June 26, 2022 - Summer has just arrived and in what could be called the first year back to normal since the pandemic began, and the country is preparing for a big wave of tourism in the next two months. But have you thought about September as the ideal time to visit the Croatian Adriatic coast? Here are three reasons you should. 

Ferries everywhere, parties along the coast, film and music festivals, Instagrammable landscapes, and much more. There is no better time to visit the Croatian Adriatic coast than in the height of summer... or is there?

It is not a secret that many seek to anticipate the high season, or wait a bit for it to pass. Before the pandemic began, months like May, June, September, or October attracted many tourists from abroad and there was no shortage of flights arriving at Croatian airports. Unfortunately, the situation in recent years has forced many to focus their efforts on July and August, due to the uncertainty caused by travel restrictions in Europe.

However, it is almost impossible to deny that the situation seems to have finally reversed. After two difficult years, travel restrictions to Croatia are almost non-existent. Although the current Russian invasion of Ukraine has also generated a great deal of uncertainty for companies linked to tourism, as well as for tourists themselves, the Ukrainian resistance and the progressive retreat of the Russian invasion seem to offer a more positive outlook.

If you don't feel like visiting the Croatian Adriatic coast in the high season or you're still not sure when to book your tickets and accommodation, here are three reasons why you should consider September as a good month to travel to Croatia.

Fewer crowds

It is not an accident, nor a miscalculation. Not a single space to lie on the beach, you have to wait to walk through the narrow streets in the old towns, no tables available at restaurants, sold-out tickets for ferries... July and August are crowded months all over the Croatian Adriatic coast, and for many, this is not very pleasant. In September, however, you will notice how the beaches begin to empty and the number of tourists in the coastal cities and on the islands begins to decline week after week.

Many returning to work, young people preparing to go back to university, and the little ones are back at school... the holidays are over! And this is where yours begin, without crowds. 

Photo: Mario Romulić

Hot, but not too hot

By the time this article was written, weather forecasts anticipate temperatures above 33 degrees for the last week of June. Although there is a heat wave that will hit much of the region, temperatures between July and August on the coast average between 29 and 32 degrees, and do not drop below 24 degrees at night. This may not be so bad for some, such as those who come from cold or sea-less countries, as they can take full advantage of the freshness of the Adriatic Sea.

However, there are others who can feel really hit by the strong heat, and it is totally valid to avoid places with very high temperatures, as it can be even dangerous. In September, the weather is still very pleasant to take a dip in the sea and there is even no need to bundle up at night, because during the day the maximum temperature averages between 25 and 26 degrees, while at night it can drop to 18 degrees. And not only is it good to go to the beach without fear of burning, but September is also a good month to visit the National Parks without a crushing sun to stop you.

Photo: Mario Romulić

Budget-friendly

Perhaps the first two can be reasons that one can anticipate, but when it comes to prices between July and August, things can be very unnerving. Landlords raising their prices at the last minute, taxi drivers charging fortunes from here to there, or tickets to certain places of interest at an exorbitant cost, visiting Croatia in the high season can give one goosebumps when it's time to do the maths. Some say it's fair, others say it's scandalous, but the truth is that many will raise their eyebrows after seeing the prices of accommodation, ferry tickets, or the taxi meter.

You can already see the prices in September, and the difference is noticeable almost immediately. While they are not as low as in April or October, when you consider that there will be fewer crowds and the weather will still be spectacular, prices in September are surely a bargain.

Photo: Mario Romulić

For more on travel in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 26 June 2022 - National chief of police Nikola Milina said on Sunday that Croatia was fully ready to apply the Schengen acquis and was working with others in the European Union on the implementation of new information technology systems.

"The Croatian police service has done all, and there are already several decisions saying that Croatia is technically fully ready to apply the Schengen acquis. Now this process is at a political level," Milina told the press during a visit to Glina, where he attended a ceremony marking the 31st anniversary of the start of armed resistance against the Serb military aggression.

