March 10, 2023 - The ZagrebDox International Documentary Film Festival is finishing preparations for its nineteenth edition. It will traditionally open the Croatian Film Festival season at the Kaptol Boutique cinemas from March 26 to April 2.

As Journal writes, the last publicly spoken sentence at the end of each film festival is the first of the new season: preparations began last year, with the last day of the last festival. The details may vary, but at the core, it is always the same: the preparations for the festival last all year. There is only enough time for the final moves in the months leading up to the festival. ZagrebDox is no exception; on the contrary, it brilliantly demonstrates how accurate the previous sentence is.

Less than a year ago, the European Film Academy of Zagreb included ZagrebDox in the narrowest circle of elite world festivals, whose films compete for the annual award of this umbrella film institution in the documentary category. Thirty-seven festivals from all over the world, ZagrebDox being a proud member, greatly define the documentary scene, and therefore it should not be surprising that as many as fifteen films competed for one place in ZagrebDox in 2023. Numerous quality film applications (almost 1500 of them!) have caused sweet sorrows for the selection team, with the founder and director of ZagrebDox Nenad Puhovski, leading it since the first day.

“Since in the recent period, due to the pandemic, the completion of documentaries has been slightly slower, this year we faced the wealth of truly great Doxes, so the selection process was long and complex. The fact that we have decided to return the extremely popular 'Music Globe' and 'Happy Dox' programs may be the best witness to this. On the other hand, the increasing popularity of documentaries is probably best demonstrated by the fact of 'overcrowding' of the Masters Program with the films of Herzog, Ivory, Schlöndorff ... As always, we are showing the most awarded documentaries of last season, such as the winner of the Golden Lion from Venice, 'All Beauty and Blood' by Laura Poitras. The latest films are, of course, there as well, which will only have their world premiere at ZagrebDox, such as the 'Eastern Front' by Vitaly Manski, which is eagerly expected at Berlinale. Last but not least, ZagrebDox continues its commitment to the Croatian documentary this year with as many as twenty latest films," said Nenad Puhovski.

The nineteenth edition of ZagrebDox will be scheduled at the five halls of Kaptol Boutique Cinema & Bar from March 26 to April 2. In addition to more than a hundred excellent films, numerous guests, accompanying events, and talks are expected, in short, a documentary film festival in all its colours, durations, thematic focus, and artistic achievements. This year's edition of ZagrebDox will primarily focus on the audience who demonstrated last year that it loves documentaries on the big screen despite all the changes brought on by the era of streaming services.

The ZagrebDox documentary selection in 2023 is receiving its final contours, but its visual identity has been ready for some time, this year signed by Studio Sesnic & Turkovic. This year, the designer creatives have reached out to the festival's very foundations in designing its visual identity. The colour is recognizable, and the key element is highlighted and anchored in the unmissable ZagrebDox Rubik's Cube for announcements. The nineteenth Zagrebdox is just around the corner, burdened only with the desire to show the best documentaries in the world!

All news and information about ZagrebDox are available on the official website and the social networks of the festival.

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

December 4, 2022 - The jubilee 20^th edition of the Human Rights Film Festival will begin with the screening of the documentary film "The Super 8 Years" by Annie Ernaux, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, on Sunday at the Tuskanac Cinema in Zagreb.

As 24Sata writes, until next Sunday, 26 documentaries and feature films of recent original production will be shown, and a programme will be held on current human rights issues.

Annie Ernaux, in the opening film, which she co-directed with her son David Ernaux-Briot, as she does in her literary works, combines autobiography with a sociological view of contemporary events. The screening of that film will be followed by the world premiere of the experimental film "Refractions" by Vladislav Knežević and the Croatian feature film "Afterwater" by Dana Komljen.

The festival also features four documentaries by Mantas Kvedaravičius, the Lithuanian director who was killed by Russian soldiers in April of this year while filming in Mariupol, Ukraine - "Barzah," "Mariupolis," "Mariupolis 2", "Parthenon."

The documentary "Casa Susanna" by Sébastien Lifshitz tells about the house of the same name, which in the middle of the 20^th century was a refuge for heterosexual men who dressed as women, the feature film "Sparta" by Ulrich Seidlai is about a pedophile who operates in the poorest parts of Romania, while the new film by Véréne Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor's "De Humani Corporis Fabrica" was filmed in Paris hospitals.

Other films to be presented include "No Bears" by Jafar Panahi, who was sentenced to six years in prison by the Iranian authorities to prevent him from making films, the colonial thriller "A Tale of the Pacific" by Alberto Serra, "Eami" by Paraguayan director Paz Encin about the natives of the area with the most rate of deforestation and the documentary "Provincial Hospital" which was filmed in a Bulgarian hospital, the new films by Sergej Loznica "The Natural History of Destruction" and "The Kiev Trial".

