National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts "Kr. Sarafov"

What National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts "Kr. Sarafov" does

Bulgaria's only state higher education institution dedicated to theatre and film arts, the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts "Kr. Sarafov" (NATFA) operates from a central Sofia campus comprising three buildings on G.S. Rakovski Street and Stefan Karadja Street, with an additional branch in Burgas. Founded in 1948 as the first higher theatre school in Bulgaria and renamed to its current form by National Assembly decision on 21 July 1995, NATFA delivers Bachelor, Master, and PhD programs across two faculties — Stage Arts and Screen Arts — and admits approximately 220 students annually through entrance exams held between 1 and 10 September. The Academy's practical training infrastructure includes a 430-seat teaching theatre (operational since 1957), a 100-seat puppet theatre, an Educational Audio-Visual Complex with TV studios, sound stages, recording studios, editing suites, and photo labs, a 57,000-volume specialized library, plus a 320-bed student dormitory and a 100-seat canteen.

NATFA's revenue model is dominated by state budget allocations from the Ministry of Education and Science, supplemented by tuition from non-EU international students, EU project grants (Erasmus+, Creative Europe, Horizon Europe), theatre ticket sales at the NATFA Theatre and Puppet Theatre box office, and rental income from commercial spaces such as the 178 sq.m. Art Zone. The Academy is governed by a Rector (Prof. Dr. Miroslav Dachev), two Vice-Rectors, six department heads, and faculty-level deans, and maintains full memberships in six international organizations (CILECT, ELIA, WTEA, WMO, CUMULUS, ENCATC). Its customer base is dual: an annual intake of undergraduate and graduate students as primary learners, and general public audiences for theatrical productions; on the funding side, it is essentially a single-counterparty operation with the Bulgarian state. The Academy won the Presidential Honorary Sign of the Republic of Bulgaria in June 2026.

Name

National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts "Kr. Sarafov"

Legal name

Национална академия за театрално и филмово изкуство „Кр.Сарафов", София (НАТФИЗ)

Website

https://natfiz.bg

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts "Kr. Sarafov" is Bulgaria's only state-funded higher education institution for theatre and film arts, delivering Bachelor, Master, and PhD programs to roughly 220 new students annually from a central Sofia campus with a 430-seat teaching theatre, puppet theatre, and audio-visual complex.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education in Theatre and Film Arts

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Performing Arts (Acting, Improv, Theater) (EDAAAGAE)

Keywords

• Higher theatre education
• Film arts training
• Performing arts studies
• Stage arts programs
• Acting directing programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sofia

HQ country

Bulgaria

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. State Budget Funding: Primary financing from the Ministry of Education and Science as the only specialized state higher education institution in theatre and film arts in Bulgaria.
2. Tuition Fees: Revenue from tuition programs for non-EU international students and specialized programs including Continuing Education Center.
3. Property Rental: Rental income from commercial spaces including Art Zone (178 sq.m.) and mobile repair office (15.80 sq.m.) located in academy buildings.
4. EU Project Grants: Funding from European programs including Erasmus+, Creative Europe (EMPACT), and Horizon Europe (IN SITU) for research and educational projects.
5. Theatre Ticket Sales: Revenue from NATFA Theatre and Puppet Theatre performances, with box office at 108A G.S. Rakovski St.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts "Kr. Sarafov" (NATFA) is a state higher education institution that delivers Bachelor, Master, and PhD programs in stage and screen arts, including acting, directing, puppet theatre, film and television production, cinematography, and performing arts management. The Academy supplements academic instruction with practical training through its own 430-seat NATFA Theatre, 100-seat NATFA Puppet Theatre, Educational Audio-Visual Complex, and specialized academic library, and also operates continuing education programs for industry professionals.

Product overview

NATFA is a higher education institution offering a unified academic portfolio centered on theatre and film arts education. The institution provides Bachelor, Master, and PhD programs across stage and screen arts disciplines. Supporting the academic mission are practical training facilities including NATFA Theatre, NATFA Puppet Theatre, and an Educational Audio-Visual Complex. Student life services include a dormitory and canteen. The institution also maintains an Academic Library and Archive with specialized collections, and offers continuing education through its dedicated center. The Academy publishes a monthly newsletter for community communication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NATFA Theatre
• NATFA Puppet Theatre
• Educational Audio-Visual Complex

