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Chicago Days are co-organized by the Friends of Chicago Foundation, So!a City Hall and the Em-bassy of the United States. Held just before the 4th of July for the second consecutive year, Chicago Days bene!t from people-to-people diplomacy to pro-mote Bulgarian-American friendship and coopera-tion and to provide public support for establishing a sister cities relationship between Bulgaria’s capital So!a and Chicago.

"e four movies selected for 2012 !lm series “Chicago on the American screen“ are related to the great city of Chicago as well as to eternal human pursuit for ideas that could change one’s life. “Ferris Bueller’s Day O# “ is a discreet look at the breathtaking Chicago architecture and people-friendly environment and explains what we are missing most in a city made of glass and concrete. At a glance, “"e Untouchables” seems to be an Al Capone story. In fact, this !lm shows how people’s courage and commitment could help a city to escape from the organized crime nightmare. “"e Proof” is charged with almost mythical intellectual energy that helps understand why the Chicago University is a$liated with 87 Nobel Prize laureates. And “Chicago” is a friendly wink to anyone who wants to discover more about the exciting staves of musical life in this fantastic city.

"is comedy is a !lm director Hughes’ love letter to the city of Chicago: “I re-ally wanted to capture as much of Chi-cago as I could. Not just in the architec-ture and landscape, but the spirit.” Ferris Bueller, a popular high school student

Saturday, June 30, 2012, 8:30 p.m.ART Space (between Patriarch Evtimiy Blvd. and Frityof Nansen Blvd.)Free and open to the public

OFFICIAL OPENING OF 2012 CHICAGO DAYS IN SOFIA“CHICAGO”

“Chicago” is a musical !lm, exploring the themes of celebrity, scandal, and corruption in Jazz-age Chicago. In 2002, the musical “Chicago” won six Oscars: for best picture, best support-

ing actress, art direction, costume design, sound and !lm editing. Di-rector: Rob Marshall. Starring: Cath-erine Zeta-Jones, Renee Zellweger, Richard Gere.

Infamous Chicago gangster Al Capone who claimed he “owned” Chicago is America’s best known gangster and the single greatest symbol of the collapse of law and order in the United States dur-ing the 1920s Prohibition era. Federal

Sunday, July 1, 2012, 9:00 p.m.ART Space (between Patriarch Evtimiy Blvd. and Frityof Nansen Blvd.)Free and open to the public

“THE UNTOUCHABLES”Agent Eliot Ness set out to stop Al Ca-pone. And he knows that shoot fast and shoot !rst is the only rule in the battle against the organized crime. Director: Brian De Palma. Starring: Kevin Cost-ner, Sean Connery, Robert De Niro.

Monday, July 2, 2012, 9:00 p.m.ART Space (between Patriarch Evtimiy Blvd. and Frityof Nansen Blvd.)Free and open to the public

“PROOF” The University of Chicago is affili-ated with 87 Nobel Prize laureates. “Proof ” is a film reveling how such international reputation has been won throughout the years. It tells the

story of a Chicago University profes-sor who has to explore the way from madness to geniality. Director: John Madden. Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012, 9:00 p.m.ART Space (between Patriarch Evtimiy Blvd. and Frityof Nansen Blvd.)Free and open to the public

“FERRIS BUELLER’S DAY OFF “living in an a%uent Chicago suburb, takes a day o# and heads for adventure in downtown Chicago. Director: John Hughes. Starring: Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara and .... a classic 1961 red Ferrari 250 GT convertible.

Vasil Georgiev, famous in Bulgaria and abroad as Vasko " e Patch, is the frontmen of So! a based Po-duene Blues Band. He plays drums, harmonica and guitar. A blues sing-er, song writer and excellent musi-cian, Vasko the Patch has invalu-able contribution to the the history of blues music in this country.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012, 8:00 p.m.ART Space (between Patriarch

Evtimiy Blvd. and Frityof Nansen Blvd.)

Free and open to the public

VASKO THE PATCH AND PODUENE BLUES BAND

In his documentary, Ivan Kozhuharov shares his excitement and respect for America. He has the talent to translate what has been unknown into readable and lovable story; therefore, a& er seeing Ivan Kozhuharov’s doc-umentary, we feel Chicago like part of our own life memory.

In the intermission (from 9:45 to 9:15 p.m.) screening of Ivan Kozhuharov’s documentary

“PICTURES AND SOUNDS FROM CHICAGO”

National Day of Bulgaria to be Bulgarian Day in Chicago and encourages all Chicagoans to recognize the contributions of Bulgarian community to the city.

ceremony of rasing Bulgarian Flag to celebrate Bulgarian National Day is held every year.

recognized as one of the o$cial languages for providing useful information for taxpayers by the Cook County Treasurer’s O$ce.

best self-organized Bulgarian community in the world.

thus, Chicago was the !rst in the world to recognize Bulgaria as an independent state

of the Mayor of So!a, Mr. Boyko Borissov, with the Mayor of Chicago, Mr. Richard

“Dear Mr. Sotirov,Please accept my cordial congratula-tions for establishing Friends of Chi-cago Foundation and providing pub-lic support for the rising cooperation between So!a and Chicago. Undoubtedly, closer cooperation will be bene!cial for the two cities and will make the e"orts to improve quality of life of our citizens more e#cient.$e So!a City Hall praises the Friends of Chicago Foundation’s idea of establish-

“Dear Mr. Sotirov,As Mayor and on behalf of the City of Chicago, I write to congratulate you on the continued success of the orga-nization you have founded, Friends of Chicago.$e support you are building for the cooperation between Chicago and Bulgaria will be bene!cial for many of our citizens, and I am con!dent the experience and knowledge you gained during your time in Chicago as Con-sul General of Bulgaria will be invalu-

ing a sister cities relationship between So!a and Chicago and will support any future activity of your organization aimed at making our two cities closer.As the relations between So!a and Chicago are based on friendship and shared interests, I believe that our common e"orts will make this signi!-cant project a success. Sincerely,

Jordanka FandakovaMayor”

Letter of the Mayor of Sofia to Friends of Chicago

!e Mayor of Chicago, Mr. Rahm Emanuel, has sent a letter to Mr. Ivan Sotirov, President of the Friends of Chicago Foundation, to express his con-"dence and support for the implementation of the organization’s goals.!e Mayor’s letter says:

able as you continue to work to pro-mote exchange between Chicago and Bulgaria. We value the relationship we share with your great nation, and I look forward to strengthening the ties between us.

Once again, please accept my sincere congratulations and best wishes for much continued success.

Sincerely,

Rahm EmanuelMayor”

Mayor Emanuel Congratulates Bulgarian Friends of Chicago

!e Mayor of So"a, Mrs. Jordanka Fandakova, has sent an o#cial letter to Mr. Ivan Sotirov, President of the Friends of Chicago Foundation, to express her con"dence and support for the future activities of the organi-zation. !e Mayor’s letter says:

Friends of Chicago Foundation, founded in April 2010 in So"a, Bulgaria, is a nongovernmental

organization committed to developing Bulgaria-United States citizen partnerships and providing

public support for establishing a sister cities relationship between

Bulgaria’s capital So"a and Chicago. Email: office@friendsofchicago.org

www.friendsofchicago.orgwww.facebook.com/friendsofchicago

So"a – Chicago