Sofia's Independent Film Festival – a celebration of more thought-proving films – still has several days left to run.

Today, November 1, sees a documentary on late president Ronald Reagan, one of the more controversial US leaders, seen as a simpleton by his critics but as one of the architects of the Cold War by his supporters. Screened at Cinema City on November 1 at at 7pm and House of Cinema on November 2 at 9pm.

Mel Gibson, also a controversial figure, sought to re-launch his career with The Beaver, an unusual tale of a middle-aged man facing a domestic and professional crisis who develops a strange relationship with a glove puppet that allows him to re-build his life. The film, directed by Jodie Foster, is shown on November 2 at 9pm at Cinema City and at the same venue on November 4 at 9pm. 

Also on November 2, at House of Cinema, at 9pm, Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart star in Rabbit Hole as a happily married couple whose world is destroyed when their son is killed in a car crash.

Leaves of Grass (November 3 at 9pm at Cinema City) stars the talented Edward Norton who gives a real tour de force performance as twin bothers, one an academic, the other a drug dealer.

A Letter to Elia on November 3 at 7pm at Cinema City, and November 5  at 6pm at House of Cinema is a Martin Scorsese documentary about legendary film-maker Elia Kazan, director of classics such as On The Waterfront starring Marlon Brando.

Among the highlights of the festival so far was The Conspirator, an intelligent production from Robert Redford about the assassination of president Abraham Lincoln.

The full programme is available here