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Centre for Social Studies at the University of Coimbra (Portugal)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2022IN SITU project coordinator (Horizon Europe). Project on place-based innovation of cultural and creative industries in non-urban areas with 48-month duration starting July 1, 2022. NATFA leads capacity-building and training activities within the project.
• Bifrost University (Iceland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIN SITU project partner. Collaborated on workshops in Borgarnes, Iceland on May 30-31, 2024 focusing on storytelling, EU funding applications, and regional identity.
• Latvian Academy of CulturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIN SITU project partner. Co-hosted collaborative seminar in Valmiera, Latvia on April 24-25, 2024 covering audience engagement, storytelling, and social entrepreneurship.
• University of Turku (Finland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIN SITU project partner. Hosted collaborative seminar in Rauma, Finland on October 31 - November 2, 2023 on artistic entrepreneurship in non-urban areas.
• University of the Azores (Portugal)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIN SITU project partner. Hosted workshops on July 3-4, 2024 in Ponta Delgada, Azores on storytelling, social entrepreneurship, and EU funding strategies.
• Kultura Nova Foundation (Croatia)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIN SITU project partner. Co-organized workshop in Sibenik, Croatia on September 30 - October 1, 2024 on cooperation for sustainability and local capacity building.
• University of Galway (Ireland)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIN SITU project partner. Hosted workshops in Galway, Ireland on February 22-23, 2024 on creative technologies, funding strategies, and creative spaces management.
• Cyprus University of Technology (Cyprus)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMPACT project coordinator. Project on empathy and sustainability in arts, co-funded by Creative Europe programme (Grant Agreement No: 101055903). NATFA hosts artistic residencies and seminars.
• Fondazione Lamberto Puggelli (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMPACT project partner focusing on artistic practices and sustainability.
• Espacio Rojo (Spain)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMPACT project partner. Hosted seminars in Madrid on May 24-26, 2023 on artistic and business collaboration for sustainable future.
• Wisefour (Cyprus)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMPACT project partner contributing to project activities.
• Maribor Art Gallery (Slovenia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMPACT project partner in cultural and artistic collaboration.
• Nature, Art & Habitat Residency /NAHR/ ECO-Laboratory (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMPACT project partner hosting artistic residencies. NATFA residency theme is 'Water: Memory & Movement' in Sozopol, Bulgaria.
• Vorres Museum (Greece)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMPACT project partner hosting artistic residencies and final exhibition of project artworks.
• Apollonia Festival of Arts (Bulgaria)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership for NATFA's EMPACT artistic residency 'Water: Memory and Movement' in Sozopol. Partnership allows residency participants to attend arts and culture events during festival period.
• CILECT (International Association of Film and Television Schools)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member since 1982. International network of film and television schools for academic exchange and collaboration.
• ELIA (European League of Institutes of the Arts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member since 1990. European network of arts institutions for exchange and collaboration.
• WTEA (World Organization for Theatre Education)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member since 2016. Global organization for theatre education.
• WMO (World Mime Organisation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember since 2018. International organization for mime arts.
• CUMULUS (International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design and Media)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member since 2020. International association for art, design and media education.
• ENCATC (European Network for Cultural Management and Policy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFull member since 2020. European network for cultural management education and policy.
• European Commission / Erasmus+ ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent mobility and exchange programs. NATFA participates in Erasmus+ for international student and staff exchanges with partner universities.
• Ministry of Education and Science (Bulgaria)coreOthersPrimary state financing source for NATFA as the only specialized higher education institution in theatre and film arts in Bulgaria.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• University of the Arts Helsinki (Uniarts Helsinki / Theatre Academy): Finnish national performing arts academy within Uniarts Helsinki, offering Bachelor/Master/Doctoral programs in acting, directing, dramaturgy, and light/sound design. Comparable in offering full-degree programmes anchored in a dedicated arts university with state backing.
• National University of Theatre and Film 'I.L. Caragiale' Bucharest (UNATC): Romanian national academy for theatre and film arts education. Directly comparable Eastern European peer offering equivalent Bachelor/Master/Doctoral programs in dramatic and screen arts with state funding.
• Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (AMU / FAMU, DAMU, HAMU): Czech national academy offering Bachelor/Master/PhD programs in film (FAMU), theatre (DAMU), and music (HAMU). Directly comparable as a Central European state-financed performing arts higher education institution with similar faculty/department structure and degree offerings.
• National Film and Television School (NFTS, UK): UK's national film and television school offering MA-level training across film, television, and screen crafts. Comparable as a specialized postgraduate screen-arts institution with similar curriculum areas (directing, cinematography, production).
• University of Theatre and Film Arts Budapest (SZFE): Hungary's principal state university for theatre and film arts. Closest regional analogue to NATFA in mission, program portfolio (acting, directing, film studies), and state-financed operating model.
• La Fémis (École Nationale Supérieure des Métiers de l'Image et du Son): France's leading national film and television school under the Ministry of Culture. Comparable as a state-supported specialized film/TV higher education institution with rigorous admission and industry-aligned training.
• German Film and Television Academy Berlin (DFFB): Berlin-based film school focused on feature filmmaking. Comparable as a European state-supported specialized film higher education institution offering postgraduate training in directing, cinematography, and production.

Broad incumbents

• Tisch School of the Arts (NYU): Major US performing and cinematic arts school within NYU, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in acting, film, television, and dramatic writing. Comparable in degree breadth across stage and screen arts at undergraduate/graduate level.
• Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA): Prestigious UK conservatoire offering vocational training in acting, technical theatre, and design. Comparable as a leading performing arts training institution at degree-equivalent level, though privately funded and more selective in scale.

Others

• ELIA (European League of Institutes of the Arts): European network of which NATFA is a full member since 1990. Comparable as a peer network rather than competitor, providing context for how NATFA positions among European arts higher education institutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1wPrp1wp8DHHe_0oPSUtVA
• Facebookfacebook.com/natfiz.bg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-academy-of-theatre-and-film-arts-kr-sarafov

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts "Kr. Sarafov"