He said that the police were working with others in the EU on the implementation of new large information technology systems and adjustments relating to a new package that is under preparation.

On Friday, the European Council endorsed the recommendation for Croatia's accession to the euro area, and next week the French EU Presidency will start the decision-making process on accession to the Schengen passport-free area. A decision on accession on 1 January might be adopted in the autumn.

Asked about migration, Milina said that the Croatian police were highly trained and prepared, but that this process never stopped.

For more, check out our politics section.

ZAGREB, 26 June 2022 - Health Minister Vili Beroš announced on Sunday that the new National Addiction Action Strategy was in its final stage of preparation.

The main aspects of the new strategy will be presented at a round table on addiction-related policies in Zagreb on Monday.

"The price of drug addiction, which is paid by the citizens of Croatia and other EU countries, is very high, given addiction-related allocations for public health," Beroš said on the occasion of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, observed on 26 June.

Drug addiction is one of the longest-standing threats to our society, directly and indirectly affecting the lives of millions of people, and the struggle against addiction requires a multidisciplinary and integrated approach at the national, local, and international levels, he said.

Within 30 days of the adoption of the strategy by parliament, the government will adopt an action plan for 2022-2026 specifying steps in the implementation of the defined measures, the Health Ministry said in a press release.

The European survey on smoking, drinking and drug use among students, cited in the press release, shows that Croatia is above the European average regarding the use of illegal substances among young people.

"Specifically, 21 percent of students said they have tried drugs at least once in their lives, mostly cannabis. As for the use of new psychoactive substances, Croatia is also above the European average, with 5.1 percent against 3.4 percent in the EU," the press release said.

Particularly alarming is the finding that 17 percent of 15-year-olds have tried marijuana at least once in their lives.

The negative trends in drug use and a dynamic market that produces new psychoactive substances at a great speed multiply health risks to citizens, which adversely affects the clinical picture of the nation, Beroš said.

He said that the National Strategy is consistent with the National Health Development Plan 2021-2027 and the reform measures promoting prevention and healthy lifestyle habits.

For more, check out our politics section.

ZAGREB, 26 June 2022 - As many as four Croatian healthcare innovation projects are included among 20 projects from central, eastern and southern Europe selected for financing by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) under the Regional Innovation Scheme.

Eighty projects have applied for funding, and four Croatian ones have been selected, more than from any other country in the region, the Večernji List (VL) daily said on Sunday.

The EIT Health Regional Innovation Scheme supports the development of  innovation in healthcare in the countries of central, eastern and southern Europe. The consortia behind the selected innovations will be granted up to €75,000 for further development of products or solutions, mentoring, a place at a bootcamp, and access to potential investors and partners through EIT Health, a network of top healthcare innovators in Europe.

The selected Croatian projects are: MEGI, PsyFlux, StressLyft and the Human-Machine Interface.

MEGI aims to develop an AI-enabled virtual cardiovascular health assistant that uses personalised protocols to remind patients to take medication and measure their blood pressure at home.

The PsyFlux consortium is developing a telemetric intracranial pressure monitoring device that can be used outside the hospital without infection risks, allowing the patient to partake in everyday activities.

StressLyft is an educational course about workplace stress and stress relief skills, based on interactive video content, which companies provide for their employees to prevent work-related stress.

The gesture-based human machine interface for guided orthopaedic surgery aims to develop novel medical devices that help surgeons to make millimetre-precision measurements during hip replacement surgery and possibly other types of operations.

"Our aim is to find the best ideas and early-stage innovations in the region and encourage players from business and academia to build consortia and turn their concepts into realities," Mónika Tóth, EIT Health InnoStars RIS Programme Manager, was quoted as saying.

For more, check out our politics section.

ZAGREB, 26 June 2022 - The European Parliament has appointed Croatian MEP Tonino Picula rapporteur on the new EU enlargement strategy, his office said on Sunday.

