The 2026 Vasil Gendov Awards concluded the National Festival of Bulgarian Cinema, held at the Ivan Vazov National Theatre on Sunday. The highly anticipated event showcased 112 submissions across various categories, including feature films, documentaries, short features, and animated works. The ceremony marked a historical moment for the festival, as the Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to two notable figures: composer Kiril Donchev and screenwriter Hristo Iliev-Charli, recognizing their profound contributions to Bulgarian cinema.
In the feature film category, The Herd secured the Best Feature Film Award, while Lust received the jury’s Special Award. Zahari Baharov was recognized as Best Actor, and Gergana Pletnyova won Best Actress. The awards continued across specialized categories.
In the short feature division, Eraserhead in a Knitted Shopping Bag was named Best Short Film. The documentary segment saw In Hell with Ivowas win Best Documentary, and Welcome to Sinagovci received the jury’s Special Award. Furthermore, Tonislav Hristov’s Truth or Dare was honored with the Sofia Municipality Award for its significant social message.
Recognizing emerging talent, Nevena Semova earned Best Documentary Debut for Jar of Time, while Sofia Sokerova and Sonya Ranova were awarded Best Animated Debut for Under and Over the Bed. Ivan
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