Light Boxes

Light Boxes marks the feature debut of Bulgarian-Canadian animator Theodore Ushev, whose short film Blind Vaysha earned an Academy Award nomination in 2017. The project combines 3D stop-motion puppet animation with Ukrainian-language live-action sequences, adapting Shane Jones' surreal cult novel about a town trapped in endless winter. Ushev reframes the story as a contemporary exploration of war and displacement centered on the conflict in Ukraine. The ambitious five-country coproduction is led by Bulgarian company Cinelibri, with producer Jacqueline Wagenstein at the helm, partnering with Thalie Productions and Bravo Charlie in Canada, Foliascope in France, EchoBravo in Belgium, and WJTeam in Poland. With a budget of approximately 3 million EUR and 70% financing already secured from the Bulgarian National Film Center, SODEC, and other sources, the project was presented at the Venice Gap-Financing Market in September 2026 to close remaining funding. Animation work will take place in both Bulgaria and France, with part of the production based in Burgas, where a dedicated animation studio has been established.