Vulchanov’s talent was recognized early on, with one of his second film, First Lesson (aka The Old Lady) selected to compete at Cannes in 1960. Over the course of his long career, he competed in Berlin with Judge and the Forest in 1976, and won two FIPRESCI prizes, the last one in 2007 for Which Way Today. With his debut On a Small Island (1958), followed by films including Sun and Shadow (1962), The Inspector and the Night (1963) The She-Wolf (1965) and most of all The Unknown Soldier’s Patent Leather Shoes (1979) Valchanov became one of the first Bulgarian directors under the communist regime to receive awards at leading international festivals.

Vulchanov, who was dubbed “the Bulgarian Fellini,” was a member of the Bulgarian Academy of Science and the European Film Academy.

“He was an extremely talented person and raconteur, beyond any schemes and templates” director Ivan Nichev said in tribute. “Born in a small Bulgarian village, Valchanov became a man of the world.”