His task will be to formulate a proposal for the new enlargement strategy, which would then need to be adopted by the European Parliament and sent to the European Council, the European Commission and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Picula said after his appointment that the proposal clearly emphasises the value of enlargement policy as a strategic investment in the security and prosperity of Europe, and that enlargement policy has already made a great contribution to restoring peace to areas previously affected by war.

He said that enlargement is the most effective EU foreign policy instrument and one of the Union's most successful policies.

It is also important for Croatia, because as long as we do not have other EU members on our borders, we will not be able to make full use of the benefits of our membership, Picula said.

He said that enlargement is particularly important today, in the context of Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, in order to give Ukraine and Moldova a membership perspective and provide fresh impetus to enlargement policy.

The prosperity and security of the European Union depends on its ability to defend democracy both inside and outside its borders, as well as human rights and the multilateral order based on clear rules, the Croatian MEP said.

Speaking of membership aspirants, Picula said the EU member states need to start delivering on their commitments to the candidates that meet the set criteria, and to avoid using unresolved bilateral disputes for blackmail and blocking the accession process.

Picula recommends speeding up the integration of countries that demonstrate commitment to the necessary reforms for EU membership, setting more transparent and consistent benchmarks, improving the measuring of progress and ensuring ongoing political and technical support throughout the accession process.

As regards Croatia's neighbours, he requested that the achievements of Western Balkan countries be recognised by opening accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia and approving the liberalisation of the visa regime with Kosovo without delay.

He said that the EU should also help Bosnia and Herzegovina to get the status of membership candidate as soon as possible and to accelerate the accession process with Montenegro as the most advanced candidate.

For more, check out our politics section.

ZAGREB, 26 June 2022 - Croatia has recorded 437 new coronavirus cases and two related deaths in the last 24 hours, the national coronavirus response team reported on Sunday.

The number of active cases now stands at 3,849, including 216 infected persons who are being treated in hospital, of whom six are placed on ventilators. 1,940 people are self-isolating.

Since 25 February 2020, when the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Croatia, 1,145,490 people have been registered as having contracted the novel virus, of whom 16,050 have died and 1,125,591 have recovered, including 184 in the last 24 hours.

To date, 4,929,863 persons have tested for the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, including 1,974 in the last 24 hours. A total of 5,257,376 COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered, and 59.54 percent of the total population, or 70.82 percent of adults, have been vaccinated.

For everything you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, bookmark our dedicated section and select your preferred language if it isn't English.

June 26, 2022 - In one of its most ambitious and successful editions, the 15th Mediterranean Film Festival Split closed its spectacular program at the Bačvice Open-Air Cinema with an awards ceremony.

From its official announcement a few months ago, until its opening ceremony last Thursday, June 16, the 15th Mediterranean Film Festival Split promised to carry out a more special edition this year compared to the previous ones. Reasons were not lacking -  after a couple of years conditioned by the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, the 15th edition of one of the most important film festivals in Croatia gave the feeling that attendees would enjoy normality once again.

In the last 14 years, the Mediterranean Film Festival Split has been the most visited cultural event in Split, and each year it has been innovating more with the aim of continuing to position itself as one of the main film festivals in the region. This year, one of the main goals of Alen Munitić and the organizers was the promotion of emerging Croatian talents through the Croatian short film program, the first Children and Youth program, as well as the film showcase beyond the Mediterranean, with films from other parts of Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Artistic Director of the Mediterranean Film Festival, Alen Munitić. (Image: Mediterranean Film Festival/Facebook)

Last night the official closing ceremony of the 15th Mediterranean Film Festival Split was held at the Bačvice Open-Air Cinema, where in addition to the screening of the British film ''Brian and Charles'', about an eccentric and lonely inventor and his new robot friend, there was also an award ceremony for the winners of the following prizes:

• FMFS Hook for Best Official Competition Feature Film and 1.000 EUR in cash
• FMFS Hook for Best Croatian Short Film and 15.000 HRK in cash
• FMFS Hook for Script from Croatian Short Film Competition and 5.000 HRK in cash
• Audience Award for Best Croatian Short Film and 5.000 HRK in cash
• FMFS Hook for Best International Short Film and 1.000 EUR in cash
• Audience Award for Best Feature Film from Out of Mediterranean and Latin American Competition and 1.000 EUR distribution support

Up next, we review what the 15th Mediterranean Film Festival Split and the award night left us.

