The 30th Jubilee Sofia International Film Festival held in March 2026 presents a total of 167 films from 60 countries and 6 continents. A special selection of the films is available ONLINE from anywhere in Bulgaria until 15 April at neterra.tv+. The festival welcomed over 300 international guests.
The Awards Ceremony took place at Hall 1 of the National Palace of Culture on 21 March 2026.
THE INTERNATIONAL JURY FOR FIRST AND SECOND FEATURE FILMS
György Pálfi (Hungary) – Screenwriter and Director, Jury President
Matteo Zoppis (Italy)– Director
Yana Titova (Bulgaria) – Actress, Director
Zhanna Ozirna (Ukraine)– Writer and Director
Pavel G. Vesnakov (Bulgaria) – Screenwriter and Director
TOOK THE FOLLOWING DECISIONS
THE SOFIA CITY OF FILM AWARD for best film in the International Competition for first and second films in the amount of €7,000 provided by the Sofia Municipality, went to Broken Voices (Czechia-Slovakia) by director Ondřej Provazník and producers Jiří Konečný, Ivan Ostrochovský.
This film not only reveals an unsettling encounter between innocence and predatory instinct, but also confronts us with the shared responsibility of those who remain silent — the oppressive weight of silence which allows the unspeakable to endure. The award is presented for its powerful and truthful depiction of concealed realities, its exceptionally precise and sensitive direction of actors, its carefully assembled cast, the subtle yet deeply compelling performances, and its richly evocative and authentic recreation of time and atmosphere.
THE SPECIAL JURY AWARD went to The Condor Daugjhter (Bolivia-Peru-Uruguay) by director Álvaro Olmos Torrico.
The film is a powerful and intimate coming-of-age story. A deeply moving portrait of identity, loss, and transformation, the film unfolds with remarkable subtlety and ease, telling a human story about the delicate clash between modern life and tradition – and the quiet, inevitable way in which life continues forward.
AWARD FOR BEST DIRECTOR went to Ralitza Petrova for her film Lust (Bulgaria-Denmark-Sweden).
For the stoicism with which she defends her vision, in a world with no vision for anything, a world which tries on a daily basis to simplify and diminish all notions of self-respect and the acceptance of those who are different among us.
SPECIAL MENTION was awarded to the actress Maria Petrova for her role in the film Hold onto Me (Cyprus-Denmark-Greece) by director Myrsini Aristidou.
To a young and talented actress who brings her character to life with nothing more than a single glance. Through this subtle yet powerful expression, she creates a profound connection with the audience, drawing us completely into her heroic world.
The BEST BULGARIAN SHORT FILM AWARD in the amount of €9,500 (€1,500 cash prize and €8,000 in postproduction services), provided by Doli Media Studio, went to Balconada (Bulgaria-France) by director Iva Tokmakchieva.
For its poetic exploration of isolation and human connection. With refined animation, it transforms an ordinary space into a deeply resonant emotional landscape.
BEST BALKAN FILM AWARD presented by the Balkan Jury composed of John Paul Davidson (director, producer, United Kingdom), Andrei Plakhov (film critic, Ukraine) and Vanya Rainova (screenwriter, producer, Bulgaria), went to Mother (North Macedonia-Sweden-Belgium-Denmark-Bosnia and Herzegovina) by director Teona Strugar Mitevska.
The best film in the Balkan Competition goes to a work which we ended up calling a punk film - anunconventional cinematic work in both form and content. It is a film which engaged us emotionally, intellectually and viscerally by fulfilling its remarkable ambition on all levels - in terms of story, cinematography, acting, production design and the mastery of them all - directing.
The Balkan Jury also awarded a SPECIAL MENTION to the film God Will Not Help (Croatia-Italy-Romania-Greece-France-Slovenia) by Hana Jušić.
We admired its cinematic approach, a non-verbal way of conveying complex themes of deceit and female emancipation.
THE BEST DOCUMENTARY AWARD, presented by the International Documentary jury composed of Vitaly Manskiy (director and producer, Latvia) and members Stefan Uhrik (screenwriter, festival selector, Czech Republic) and Eldora Traykova (director, Bulgaria), went to the film Trillion (Norway-USA) by Victor Kossakovsky.
