We are delighted to present ATLAS OF THE UNIVERSE, a new feature from award-winning director Paul Negoescu, celebrated for his internationally recognized Lottery Tickets. The film marks its World Premiere in the Generation Kplus section at Berlinale 2026.

ATLAS OF THE UNIVERSE
by Paul Negoescu
Romania, Bulgaria, 2026, 83 min.
World Premiere: Berlinale 2026 - Generation Kplus

After mistakenly buying two right-foot shoes, a ten-year-old boy sets off across the countryside to find the missing left one. An unexpected journey of courage, friendship, and self-discovery.

Produced by Radu Stancu and Ioana Lascar of deFilm and written by Mihai Mincan and Paul Negoescu, Atlas of the Universe is an adventurous road movie following 10 year old Filip (introducing Matei Donciu), who sets off across the countryside after accidentally buying two right footshoes. What begins as a simple mission becomes an unexpected journey of courage, persistence, friendship and self discovery.

"Atlas of the Universe," says the director Paul Negoescu, “is a story about loneliness and the courage to solve problems on your own. These are feelings I know very well, and they are what first drew me to Mihai’s story. We tried to bring these emotions to the surface in a simple and understated way, without explicitly pointing them out. Matei’s personality and talent were essential in this process. His performance as Filip brings to life a character shaped by all these emotions. I believe he allows the audience to resonate with Filip and to feel everything he goes through.”

Born in 1984 in Romania, Negoescu’s short films premiered at major festivals including Cannes, Berlin, Karlovy Vary and Rotterdam. Two of them were nominated for the European Film Awards. His feature debut, A Month in Thailand, premiered in Venice. Two Lottery Tickets became one of the most successful Romanian films at the box office and was released internationally after being received well by critics and festivals - which led to a sequel, Lottery Tickets Too.

“What gives Atlas of the Universe its international resonance is a universal truth: every child must navigate that defining moment between shame and courage,” notes Pluto Managing Director Daniela Cölle. “It’s rare to see a film portray the transition from innocence to independence with such honesty. Filip’s adventure is deeply personal yet universally recognisable, offering a fresh and contemporary lens on what it means to grow up. With its tender humour, genuine emotion and unexpected friendship, this film reaffirms the importance and enduring power of children’s stories.”

Read the full article in VARIETY.