November 10, 2021 - A press conference was held at the Pula Tourist Board to present the activities and new promotional materials created within the Pula Fort Center project as a unique cultural and tourist product.

HRTurizam reports that this project aims to activate the vast potential of the cultural heritage of Pula and, through investment in sustainable use of cultural assets, increase the offer of cultural and educational content and events to benefit all residents of Pula and beyond, indirectly affecting the sustainable development of economy and tourism.

As part of the project, two completely separate spaces - the fortress Kaštel and the Zerostrasse underground tunnel functioned into a single whole. The newly created environment will undoubtedly allow for new content in the cultural offer and a completely new potential for materializing numerous development opportunities in different sectors.

The conference was opened by Ingrid Bulian, Head of the Board for Spatial Planning and Environmental Protection, and project manager Lorena Dropulić on behalf of the City of Pula, who emphasized that the project "Pula Fort Center as a new tourist product" is an excellent example of recognizing the potential that military architecture has as part of Pula's cultural heritage.

This project is an experiential basis and a positive incentive for the further candidacy of projects in the field of cultural heritage, given the potential that Pula has, and we include the Pula fort system, almost inexhaustible for creating a variety of content for today's human, said Bulian and Dropulić, and added:

"The driving force of the project is always people, their efforts and cooperation, so we should emphasize the excellent partnership between the City, PPMI and TZ Pula, where everyone plays their role professionally and dedicatedly, which is evident through the activities and results achieved so far, therefore, the further benefits that will result from the end of the project implementation, and certainly during its operation, should not be questioned."

So far, the Pula Tourist Board has carried out visual identity development activities, a website has been created in 4 languages ​​(https://www.pulafortcenter.com/hr), and a permanent Visualia exhibition that will be turned on for Advent.

Sanja Cinkopan Korotaj, director of the Pula Tourist Board, said that an elevator had been built to access the Kaštel and the History and Maritime Museum of Istria, which provided easier access for elderly tourists. "The primary goal is to increase the number of visitors to Kaštel, which has so far lagged behind other Pula attractions due to its inaccessibility," added Cinkopan Korotaj.

Cinkopan Korotaj presented other planned activities such as the production of promotional material or souvenirs; the plan is to educate tourist guides about the new tourist product, while next year it is planned to promote the project in cities and bring journalists and bloggers from abroad throughout the year, hire animators, organize performances and concerts, all to promote the new tourist product "Pula Fort Center."

Finally, Gracijano Kešac, director of the History and Maritime Museum of Istria - Museo storico e navale dell´Istria, said: “A good part of the fort and tunnel areas are well rehabilitated and protected, and their connection by elevator created a unique cultural destination. After a two-month trial run, which is behind us, we can say with satisfaction that this destination has shown great potential in attracting visitors."

The project will be included in the Advent events in Pula so that the Visitor Center will be conveniently equipped during Advent, and thus Pula Advent will get a new point of interest. Through this project, the Pula Tourist Board will combine historical heritage and modern technologies and introduce tourists to the cultural heritage, a world trend.

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

November the 2nd, 2021 - The planned Pula construction work ban for the summer season might well go ahead. Whether or not the idea will throw a spanner in the works for some plans is one thing, but it's safe to say that the vast majority of people will be more than satisfied when imagining a summer without the sound of drills and hammers.

As Morski writes, Pula's City Administration has opened a public consultation on the draft proposal of the decision on the temporary ban on the execution of works for the summer season of 2022. The move would put a complete stop to all Pula construction work throughout the warm period of the year, with just a few exceptions.

According to the draft decision, earthworks and construction of all types of buildings except public and social buildings intended for activities in the field of education, science, culture, sport, health and social care, the work of state bodies and organisations will be temporarily banned. Also on the ''exception list'' would be the organisation of local and regional self-government units, legal entities which hold public authority and associations of citizens and religious communities, local portal Glas Istre (The Voice of Istria) reports.

All Pula construction work apart from the aforementioned exceptions to the rule would be banned from June the 20th all the way to September the 15th, 2022, as well as on all Sundays, during festive periods, and on public holidays.

However, the proposed ban, at least as it currently stands, doesn't apply to construction taking place in the interest of the Republic of Croatia, nor does it apply to the removal of illegal buildings, or works taking place in the year in which the decision comes into force, should it do so.