A highly conceptual film with powerful images and outstanding cinematography. At a time when the world is shaken by conflicts, its creator manages to defend his vision and unique voice. A true film, representing what cinema used to be and what it should also remain in the future.
The Documentary Jury also awarded a SPECIAL MENTION to the film A Fox Under a Pink Moon (Iran-France-UK-USA-Denmark) by Mehrdad Oskouei.
The film is an emotionally striking portrait of a strong woman who shows us the other side of emigration and the dreams of refugees for a better world.
THE AWARD FOR BEST BULGARIAN FEATURE FILM was presented by a jury of festival programmers – Mihai Chililov (artistic director, Transilvania IFF), Dimitris Kerkinos (programmer, Thessaloniki IFF), and Bernd Buder (artistic director of the Festival of East European Film Cottbus) to Women Out of Order (Bulgaria) by director Alexander Kossev and producer Nikolay Urumov.
This bittersweet ensemble dramedy shines through its elegant structure, effortlessly interweaving four unconventional stories of women at crossroads. Through sharp writing and sparkling dialogue, the film captures the subtle, relatable dynamics of modern relationships, brought to life by strong performances from the entire cast. Carefully calibrated in tone, the film strikes a balance - remaining light-hearted and witty even while navigating dark, heavy themes - to create a remarkably audience-friendly and life-affirming melodrama.
THE FIPRESCI AWARD presented by jury members Mo Abdi (United Kingdom), Ariel Schweitzer (France) and Ingeborg Bratoeva (Bulgaria) went to the film Broken Voices (Czechia-Slovakia) by director Ondřej Provazník.
The film takes on a highly sensitive subject and moves beyond controversy, side issues, and passing trends to delve deeply into characters who fluctuate between being seen as victims or heroes. In a tense yet precise and carefully controlled atmosphere, the filmmaker succeeds in connecting the world of his young protagonists with a choir, beautifully blending the subject with music. With remarkable performances from all the actors and meticulous direction, the film earned the unanimous agreement of all of us on the FIPRESCI jury.
The Award of the Bulgarian Guild of Film Critics for a film from the Balkan Competition went to Made in EU (Bulgaria-Germany- Czech Republic) by Stephan Komandarev.
For the realistic, almost painful parable, reflecting the darkness of modern times and showing how easy it is for humanity to “sink” into the swamp of pragmatism and the hysteria of fear, as well as for the social messages the film carries.
The AUDIENCE Award for a film in the International Competition for first and second films and Balkan competition went to Nina Rosa (Canada-Italy-Bulgaria-Belgium) by director Geneviève Dulude-De Celles.
THE YOUNG JURY AWARD of the festival for a film in the International Competition went to The Condor Daugjhter (Bolivia-Peru-Uruguay) by director Álvaro Olmos Torrico.
A film which breaks the boundaries of time, space and culture. A film which explores the universal problem of a young person searching for themself. It is masterfully to reveal the inner world of the characters through breathtaking landscapes.
THE BEST TEEN FILM AWARD chosen by the audience went to Atlas of the Universe (Romania-Bulgaria) by director Paul Negoescu.
Within the 30th Sofia International Film Festival THE SOFIA AWARD of Sofia Municipality for contribution to the art of film was presented to:
Emil Christov, cinematographer and director (Bulgaria)
Ivaylo Hristov, actor and director (Bulgaria)
Jan Englert, actor and director (Poland)
The FIPRESCI Platinum Award was received by the screenwriter and director Jafar Panahi (Iran).
The Special Awards of Sofia International Film Festival were presented to:
Arnaud Desplechin, director (France)
György Pálfi, director (Hungary)
David Mackenzie, director (United Kingdom)
The 30th SIFF is organised by Art Fest and Atlantida Studio under the patronage of the Sofia Municipality, the “Capital Culture - The Pulse of Sofia” project proposal, funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU, National Recovery and Resilience Plan, procedure BG-RRP-11.021 “A New Generation of Local Cultural Policies for Large Municipalities”, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, the Bulgarian National Film Center, and the Creative Europe MEDIA programme of the EU, in partnership with various cultural institutions, sponsors, partners, and friends.