A new venue

To be one of the most special editions, it is not enough to simply say it. Precisely, the 15th Mediterranean Film Festival Split brought novelties that demonstrated the intention of the organizers to continue positioning itself as one of the main events in the country to celebrate the seventh art. This year, a new venue joined the Bačvice Open-Air Cinema, the Kinoteka Zlatna Vrata at Diocletian's Palace, and the Plato Doma Mladih: the Gripe Fortress, where attendees were able to enjoy the best of the Out of Mediterranean Competition film program, as well as films of the Latin American Feature Films Competition.

This year, the Gripe Fortress became the newest and fourth venue for the FMFS. (Image: Mediterranean Film Festival/Facebook)

Cinema for the youngest

Additionally, the 15th edition presented its children and youth program for the first time at the Kinoteka Zlatna Vrata, with the aim of encouraging a cinema passion for the little ones. Each film in the program aimed at a different age group, and in this way it sought to awaken a love for cinema in its young audience with international films such as ''Mamma Moo Finds Her Way Home'' (Sweden, 2021), ''Comedy Queen'' (Sweden, 2022) and ''Dear Future Children'' (the UK, 2021).

The Croatian Short Films Competition

The 15th Mediterranean Film Festival Split also sought to reinforce its commitment to supporting emerging Croatian cinema and showcasing young and talented Croatian filmmakers, presenting not only a great program of Croatian short films before each feature film shown at the Bačvice Open-Air Cinema but the Mediterranean Film Festival Split would also be the one to offer the largest cash prize in Croatia for a short film in its Croatian Short Films Competition. 

''A Moving Target'', dir. Marko Dugonjić

One of Total Croatia News's favorite Croatian short films in the program was ''A Moving Target'' (Ne pogađa svaka), in which a pregnant Gaga, who lives in Gunja, must make a risky 60 km journey to Vinkovci to give birth, in the winter of 1993 and in the midst of wartime. Director Marko Dugonjić received a special mention for his short film.

The other one was ''Funeral'' (Sprovod), which focuses on a young man from Split, Mario, who helps his father with the unpleasant tasks to be carried out after the death of his grandfather, with both disagreeing on the best way to honor his memory. The latter had a great night at the award ceremony, as director Šimun Šitum not only took home the award for Best Screenplay for a Croatian Short Film and 5,000 kunas in cash prize but also won the Audience Award for Best Croatian Short Film and other 5,000 kunas in cash prize. ''This film of very strong but subtle emotions, shows us skillfully and concisely deep family relationships authentic to this hard Balkan-Mediterranean region,'', explained the jury's recognition for "Funeral''.

Director Šimun Šitum received two awards: Best Script for Croatian Short Film and the Audience Award for Best Croatian Short Film (Image: Mediterranean Film Festival/Facebook)

The jury prize for Best Croatian Short Film went to ''Carpe Diem'', by director Filip Antonio Lizatović. ''Carpe Diem'' shows the tensions between two neighbors and private landlords in a paradisiacal and quiet bay when one of them welcomes a group of young guests who are looking for nothing more than fun. Producer Maja Gros attended the awards ceremony, and in addition to receiving the 15,000 kuna cash prize, she took the opportunity to thank the jury and the public for their support and recognition. ''Because of his skillful play with the dynamics that maneuver the viewer's attention, comic relationships between the characters, and satirical presentation of the challenges of the tourist season'', explained the jury regarding the award to ''Carpe Diem''.

