Bulgaria - The fourth edition of the Lunar Festival of Lights took place over four evenings from 8-11 May 2025, transforming 10,000sq.m of architecture and urban space across Sofia into a glowing canvas of light and art.
This internationally celebrated event featured 3D projection mapping, light installations, and immersive visual storytelling from artists around the world. Their work was designed to ignite imagination, provoke thought, and delight audiences with creativity and technological brilliance.
An independent initiative by the Bulgarian visual effects company MP-Studio, Lunar is the result of a decade-long passion for light art. MP-Studio is renowned in Bulgaria for pioneering the country's first 3D projection mapping in 2011, illuminating the façade of the National Theatre Ivan Vazov. Since then, they have delivered more than 800 events and installations across 26 countries.
During the festival, visitors and residents of Sofia could explore 14 central locations featuring video and static 3D mappings, interactive installations, a laser show, and more. All exhibits were free to the public and were on display from 9pm to midnight each night.
A major contributor to this year’s festival was Vioso, whose camera-based autocalibration and playback solutions were critical to several of the most technically complex exhibits.
At the National Library St. Cyril and Methodius, Vioso’s Projection Tools software was used to align and calibrate multiple projectors using three cameras. This software expertly meets the challenge of projecting onto intricately engraved columns, ensuring pixel-perfect alignment. Vioso’s robust media player, Exaplay, powered the final output.
Another highlight was the immersive dome experience The World at Risk, developed in collaboration with the Faculty of Economics at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski. This 360-degree audiovisual installation explored our collective role in addressing global challenges, offering a sensory-rich experience based on scientific data. The dome featured Epson projectors, Pixera media servers by AV Stumpfl, and five-channel dome calibration using only one fish-eye camera with VIOSO6 software.
Rounding out Vioso’s involvement was its contribution to bEYOND, a six-projector blend on the stunning façade at Alexander I Street. This installation, celebrating the 25th anniversary of one of the biggest national TV channels bTV Media Group, invited audiences on a mind-expanding journey through time and possibility. The collaborative projection mapping brings together studios from around the globe to create a bold, adaptive, and visionary narrative of humanity’s future.
Speaking about Vioso’s involvement, Raul Vandenburg, executive director of Vioso, commented: “Every time we work with Marin and the team at MP-Studio, we know something special is going to happen – and the Lunar Festival is no exception. We’re proud to see our playback and calibration technologies powering such spectacular events and honoured to play a key role in this year’s edition.”
