Bulgaria Enters Cannes Jury Prize Winner in Oscar International Race
Bulgaria has chosen Valeska Grisebach's drama 'The Dreamed Adventure' as its submission for the best international feature category at the 99th Academy Awards. The film, which won the Jury Prize at Cannes this year, follows two old friends reuniting in a Bulgarian border town and getting caught up in criminal conflict. Grisebach cast non-professionals and learned Bulgarian for the project, which marks her second feature shot in the country.
Grisebach's Cannes Jury Prize win marks a significant milestone for the film, which was developed over years of research in the Bulgarian border region. The director's commitment to authenticity extended to learning Bulgarian and casting local non-professionals in lead roles, continuing an approach she established with her 2017 feature "Western," also shot in the country.
The film's North American distribution was secured by Janus Films following its Cannes premiere, while The Match Factory manages international sales. Bulgaria's Oscar submission history includes numerous entries, though the country has never advanced to the nomination stage. The Academy's shortlist announcement is scheduled for December 15, with nominees revealed January 21, 2027.
This submission could raise international visibility for Bulgarian cinema and the country's border-region stories, potentially boosting cultural tourism and independent film interest. The recognition of a German director's Bulgarian-set work may also highlight cross-border European co-productions as a viable path for smaller national cinemas seeking global audiences. However, the film's slow-burning style and non-professional cast may limit its mainstream appeal, and Bulgaria's historical lack of Oscar traction suggests the selection's impact may remain primarily cultural rather than awards-driven.