Producer Maja Gros received the award for Best Croatian Short Film. (Image: Mediterranean Film Festival/Facebook)

The International Short Films Competition

In addition to an excellent program of Croatian short films, the 15th Mediterranean Film Festival Split also sought to bring its attendees closer to the best of the category in the Mediterranean region. Twelve international short films were chosen from more than 300 submitted and were screened at the Plato Doma Mladih, in addition to competing for the Best International Short Film and a prize of 1,000 euros in cash.

The winning short film for the Best International Short Film award was ''This is Not My Mom'' (Esta no es mi madre), by director Javier Loarte. In a documentary format, the director deals with the difficulties of returning to his mother's house. In a video shown on the big screen of Bačvice, director Javier Loarte thanked the jury and the public for the recognition. He also shared about the dark moments during the production of the film, that quickly vanished when his son was born, just a week after finishing the recordings, and who made an emotional appearance in his gratitude video.

Spanish director Javier Loarte received the Best International Short Film Award. (Image: Mediterranean Film Festival/Facebook)

Official Feature Films Competition

The official program showed the best of Mediterranean cinema from this and the past year. It should be noted that the nine films in the competition had their premiere in Croatia and competed for the Best Official Competition Feature Film and 1,000 euros in cash prize. The diverse program featured spectacular works from non-European countries such as ''Huda's Salon'' (Hudin salon), a Palestinian-Egyptian film, which was one of the main highlights for Total Croatia News. Renowned Palestinian director and two-time Oscar nominee Hany Abu-Assad tells the story of Reem, a young mother who finds herself between a rock and a hard place after being blackmailed by a secret agent of the occupying forces in Palestine with a compromising photograph. Without a doubt, a powerful feminist thriller, inspired by real events, that caught the attention of the entire audience.

''Huda's Salon'', dir. Hany Abu Assad

Another of TCN's favorites and a film that was one of the great sensations of the official competition program was the Spanish ''Piggy'' (Cerdita), by director Carlota Pereda. The film is an ambitious thriller drama with great elements of horror, and it centers on young Sara, who in the middle of a hot summer in a small town in Andalusia, must endure constant abuse and bullying from her peers. When the appearance of a stranger threatens the tranquility of the town, Sara finds herself the only one capable of saving the lives of those who harassed her. Director Carlota Pereda made a special appearance on the day of the screening, and at the end of the film, she went up on stage to thank both the organizers and the audience for their warm reception and confessed her nerves as it was the first time she had premiered her film with a live audience.

Spanish director Carlota Pereda at the screening of her film ''Piggy''. (Image: Mediterranean Film Festival/Facebook)

Total Croatia News had a brief conversation with the Spanish director at the end of the film, who revealed her joy that "despite the difference in languages, the Mediterranean climate and environment helps the audience to connect with films from other parts of the region''. At last night's award ceremony, Carlota Pereda received a special mention for ''Piggy'', and in a video shown on Bačvice's big-screen she thanked everyone for the recognition.

The Audience Award for Best Film in the Official Competition went to ''Life Suits Me Well'' (La vie me va bien), a Moroccan film by director Al Hadi Ulad-Mohand, who was present last night to receive the award and took the stage to thank the audience for their support. In a very honest and emotional way, and in his feature film debut, the Moroccan director tells the story of Fouad, the only worker in a post office, who lives in a small town in northern Morocco with his wife and three children, and who also teaches Spanish in his spare time. His good spirits and cheerful personality are suddenly affected when he learns that he suffers from a neurological disease, which will present a great challenge for the family as they try to maintain the dynamic between them.

