SOFIA: A group of Bulgarian filmmakers staged a protest outside Nu Boyana Film Studios, raising concerns about the future of film production at the complex as a key 20-year restriction under the studio's privatisation agreement is set to expire this autumn.

SOFIA: Oscar-nominated director Theodore Ushev is in preparation with his first long animated film, Light Boxes, an ambitious hybrid of 3D stop-motion puppet animation and live action. This Bulgarian majority coproduction also involving Bulgaria, Canada, France, Belgium, and Poland, was showcased at the 2026 Venice Gap-Financing Market (4 – 6 September 2026), part of the Venice Production Bridge at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival (2 – 12 September 2026).

VARNA: The Czech Republic student film Gentle by Jamaica Kindlova won the Grand Prix at the 22^nd edition of the World Festival of Animated Film Varna (2-6 September 2026), which screened 73 films in four categories. The award for best Bulgarian film went to Nephila by Kristian Zahariev.

SOFIA: Bulgarian director/writer Victor Bojinov is currently in postproduction with Chamkoria. Based on the bestselling novel by acclaimed Bulgarian writer Milen Ruskov, the film marks Bojinov’s second adaptation of Ruskov’s work, following Heights (produced by Serpentine ltd.,2017), which became one of the most successful Bulgarian films.

VARNA: The French production A Hint of Love / Une pointe d’amour by Maël Piriou received the Grand Prix Golden Aphrodite at the 34^th International Film Festival Love Is Folly”, held at the Festival and Congress Centre in Varna, Bulgaria 26 – 30 August 2026.

VARNA: A total of 16 feature films, 29 short fiction films and three fiction TV series will screen in the three official competitions of the 44th Golden Rose Bulgarian Feature Film Festival, which will take place in Varna from 17 to 24 September 2026.

BURGAS: Gözde Kural's Cinema Jazireh won the Best Feature Film Award at the 11th edition of the Burgas International Film Festival. Hugo Salvaterra's My Semba received a Special Mention, while the Bulgarian film Women Out of Order took home the Audience Award.

SOFIA: Bulgarian/Italian Cold directed by Ana Kitanova and produced by Stefan Kitanov is due to complete postproduction in August 2026. It is not only the first feature film directed by Ana Kitanova and written by Iliana Kitanova, but also the first feature film lensed by cinematographer Angel Balakchiyiski.

SOFIA: Petar Valchanov and Kristina Grozeva’s Bulgarian/Greek coproduction Black Money for White Nights has been acquired by Cercamon ahead of its world premiere in the Official Competition of the 2026 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (3 – 11 July 2026).

SOFIA: The 15th edition of Sofia Pride Film Fest will premiere eight feature films and eleven short films, each offering a unique perspective on the lives, challenges, and experiences of queer people. The festival will take place in Sofia 2 - 12 June 2026, and all titles will compete for Audience Awards.