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

Fancy a visit to Pula yourself, construction work or not? Have a look at our Pula in a Page section in numerous languages and fully updated for 2021.

October 30, 2021 - An extremely rare bird, the northern bald ibis, landed in Grobničko Polje near Rijeka. It immediately aroused the interest of scientists and the media because this species became extinct in Croatia in the 18th century.

Her name is Nova, reports Morski.hr.

"Yesterday afternoon, by chance, I saw a strange bird on the telephone pole, and I thought it was a heron. Then, early in the morning, several photographers came in front of my house," said Dorijan Curać. 

He said he found out which bird it was online and was delighted that this rare individual had come to his area.

"Then I came back and filmed it from about 2 meters and let it quietly peck at the insects. I also registered it on the Animal tracker application," he added.

 The Waldrappteam organization's Facebook page, which highlights the protection of this bird, mentions that Nova flew to the Adriatic coast and across the sea to Croatia, from where it is expected to fly further south. They also say that the bird has deviated from its usual route and should realize it is wrong. Unfortunately, they also remind that in 2019 they had a similar situation, where a flock of protected birds that arrived over the Croatian sky was illegally killed. That is why they ask all those who see this bird share this news so that many people can be informed.

This rare bird normally resides in semi-desert or rocky areas, often near watercourses. It is an endangered species and can be found in North Africa and the Middle East. It is up to 80 centimeters long. Its body is covered with black feathers that, in the sun, have a copper-green and purple glow, a red beak, and red skin on her body, except for the top of her head. When it hatches, it has feathers on its head, and then when it grows, those feathers fall off, and the bird remains 'bald.' Hence the name bald ibis.

It nested in the Pula area and then became extinct in Croatia and Europe due to habitat loss and hunting. However, it is found in many historical sources and is depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphs as "akh" - a symbol of the human soul. As early as 1504, it was declared one of the first protected bird species in Austria, which unfortunately did not save it from extinction, writes the Biom Association.

This species became extinct in Croatia in the 18th century, and the last birds nested in the Pula area. The same fate befell this bird throughout Europe, and habitat loss and hunting are considered the main reasons for its extinction. At the beginning of the 21st century, the world's population of bald ibis was reduced to only 200-250 individuals, which survived in North Africa and the Middle East.

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

Istria is alive and vibrant all year round, and there's no shortage of events outside of the tourist season. We bring you a few suggestions on what to see and do if you're planning to visit Istria in November

1. Warm up with a walk - and some wine - in Novigrad

Technically, it’s still October, but the forecast calls for a sunny weekend in Istria, and so... A nice long walk with gorgeous vistas, coupled with a few nibbles and glasses of wine - sounds like a great way to usher in the new month, right? The popular event Wine & Walk by the Sea will see its 4th instalment this Saturday in Novigrad.

The scenic 10km route will first take you through vineyards and olive groves, and then along the coast, providing a splendid view of the Novigrad city centre. Winemakers and restaurateurs from the area will be showcasing their specialties at six tasting stops along the way, plus a surprise stop halfway through.

© Romulic & Stojcic

Gourmet delicacies will be presented by local caterers Sergio, Kod Marice, La Taverna, Half 8 and Konoba Nino, with dessert provided by Ošo bakery. Each stop has a wine pairing, courtesy of winemakers Moreno Ivančić, Stancija Fava, Leonardo Palčić, Ghira, Vino P&P – Pervino, and Vina Demark.

The walk begins in the morning at Kastanija beach where participants can register and collect their tasting glass together with a map of the trail. Departures are scheduled every 20 minutes.

When: Saturday, October 30th. Registration 8.30 AM - 12PM
Where: Kastanija beach (start and finish), 3km north of Novigrad

Note: attendance is only possible with a Covid certificate or a negative rapid antigen test result no older than 48 hours. Tickets, pricing and the full schedule available at Colours of Istria. 

2. Go out on the town in Pula

Image source: Dođi u grad - Vieni in città

Well... It's more like, Come to town!, but you sure can amp it up and paint the town red. Jokes aside, the city center in Pula is turning into a massive venue for a plethora of fun activities and events over the next few weekends. Live music, stand-up shows, food & wine, art, film screenings, sports, workshops and many other things await visitors from Thursday to Saturday each week in November.