Moroccan director Al Hadi Ulad-Mohand took home the Audience Award for Best Feature Film. (Image: Mediterranean Film Festival/Facebook)

Undoubtedly, the highlight of the festival and last night was the Croatian feature film ''Kick and Scream'' (Baci se na pod), produced and directed by actress Nina Violić in her directorial debut, which opened the 15th Mediterranean Film Festival Split on June 16 in Bačvice and had a second screening the next day at the Kinoteka Zlatna Vrata. The Croatian film was the big winner of the Best Official Competition Feature Film Award and took home 1,000 EUR in cash prize. The esteemed Artistic Director of the Festival, Alen Munitić, presented the award to Nina Violić, who joyfully took to the stage to recognize the great work of Alen and the organizers after an excellent 15th edition of the Festival. Nina Violić stars alongside Goran Bogdan, Lee Delong, and Bruno Frketić Bajić in a film that portrays the last moments before the final breakup of marriage from the perspectives of a wife, husband, and their six-year-old son. ''Because of the creativity and innovative concept of finding objective truth and its relationship with human nature, through powerful and convincing acting. Fantastically portrayed the destructive power of subjective viewing of the story, as well as the depth of intimacy, as joyful as it is difficult if we are not honest with each other.'', the jury justifies its decision to award the grand prize to Nina Violić.

Actress, producer, and director Nina Violić won the Best Feature Film award for ''Kick and Scream''. (Image: Mediterranean Film Festival/Facebook)

A great closure

Alen Munitić took advantage of the great occasion to talk about another FMFS initiative, which is that in addition to making Split the capital of Mediterranean cinema for ten days, it also seeks to promote cinema and culture in different parts of Dalmatia through Kino Mediteran, with open-air cinemas in Bol, Hvar, Imotski, Jelsa, Komiža, Lastovo, Mljet, Supetar, Ploče, Podgora, Korčula, Omiš, Tribunj, Trogir and many other places.

The Bačvice Open-Air cinema. (Image: Mediterranean Film Festival/Facebook)

The 15th Mediterranean Film Festival Split was a resounding success, with a spectacular film program including screenings at four venues, workshops, and more that put Split on the cultural map not only in Croatia but throughout the Mediterranean. The attendees were able to enjoy not only very good cinema with the participating feature films and short films, but they also enjoyed very good moments and the hot summer nights. Every night, after the screenings of the movies, a different DJ was in charge of putting together the party with very good music, and the attendees could enjoy dancing or at the bar drinking a Stella Artois, the official beer of the festival.

Definitely, there is nothing like a summer night in Bačvice, 100 meters from the sea, with the starry sky, the breeze on your face, and watching the best of Mediterranean cinema.

You can see more photos and videos of the 15th Mediterranean Film Festival Split on their official Facebook account.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

June the 26th, 2022 - Very well-known Croatian footballer Marcelo Brozovic has entered the often turbulent waters of entrepreneurism with a product that will likely help many athletes and recreationalists.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, over more recent days, the MB77 brand cream called MB77 regenerating cream for joints and muscles with CBD has arrived on the shelves of Zagreb County pharmacies in the Velika Gorica branch, as well as on their webshop.

This is otherwise a brand new product that is an ideal choice to help with muscle recovery after training and it is recommended to massage it into the skin both before and after engaging in physical activities, particularly if they're physically demanding. Applying the cream intensely warms and revitalises the muscles from the surface, while the massage relaxes them and improves circulation and as such offers pain relief.

As a professional athlete, Croatian footballer Marcelo Brozovic is constantly faced with needing to put in a lot of tiring physical effort and owing to that, he's no stranger to products for muscle regeneration, pain relief and relaxation every day. That's why he came up with the idea to contribute to the development of such a product for top athletes by creating his own brand, MB77, which he did in collaboration with Kirocorps.

“When choosing the products I use, the most important thing for me is that they're natural, safe to use and of course - that they work. That's why I decided on this business move because there was a lack of such products on the market. This product is intended for top athletes, recreational athletes, but also for all those who have to deal with various joint and muscle pains,'' said Croatian footballer Marcelo Brozovic.

This is just the first product he has decided to introduce and he has added that he will continue to develop new ones until the end of the year. Brozovic presented the new cream in cooperation with the company Kirocorps, which deals with treatments for regeneration and recovery, both for professional athletes and recreational athletes, and they also deal with facial and body care treatments, and will use this cream on them.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated business section.