Bulgarian 'Atlas of the Universe' – From Berlin to Cannes: A Children's Adventure on the Big Screen

Hardly anyone anticipated that a children's film, a co-production between Bulgaria and Romania, would take over the big screen so quickly. "Atlas of the Universe" is already preparing to participate in the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, in the Cannes Ecrans Juniors 2026 section. What lies behind this story and why is it so special?

From Sofia to Berlin

The National Film Center announced the happy news on social media. This year, the Cannes film forum will open its doors on May 12th and will continue until May 23rd. Everything seems to be going according to plan. The adventure of little Philip, which has turned into a great film journey, continues after the premiere of the film in Berlin in February.

Interestingly, the film has already received ovations at the "Sofia Film Fest". Then the award for "Best Teen Film" was presented to producer Poli Angelova. She, in turn, thanked on behalf of director Paul Negoescu. She shared that this is their third joint film, which is "wonderful, very human and very delicate".

The story behind the Atlas

"Atlas of the Universe" presents us with the story of Philip - a 10-year-old boy. A ridiculous coincidence brings him together with two right shoes, forcing him to go in search of the missing left one. This children's search takes him to a world that borders between reality and fantasy. There, Philip discovers unexpected lessons about himself and the world around him. Incredible, isn't it?

What else is ahead for "Atlas of the Universe"? Will we soon see other awards and international recognition? We are eagerly awaiting to find out.