The 2026 Vasil Gendov Awards concluded the National Festival of Bulgarian Cinema at the Ivan Vazov National Theatre on Sunday. The ceremony honored achievements across 112 submitted works, encompassing 18 feature films, 54 documentaries, 24 short features, and 16 animated films. The event marked a historical milestone for the festival, as the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to two notable figures: composer Kiril Donchev and screenwriter Hristo Iliev-Charli, acknowledging their significant contributions to Bulgarian cinema.
In the feature film category, The Herd received the Best Feature Film Award, while Lust was recognized with the jury’s Special Award. Zahari Baharov was honored as Best Actor, and Gergana Pletnyova won Best Actress. Other categories saw notable winners.
Eraserhead in a Knitted Shopping Bag secured Best Short Film, and Chapter 6 received the jury’s Special Diploma. For documentary filmmaking, In Hell with Ivowas won Best Documentary, and Welcome to Sinagovci received the jury’s Special Award. Furthermore, Tonislav Hristov’s Truth or Dare was awarded the Sofia Municipality Award for its significant social message.
The recognition continued in the debut categories, where Nevena Semova won Best Documentary Debut for Jar of Time. In animation, Sofia Sokerova and Sonya Ranova received the Best Animated Debut Award for Under and Over the Bed, and Ivan Veselinov’s Kumir (Idol) earned the jury’s Special Award. The awards ceremony provided a comprehensive showcase of contemporary Bulgarian
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