Bulgarian Innovator Javor Kalojanov Receives Academy Award for Transforming Visual Effects
Javor Kalojanov and Kimball Thurston have been recognized with the Academy Award for Technical Achievement by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science
"Lincoln," director Steven Spielberg's film about the 16th president and his battle to end slavery, topped the nominations for the 85th Academy Awards on Thursday, receiving 12 nods, including best picture, CNN reported.
Along with Spielberg, who picked up a best director nomination, the film earned picks for best actor (Daniel Day-Lewis), best supporting actress (Sally Field), best supporting actor (Tommy Lee Jones) and best adapted screenplay (Tony Kushner).
"Life of Pi" was second with 11 nominations, including best picture, best director (Ang Lee) and best adapted screenplay.
As always, there were a handful of surprises. The most notable, perhaps, was the showing by the small independent film "Beasts of the Southern Wild." Its 9-year-old star, Quvenzhane Wallis, earned a nomination for best actress, becoming the youngest person ever in that category. In addition, the film was nominated for best picture, best director (Benh Zeitlin) and best adapted screenplay -- four nominations in all.
Michael Haneke's film "Amour," about a husband and wife coping with the effects of a stroke and aging, also did strongly, receiving best picture, best director, best actress and best original screenplay nominations.
On the other hand, some expected nominations failed to pass. Neither Quentin Tarantino nor Kathryn Bigelow received best director nominations, though their films -- "Django Unchained" and "Zero Dark Thirty," respectively -- received best picture nominations. The snub of Bigelow, who won an Oscar for "The Hurt Locker," was particularly surprising, as she and her film have dominated critics' lists during awards season.
Tom Hooper, the director of the expansive musical "Les Miserables," also failed to be nominated, though his film received eight nods overall.
Bulgaria has officially joined the eurozone and will adopt the euro as its national currency on January 1, 2026
Former Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov has said that Russia’s war against Ukraine will only truly end with the death or resignation of Vladimir Putin
The European Parliament has given its approval for Bulgaria’s accession to the eurozone, marking a crucial milestone in the country’s integration into the common European currency area
At a meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Ukraine’s top military officer, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, placed particular emphasis on regaining control over positions and territories in Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod oblasts
A recent survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) in May-June 2025 reveals a growing pessimism among Ukrainians regarding their country’s future
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has nominated U.S. President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize
Borderless Bulgaria: How Schengen Benefits Are Transforming Trade and Logistics
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