Panels and lectures programme

The other part of the festival will discuss how to advocate for human rights and gain support, the mental health crisis in Croatia, safe housing, adoption in LGBTQI+ families in Croatia and Norway, along with the screening of the documentary film "All families are equal".

The Sakharov Academy deals with Ukraine, there will also be a Seminar for Precarious Times, with online lectures on creative and intellectual work, panels on climate change and migration, the challenges of Africans in Croatia, discussions with the films "Bigger than Trauma" by Vedrana Pribačić and "Taming the Garden " Salomé Jashi.

Films are shown in the Tuškanac and Kinoteka cinemas, the resr of the programme will be in Dokukin KIC, and the musical concert of the Kries group in the Močvara club. The organisers are Multimedia Institute/MaMa Zagreb and URK/Močvara, and admission to all programs except the music one is free.

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

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.

May 13, 2022 - Actress Frances McDormand and her husband, the director Joel Coen will lead the masterclass workshops of the second edition of the festival on the Croatian island. ''The successful first edition of the Ponta Lopud festival encouraged us to raise the bar even higher'', says one of the founders, Miro Purivatra.

The second edition of the Ponta Lopud Festival in June will turn the island of Lopud for the second time into a creative cultural center for film industry professionals, a place to meet, exchange ideas, and enjoy art. A group of talented regional filmmakers of the new generation will have the opportunity to learn about the professional and personal experiences of artists who are among the top world cinematographers, multiple Oscar winners, actress, and producer Frances McDormand and director, producer, and screenwriter Joel Coen, reports Jutarnji List.

During the festival, McDormand and Coen will hold joint and individual workshops where they will talk about their careers, the experience of working together, and working with many film professionals in the process of making a film.

Frances McDormand has long been considered one of the most significant living actresses. With his character roles and numerous outstanding acting achievements for more than three decades, he has delighted both critics and audiences. Roles in films such as "Fargo", "Three Posters Out of Town", "Land of the Nomads", "Burn After Reading" and many others constantly raise the standards of what we consider acting skills.

This actress and producer of an impressive career have won four Oscars, awarded by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Last year, McDormand became the first actress to win both acting and production awards in the same year for "Nomadland," and is a member of the prestigious Triple Crown of Acting Club, an Oscar, Emmy, and Academy Award-winning artist Tony in the acting categories.

American director, screenwriter, and producer Joel Coen has won four prestigious American Academy Awards, as well as the Palme d'Or at Cannes. Together with his brother Ethan, he has been creating unforgettable authorial achievements for four decades, standing behind films such as "No Country for Old Men", "Fargo", "Barton Fink", "The Great Lebowski", the inevitable titles of film anthologies.

''Frances McDormand and Joel Coen have permanently marked and enriched film art with their work and achievements. He will share his invaluable experiences of creative processes and film as art with young talents in the inspiring atmosphere of the island of Lopud. The successful first edition of the Ponta Lopud Festival encouraged us to raise the bar even higher in all segments of programming and organization of this event, which includes a program for masters and young talents and a specially selected selection of films for fans of the seventh art'', said Miro Purivatra , one of the founders Ponta Lopud Festival.

This year, the Ponta Lopuda program has been expanded: in addition to a series of meetings and talks with masters in acting and directing, professional programs for female cameramen are also planned. About twenty participants of the masterclasses will enjoy the rare privilege of learning from top professionals who fully enjoy their work and are always looking for new inspiration.

During the six days of the festival, participants and the audience will be able to enjoy evening film screenings in unique locations under the stars, the exceptional ambiance of the fortress of the Franciscan monastery Lopud 1483, and the beach of RMH Lafodia Sea Resort.

The second Ponta Lopud festival will be held from June 22 to 27, 2022.

Ponta Lopud Festival is a creative hub, a meeting place for film talents from the region, significant authors from the world of film, and lovers of film art. Developing talents and already established professionals of the seventh art in the inspiring environment of the island of Lopud have the opportunity to gain new experiences and create long-term professional and friendly relationships. At the same time, the Ponta Lopud Festival, which focuses on creative processes and film as art, provides insight into recent trends in regional cinema by bringing together new generations of filmmakers on Elaphite Island. The Ponta Lopud Festival was founded by Tilda Grossel Bogdanović and Mirsad Purivatra in 2021, with a mission to promote and professionally develop a new generation of film talent.

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

December 15, 2021 - The first Japan-Croatia Film Festival will be held in the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum from 17 to 19 December, the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC) reported on Tuesday. Four Croatian films will be screened.

The four films that will be screened are "Fishing and Fishermen’s conversations" by Milan Trenc, "Accidental Luxuriance of the Translucent Watery Rebus", an experimental animated film directed by Dalibor Rebić, as well as the comedy titled "Po Tamburi" directed by Stanislav Tomić, and "Lada Kamenski" by Sara Hribar and Marko Šantić.

