 she was a Hubert Humphrey Fellow at the University of Maryland, College Park. In the spring of 2012 Ms. Nedeva was also and intern at ARCS developing communication strategy with the media in Bulgaria. 

"Göç: Stepping Across the Border," (2010) 51 min., with English subtitles

Directors: Andrey Getov and Irina Nedeva

Script: Daniela Gortcheva

ARCS would like to express its gratitude to Mr. Radoslav Totchev, General Consul of Bulgaria in New York and to Prof. Assen Assenov, Associate  Director for Research Support  at the American University, Washington , D.C. for their generous support and for hosting the events.