The awards ceremony for the 26th Sofia International Film Festival has come and gone, with the event, overseen by festival directors Stefan Kitanov and Mira Staleva, celebrating its first full physical edition since the pandemic.

The ceremony itself, held at the National Palace of Culture on Saturday evening, made pointed reference to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with a guitar and vocal trio providing a short interstitial version of Plastic Ono Band’s “Give Peace a Chance” after every speech. A special tribute was paid to Ukrainian director Oleh Sentsov, who was able to participate in his jury duty amidst his work in the military resistance, with the competition titles provided as screener links.

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Considered the festival’s most prestigious gong, the Sofia City of Film Award for the best film in the international competition was given to Sonata [+lee también:
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The Best Balkan Film Award was handed to Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović’s Murina [+lee también:
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entrevista: Gracija Filipovic
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The festival continues with further screenings until the end of March, with the online component lasting until April. The complete list of award winners, including works both new and familiar to the festival circuit, is as follows:

Sofia City of Film Award
Sonata [+lee también:
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Special Jury Award
Humble [+lee también:
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Best Director
Andrey M Paounov - January [+lee también:
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Special Mention
The Absent Director - Arvand Dashtary (Iran)

Best Bulgarian Short Film
Game - Orlin Menkadzhiev (Bulgaria)

Best Balkan Film
Murina [+lee también:
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entrevista: Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović
entrevista: Gracija Filipovic
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Special Mention
Blue Moon [+lee también:
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Best Documentary
Zo Reken - Emanuel Licha (Canada)

Special Mention
Our Quiet Place - Elitsa Georgieva (France/Bulgaria)

Best Bulgarian Feature Film
In the Heart of the Machine - Martin Makariev (Bulgaria)

FIPRESCI Award
The Windseeker - Mihai Sofronea (Romania/Bulgaria/Serbia)

Award of the Bulgarian Guild of Film Critics
Fishbone [+lee también:
entrevista: Dragomir Sholev
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Audience Award
Sonata - Bartosz Blaschke

Young Jury Award
A Love Song - Max Walker-Silverman (USA)

The Sofia Award for Contribution to the Art of Film
Angel Wagenstein - screenwriter and author (Bulgaria)
Iglika Trifonova - director (Bulgaria)