When: Oct. 28-30, Nov. 4-6, 11-13, 18-19
Where: several locations in Pula, see map

You can find a detailed program for each weekend here (in English) and look out for individual events on Facebook.

3. Visit the Book Fair(y) in Pula

The book fairy’s coming to town for the second time in 2021! After the belated 2020 edition that took place earlier this year, the beloved literary event is returning to Pula for its regular annual instalment in the second half of November.

The Book Fair(y) in Pula traditionally features more than 300 publishers from Croatia and the region, and is visited by over 60,000 lovers of literature each year. The fair’s program is always built around a central theme, and this time around, it’s Love: during the ten-day event, panels and discussions will be questioning whether the timeless phenomenon still makes the world go round.

Image source: Sanjam knjige

This year, the book fair in Pula breaks its decades-long tradition by changing venues from the Austro-Hungarian palace of Marine-Kasino to the former textile factory Arena Trikotaža. Part of the program will also take place at The Shipyard Pub, located on the same street. Numerous Croatian and international writers will be attending the ten-day event, so make sure to check out the full program once it's released. If you're not up for panels and the like, you can simply enjoy strolling around the fair and buy a good book or two.

When: November 19th - 28th
Where: ex. Arena Trikotaža / The Shipyard Pub - St Theodor Passage 1, Pula

More info to be announced on the official website (in English) and Facebook page.

4. Explore the flavours of autumn in Brtonigla

 Colder months call for hearty meals, and as the temperatures continue to drop, we could all use a nice bowl of pumpkin soup.

Image source: Ruth Georgiev / Unsplash

Luckily, with autumn in full swing, food markets in Istria are bursting with the best seasonal produce the region has to offer. Mushrooms, truffles, pumpkin, chestnuts, quince and pomegranate are on the menu in several restaurants participating in the Flavours of Autumn, a month-long gourmet event in Brtonigla.

Food & Wine Primizia and konobas Astarea, Morgan and Silvano prepared menus featuring delicious filling dishes inspired by the autumn season, paired with Istrian wines and olive oils, and available at promotional prices. Check out the menus here ... and don’t wait too long to book a table.

When: Oct 15 - Nov. 21
Where: Brtonigla

5. ...and keep exploring all flavours of Istria at the Open Days of Agritourism

You didn’t think this list would only have one gourmet item? We’re in Istria, after all - so even if you don’t get a chance to visit Brtonigla in November, culinary temptations await all over the region.

The Open Days of Agritourism will take place over four weekends in November, with twelve agricultural estates participating in the 11th annual instalment of the popular manifestation. Family-run farms will be offering menus based on their own produce and paired with other locally sourced delicacies. It's a truly authentic experience of traditional Istrian cuisine: grown, raised, harvested, prepared, cooked, baked and served by the hard-working hosts.

Most agricultural estates in Istria also offer accommodation, and there’s plenty to do for a weekend. Kids will enjoy meeting cute farm animals, there are various hiking and cycling trails for the whole family to explore, and after a long day out, there’s always a delicious full plate to get back to.

When: November 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28
Where: Agricultural estates Cerovac, Dušani, Giovanna Allegra, Montižel, Ograde, Pineta, Sia, Stara Štala, Štefanić, Ondina, Pod Čripnjom, Stancija Buršić

Booking in advance is recommended. More info available here (Croatian only, more details to follow).

ZAGREB, 21 Oct 2021 - Istrian police on Wednesday seized an Italian fishing trawler sailing in Lim Bay due to illegal commercial fishing in Croatia's territorial waters.

Police officers of the national maritime center for collecting data on technical systems for monitoring the state border at sea noticed on Wednesday at 12.48 p.m. that an Italian fishing trawler had entered the territorial waters of the Republic of Croatia at Lim Bay, the Istria County Police Department reported on Thursday.

A vessel from the Pula maritime and airport police station was immediately sent to the trawler, they said, and police officers started pursuing the Italian vessel, which did not respond to the calls.

In the exclusive economic zone at about 3 p.m., they stopped the trawler, which had tools in the sea and was engaged in commercial fishing, and issued a warning to stop further fishing and head towards the Pula port.

