The festival focused on tourism promotional films gave the Grand Prix to Sitia, also the best film under three minutes
The Grand prix of the 6th Zagreb Tourfilm Festival went to the Greek tourism film Sitia – So Hard to Say Goodbye, which also won the award for the best film under 3 minutes. The festival was organised by the Tourism Board of Zagreb and Balduči Film, with competition from 76 countries. The awards ceremony in the Esplanade Hotel brought together participants of the three-day event, tourism experts and professionals. According to Spomenka Saraga, festival director, the ten person international jury had an exceptionally difficult task as many great films were competing.
“Each year the quality of the films grows. This makes me happy so I hope next year we will also host some veritable tourism film gems. This year’s programme was quite rich, and confirmation of the rising importance and renown of this festival comes from the many esteemed guests from the entire world,” said Saraga.
Other main awards went to:
DUBAI’S BE MY GUEST (UAE) – best film under 7 minutes
ROMANCE AND SPIRIT OF SICILY – (UK) – best film under 60 minutes
THE WHITE MAZE – best TV documentary film under 60 minutes
ANTARTICA (Russia) – best ecological film
POREČ – YOU COMPLETE US – best Croatian film under 3 minutes
ALKARSKI PONOS – best Croatian film under 7 minutes
ŠODERICA – PODRAVINA SEA – best Croatian ecological film
GEORGIA – best idea
ONCE UPON A TIME IN CAPPADOCIA (UK) – best time-lapse
HONEST GUIDE: PRAGUE STORIES (Czech Republic) – best VLOG
BLUE HOTELS AND RESORTS (Greece) – best film – promotion of hotels and resorts
1 YEAR IN ONE MINUTE (Denmark) – best film - event
MARMONT – YOURS TO DISCOVER (Romania) – best film – extreme sports
AN ALPINE SENCE OF LIFE (Austria) – best mountain-themed film
THE JOURNEY (Portugal) – best film tourism service
GOOGLE SHEEP VIEW (Denmark) – special award by the Zagreb Tourfilm Festival director
MANAMA GCC CAPITAL OF TOURISM (Bahrain) - special award by the Zagreb Tourfilm Festival director
TURISMO CENTRO PORTUGAL – Preferred Destination ECTAA’S 2017 – special award by the Zagreb Tourfilm Festival director
GREECE 365 DAY DESTINATION (Greece) - special award by the Zagreb Tourfilm Festival director
ICONIC NORWAY – Student’s Choice Award by students of tourism colleges in Brežice and Portorož
Lifetime Achievement Award “Promotion of Tourism – Lifestyle,” given by Zagreb Tourfilm Festival to deserving individuals, who have devoted their entire life to guests in Croatia and the promotion of Croatia in the world, went to long-term tourism worker and former Tourism Minister Pave Župan Rusković. The festival is sponsored by Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, Tourism Ministry, Croatian Tourism Board, City of Zagreb and Zagreb Tourism Board, with many gifts for visitors from Turkish Airlines, Kalazić and Puhelek – Purek wineries, Matea Nesek General Trading L.L.C., OPG Nedjeljka Jurin – Island Product. Zagreb Tourfilm festival is a full member of CIFFT – international association of tourism film festivals.
“I invite all who are in film to begin preparing their works already so they can compete next year. And I hope there will be more films about Croatia,” concluded Saraga.