First Japan-Croatia Film Festival Official Banner - Croatian Audiovisual Center

Croatian Ambassador to Japan, Dražen Hrastić was quoted as saying that he is looking forward to this opportunity for Japanese cinema-goers to enjoy Croatian films during the festival organized by the Japanese-Croatian Society.

"Accidental Luxuriance of the Translucent Watery Rebus", Dalibor Rebić

"We are pleased that many film lovers in Japan will be able to enjoy Croatian titles that will be screened as part of the festival organized by the Japanese-Croatian Society. Croatia is at the crossroads of different cultures and religions and has a rich and challenging history. A world-famous tourist destination with its natural beauty, cultural heritage, and excellent athletes, Croatian filmmakers are also inspired by all this, so at the end of this challenging 2021 I have no choice but to invite everyone to join this festival and enjoy some of the best Croatian cinematographic achievements", said Dražen Hrastić, Croatian Ambassador to Japan.

"Po Tamburi", by Stanislav Tomić

The society's representative Edouard Katayama Tripković said that the purpose of this society is to build stronger bonds between the two countries through culture, arts, sports, technology, and trade.

"Lada Kamenski" by Sara Hribar and Marko Šantić

"The goal of the Japanese-Croatian society is to build a deeper connection between Croatia and Japan through culture, art, sports, technology, and trade. On this occasion, the focus is on strengthening our cultural ties through four great Croatian films. time and different cultural elements, I hope that the Japanese public will learn more about Croatia and become interested in it through film titles shot in Croatia. Our inspiration for the organization of this festival is the belief that mutual understanding will result in the bilateral exchange between the two countries and contribute to further development of our relations", added Edouard Katayama Tripković from the Japanese-Croatian Society.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

August 24, 2019 - The first edition of the Rab Film Festival opened on Friday at the Summer Cinema in Rab with a screening of the French film Les Misérables. The opening was attended by the film's director Ladj Ly and actor Djibril Zonga.

The Rab Film Festival held the Croatian premiere of the film, which won the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, reports Jutarnji List.

The first edition of this event, which continues until Tuesday, August 27, will feature 13 screenings and five concerts. Danish debutant Ulla Salim’s Sons of Denmark, a story about Islamic radicalism set in the broader context of the rise of neo-Nazi ideologies in Europe, will also premiere at the festival, as well as Ken Loach's new drama Sorry We Missed You, about the fight for survival in an increasingly ruthless British labor market.

The festival program also features Silver Bear winner at the Berlinale By the Grace of God by Francois Ozon, which tells the story of pedophilia in the Catholic Church, Serbian film Stitches (Šavovi) directed by Miroslav Terzić, about a mother’s search for her child she believes was stolen at a maternity ward 18 years ago and, outside the competition, Diary of Diana B (Dnevnik Diane Budisavljević) will be presented to the audience by the director Dana  Budisavljević.

The documentary program highlights the Belgian film Green Gold, a shocking background story about biofuels filmed in the remotest corners of the world for ten years, the German film The Cleaners, which takes viewers to the shady underworld of the Internet - a place where questionable content is removed, and the Dutch Bellingcat, which offers a unique perspective on the world of investigative journalism and the truth seeker in the reign of fake news and alternative facts.

The Rab Film Festival will also feature two award-winning films from this year's Sundance Festival. Exploring the mysterious death of a UN Secretary-General in Cold Case Hammarskjöld, Danish director Mads Brügger takes viewers into the darkest abyss of African history, while Sea of Shadows reveals the effort to rescue the Earth's smallest whale - the Vaquita - from extinction and bringing the international crime syndicate to justice.

The only Croatian title in the competition program is That’s the Way It Is by Arsen Oremović, which tells the story of a father's attempt to exercise his right to see his daughter after a divorce.

The festival is competitive in nature, and the best awards will be presented in three categories: Best Feature Film, Best Documentary, and Audience Award. The awards will be decided by a jury consisting of festival selector, film lecturer, critic, and director Rada Šešić, actress Tihana Lazović and director Antonio Nuić.

The Rab Film Festival program is led by film critic and journalist Vladan Petković (feature films) and Lejla Dedić, program editor at Al Jazeera Balkans (documentary program).

The music program will feature Zdenka Kovačiček & Greenhouse Blues Band, Urban & 4, Elemental, Nipplepeople, and De-tour.

The RAFF GENERATION program is aimed at film professionals and includes lectures by prominent local filmmakers including founder and director of the ZagrebDox International Documentary Film Festival and director of Factum Production Company Nenad Puhovski, director Dana Budisavljević, cinematographer Raul Brzić and writer and screenwriter Marjan Alčevski.

The organizers of the festival are the City of Rab, Rab Open University and Toro Laboratory in Zagreb, and the festival director is Robert Tomić Zuber.

To read more about lifestyle in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page.