The seized Italian trawler sailed into the Pula port, accompanied by a police vessel, and its 45-year-old captain, as well as crew members aged 28, 49, 50, and 55, were arrested and a criminal investigation was conducted.

Due to the suspicion that they had violated the Schengen Borders Code and the Marine Fisheries Act, an indictment was filed against the five Italian citizens, and the court fined them HRK 2,000 each.

The captain of the trawler received a fine of HRK 7,000 and he has to pay HRK 17,000 as compensation for the damage to the biodiversity of the sea and for the costs of using an official vessel.

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

October 21, 2021 - EKO LAB is a place to learn, exchange knowledge, and experiment to develop critical thinking, creativity, and innovation for high school students. The program is realized through the cooperation of schools, civil society, scientists, and the community, to create conditions to create a more sustainable and responsible future together. 

In 2019, the EKO LAB project began, which funds were provided by the Office for Other Governments of the Republic of Croatia within the Croatian-Swiss Cooperation Program. The project leader was the Poreč Association for the Improvement of Life Quality, with Pula High School, Technical School Pula, School of Applied Arts and Design Pula, and the Croatian Association Interdisciplinary Artists (HUiU) as partners. As a result, the project was approved for the entire requested amount and, in the second round of the call, was the best among the approved projects.

"It all started with chit-chat at the Pula market where Petra and I met by chance. One of those brainstorming meetings when ideas just come up. So it's from one "what if we ...?" conversation that created the future EKO LAB," says Marko Kalčić, a professor of French at the Pula High School and one of the members of the Eco Board of the school.

Both nature lovers and those active in its protection designed and applied for the project and ultimately implemented it with partners and numerous associates. Environmental protection, i.e., the protection of our planet, should become a priority at all levels. To create a more sustainable and responsible future, we cannot and must not think about that future without young people. EKO LAB includes them.

"EKO LAB is designed as a place to meet, exchange knowledge, create, and experiment for young people to develop critical thinking, nurture creativity and have the conditions to easily come up with ideas that may become future successful green solutions," says Petra Počanić from the Zona Association.

Through the project, young people learned about the problem of plastic waste, types of plastic, reducing the use of plastic, recycling, and innovations in this area. In addition, they learned about the processes of creating new products - from understanding problems to creating prototypes - and socially responsible business. Most importantly, they were given conditions for hands-on learning as well. Namely, as part of the project, the unused space inside the school was adapted, and small machines for recycling plastic were rented - a washing machine and dryer, a crusher, and an extruder for filament. Young people were thus introduced to the recycling process. Also, 3D printers were used for prototypes of product ideas they devised during the project. Finally, the whole process was presented at the final exhibition in the Croatian Association of Interdisciplinary Artists (HUiU), as part of EKO WEEK, or sustainable development week.

“Recycling may not be the happiest solution to the plastic waste problem at the moment. However, if young people can learn about these processes early enough, experiment, think and make mistakes, they will come up with better solutions quickly. Moreover, being able to work on machines opens up many opportunities for the development of future ideas," adds Petra.

"We ambitiously designed the project as a collaboration of three schools, with young people who have different skills, and they are connected by one thing in common - nature protection and responsibility to the community. There were many challenges, trials, and errors. Many things would be different now, but it is the essence of the project - to learn together, make mistakes and be better next time," says Sabina Damiani from Zona.

Despite many challenges, undoubtedly the pandemic and the inability to reunite, the project found itself awarded. Studio Tumpić-Prenc designed an awareness campaign for the EKO LAB and aMORE festival on the problem of plastic waste. The campaign won gold at the European Green Award, which awards prizes for outstanding contributions to sustainable development in Europe. It was also selected for an exhibition as part of the prestigious Cannes Lions festival. Furthermore, it found itself in the company of socially responsible Great Ads for Good projects chosen by the international non-profit organization ACT Responsible. The exhibition includes the world's best works exclusively in the field of socially responsible projects of non-governmental and charitable organizations and companies in the areas of solidarity, human rights, education, and the environment.

EKO LAB continued its journey. Its longevity and development were the initial desire of the applicant. Pula High School ensured the continuation of the project through the Central European Initiative tender. In the competition of more than 70 schools, the Pula project "Plastic scholastic: towards better education and innovation on environmental sustainability" was in the top 3 and received the support of 20,000.00 euros. The plan is to additionally equip EKO LAB 3Devo with recycling machines and create even better conditions for young people at the Pula High School.

