Romanian cinema delivered one of its strongest recent performances at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, securing major awards in two competitive sections and reinforcing its international profile across both children’s and auteur cinema.
Historic selection and jury distinction for “Atlasul Universului”
“Atlasul Universului,” directed by Paul Negoescu, premiered in the Berlinale Generation Kplus competition and received a Special Mention from the International Jury.
The film made history as the first Romanian title ever selected in the competitive Generation section dedicated to children’s films. One of only eight international productions chosen for the Kplus competition, the film stood out in a program that highlights innovative storytelling centered on children’s perspectives and coming-of-age narratives.
A sensitive adventure about courage, friendship and self-discovery, “Atlasul Universului” follows a ten-year-old boy who sets off on a journey after accidentally buying two right shoes. The film marks Negoescu’s first feature for children and expands the director’s internationally recognized body of work into a new territory.
The distinction is considered particularly significant given the limited presence of children’s films in major festival competitions. The selection opens important doors for international distribution and market visibility.
CICAE Award for “On Our Own” in Forum
Romania’s strong showing continued in the Forum section, where “De capul nostru” (“On Our Own”), directed by Tudor Cristian Jurgiu, won the prestigious CICAE Award.
The jury of the International Confederation of Arthouse Cinemas praised the film as:
“A genuine cinematic achievement, powerful and deeply captivating, whose intensity is amplified by the exceptional performances of its cast.”
The CICAE Award is one of the most important distinctions dedicated to auteur cinema at major international festivals. Granted by the global network of arthouse cinemas, it significantly supports international circulation by facilitating distribution across more than 3,000 independent theaters worldwide.
“On Our Own” tells the story of a group of teenagers from a small Romanian town whose parents work abroad, exploring themes of emotional fragility, forced maturity and solidarity among a generation growing up in the absence of adults. The film premiered in Berlin to a sold-out audience of over 600 spectators and received prolonged applause.
A dual success across generations
Romania’s presence at Berlinale 2026 reflects a remarkable dual achievement: recognition in a section dedicated to children’s cinema and a major award in one of the festival’s most respected auteur strands.
From a historic milestone in Generation Kplus to a key prize in Forum, Romanian filmmakers demonstrated once again the thematic relevance, emotional depth and cinematic strength that have defined the country’s presence on the international festival circuit for more than a decade.