Bulgarian PR expert Maxim Behar and actress Teodora Duhovnikova made a memorable red carpet appearance at the Cannes Film Festival.

Maxim Behar, who is the CEO of M3 Communications Group, Inc., the largest Bulgarian PR agency, and revered Bulgarian actress Teodora Duhovnikova, became the first two Bulgarians ever to step onto the red carpet, a venue traditionally reserved exclusively for the Golden Palm nominees.

The only one, who have had the privilege of being invited so far, was actress Ginka Stancheva, who sashayed down in a traditional Bulgarian folk costume back in 1957 thanks to her role in the film "Earth", directed by Zahari Zhandov.

The names of the two Bulgarians and the country they represent were announced officially as they stepped onto the carpet for the information of the hundreds of journalists and producers who had come to welcome the guests.

In the framework of the visit, they conferred with dozens of representatives of the film industry, talked to colleagues from many countries and participated in events in the festival's program, which were available only for the official guests.

"I had an important role to play in Cannes, though not a movie role," shared Maxim Behar after his return.

"It has been my mission for years on end to improve Bulgaria's image abroad and explain to people what a wonderful country it is. I think I succeeded this time in convincing many people, who can invest here," he said.

"The Cannes Film Festival for me was a unique experience. I had the opportunity to see colleagues, feel the creative atmosphere and watch the best of today's world cinema. I hope one day to see a Bulgarian movie in the official competition program and multiply the success of Iglika Trifonova, who this year won first prize for her script," said Teodora Duhovnikova.

Duhovnikova and Behar attended the premiere of Turkey's "Once Upon a Time in Anatolia", which just hours later won the Grand Prix of the festival.

They handed over to Lucy Shannon, Area Manager at Chivas Brothers, a special gift for actor Robert De Niro, who presided over this year's jury.

It re-produces the work of Bulgarian math wonderkid Radko Kotev, who recently solved the ancient geometrical problem of Apollonius in a way no other mathematician has ever done. The young Bulgarian's solution is only the fifth known in history.

"We wanted to show the president of the jury and the whole world that there are many like Radko Kotev in Bulgaria, who – we are sure – will one day be those who will write the history of cinema too!," Maxim Behar is convinced.

Behar and Duhovnikova participated in the final two days of the Cannes Film Festival as ambassadors of Bulgaria at the invitation of the organizers and Chivas Regal, the exclusive partner of the Cannes Festival.

Each year Chivas Regal organizes an elite event in a specially selected house, to which popular personalities from around the world are invited. They are selected for being opinion leaders in their country. The initiative aims the preservation and fostering of values such as chivalry, honor, and dignity.