Controversial Bulgarian film Baklava received its first European premiere at the Balkan Snapshots Film Festival in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on October 11 2008.

The film was the only Bulgarian contribution in the third year of the festival. "The romantic images from the films of Emir Kusturica, the popularity of Gypsy music and Karadzic's beard determine to a large extent the image we have of countries like Bosnia, Serbia and Albania," organisers said in a media statement. It was time to take another look, organisers decided.

The three-day festival showed a total of 10 films plus four programmes of film shorts from the Balkan region, with a large emphasis on the countries of the former republic of Yugoslavia. The films were shown in two cinema houses in Amsterdam between October 9 and 11.

The festival opened with a rakiya toast and baklava.

The film Baklava was shown on the closing night of the festival in the presence of director Alexo Petrov. According to the festival organisers, Petrov had his flight schedule changed to avoid landing in Sofia where they said he could possibly be arrested for his part in the production of the film.

Baklava was shot with the participation of children from an orphanage in Bourgas and tells the story of two brothers reunited in a hunt for a mysterious buried treasure.

The Ministry of Culture and the management of the orphanage lent their support to the production of the film, but they changed their position on it following media reports accusing the film of promoting drugs use, child pornography and homosexuality.

Prosecutors in Bourgas announced an investigation into the case over allegations of child labour and the production of pornography, but the case has not reached court so far.

In a statement, Petrov said: "The film at some point maybe is entertaining, shocking or even makes people blush, but at least it shows what is really going on in Bulgaria. On the street, in our concrete apartments, at bus stations, on TV, at the overcrowded stadiums during pop folk concerts, at the bars, in the orphanages and children's care homes."

"What is happening to Bulgarian kids on our streets is much more terrifying than what is shown in the movie," Petrov said.

The film will be shown in the UK, on October 16 at the Mannings live music bar in Hendon and on October 19 at the Bakers Arms in London.

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