About Us

The National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts “Kr. Sarafov ”(NATFA) is the first higher theatre school in Bulgaria. Since its establishment in 1948, the Academy is one of the most prestigious European and Bulgarian educational institutions in the field of stage and screen arts. NATFA is the only educational institution in Bulgaria in this specialized field, financed primarily by the Ministry of Education and Science. The history of the Academy is closely connected with the history of Bulgarian theater and film culture.

Today NATFA is a modern educational institution with well-established programmes that correspond to the educational standards. We work in partnership with prestigious scientific, cultural, non-profit, production and business organizations on diverse national and international programmes. We also cooperate actively with international universities and art academies.

Our mission and goals correspond to our educational philosophy, shared organizational values, trends in the development of educational practices in Bulgaria and around the world, as well as to the specific organizational characteristics of the Academy.

The academic staff of NATFA includes leading experts, professional artists, researchers, and educators in the field of stage and screen arts, theatre and film production, arts management, creative entrepreneurship, European cultural policy and other key areas. Many of our lecturers are authors of textbooks, research work and publications. They also take part in key national and international forms of exchange (symposia, conferences, colloquia, etc.), create films and theater productions, and are invited as jury members to international festivals. NATFA publishes a selection of research and scientific works in the Yearbook of NATFA.

International cooperation at all levels of artistic and academic exchange is among our key priorities. We have established and we maintain long-term contacts with universities and academies in Europe and across the world. We also maintain efficient partnership on educational, research and training projects and programs. Our academy is:

– full member of CILECT (International Association of Film and Television Schools) since 1982;

– full member of ELIA (European League of Institutes of the Arts) since 1990;

– full member of WTEA (World Organization for Theatre Education) since 2016;

– member of WMO (World Mime Organisation) since 2018;

– members of CUMULUS (International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media) since 2020.

– full member of ENCATC (European Network for Cultural Management and Policy since 2020.

NATFA offers higher education in the field of screen and stage arts at three levels – Bachelor, Master and Doctor. The entrance/admission exams are between 1 and 10 September each year, and the number of admitted students is around 220. The documents for the acquired educational degree and professional qualification, issued by NATFA, have international recognition through the conventions, signed by the Republic of Bulgaria.

NATFA is based in four buildings, three of them are in the center of Sofia. The National Palace of Culture, the National Theatre, the National Opera and Ballet and the National Puppet Theatre are located near to the Academy. A variety of shopping malls and some of the most famous theaters in Sofia are also located at a walking distance.

NATFA also boasts several training centres that finalize the educational process: NATFA Theatre, NATFA Puppet Theatre, and the Educational Audio-Visual Complex.

Also at the disposal of the students and lecturers are: the Academic Library and Archive , TV studios, sound stages, computer studios, recording studios, editing suites, B/W and color photo lab, a number of training theatre stages and dance halls.

All students may benefit from using NATFA student canteen and may be accommodated at NATFA dormitory, located at the Students City (Studentski Grad), where life never stops.

The infrastructure of the Students City includes sports facilities, a wide variety of restaurants, centers for recreation and entertainment, specialized polyclinics and medical centers, shops, kindergartens and playgrounds, student canteens, as well as a convenient transportation network.