“We continue to work on the problem of plastic waste and disposable plastics to create new useful objects from waste in the recycling process and experiment with recycling processes. Who knows, maybe there is a new material expert or recycling process expert among our young people who will contribute to the solution of plastic waste disposal," Marko said.

The students will design new products with the Local Action Group in Fisheries "Istrian Batana." Through the project, students will better understand the goals of sustainable development of the UN, the process of joint creation, and work on a common goal for the benefit of the local community. Through the process, they will learn new skills and competencies and work together to create new products, promote social responsibility and become bearers of positive change in their local community and beyond.

"The greatest satisfaction is when a project is taken over by the community for which it was designed and continues to work on it. This is the case with the Pula EKO LAB. I am sure that Pula High School will continue its activities in the best possible way, and we will certainly continue successful cooperation and development of the EKO LAB project," concludes Sabina.

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

October the 10th, 2021 - A brand new Pula shopping centre looks to be on the horizon through an enormous investment totalling a massive 130 million kuna.

As Poslovni Dnevnik writes, judging by the ambitious announcements and plans that have been seen so far, the gorgeous Istrian city of Pula could get another shopping centre instead of a dilapidated department store in the city centre - Pula Mall.

A devastated, neglected, once attractive building in the centre, right next to the green market, could soon return to its old glory in a new, even better edition as another Pula shopping centre finally looms. This was announced at the last session of the City Council by Mayor Filip Zoricic, in which it was said that this large project would soon begin to be realised. He touched on the situation with the market itself at the Council, saying that it doesn't look good, and that it seems ridiculous as Pula boasts one of the most beautiful Art Nouveau buildings in the entire Mediterranean, which dates from the beginning of the 20th century.

The wish of Pula's city administration is to bring this dilapidated old building back to life, following the example of Florence in neighbouring Italy, so they plan to revitalise it with additional gastronomic offers and other content, Glas Istre writes.

Zoricic also pointed out the need to arrange locations on both sides of the market, and in that context he also mentioned the potential new Pula shopping centre/department store.

''We're going to talk to the employers, make a plan and see how we might solve the appearance and condition of our main market, and that this is accompanied by the renovation of the department store,'' said Zoricic. In a conversation with the owner's representative, they agreed to clean up the area in November, and the new Pula shopping centre, he said, would get not only a new car park, but also a slow food restaurant, two shops from well-known brands and more. “It’s a unique space, the very heart of the city and it needs to look nicer than it does today,” he said.

This was confirmed in a telephone conversation by Predrag Djordjevic, the project manager, who said that the building is owned by the Luxembourg project company Istria Real Estate, which in turn is owned by the British York Capital. Djordjevic is very optimistic when it comes to the realisation of this ambitious project. If everything goes according to plan, it will be part of the urban renewal of the city, which, according to the idea of ​​the Mayor of Pula, should finally breathe some life back into the otherwise somewhat overlooked centre.

The interlocutor confirmed to them that there will be a new car park with 150 spaces in the basement of the new Pula shopping centre. He also provided a visualisation of the future, renovated building, which has already been named - Pula Mall. He says that this is a project in which as much as 130 million kuna will be invested.

For more, check out our business section.

September 23, 2021 - Pula Car-Free Day was commemorated on September 22nd, 2021, just like in many cities and towns worldwide. The event, which is part of European Mobility Week, also raised the question of whether or not should Pula's Lungomare promenade be closed for car traffic in general.

Given that Zagreb is the capital of Croatia, the city may often take up more room on the Croatian news scene than other cities and places in the country. Such an example was the programme the city prepared for European Mobility Week (like the event in the Zagreb City Museum), the celebration of which took place on Wednesday with the commemoration of World Car-Free Day on September the 22nd.

That said, other towns in Croatia had their programmes too. One such example is the Eastern Istrian coastal town of Pula.

As the local Pula.hr website stated, this year's edition of the European Mobility Week programme in Pula was added to with a motto ''Mobility with zero-emissions for everyone'', with which Pula entered its fifteenth year of organising activities for the occasion.

''In marking this important event, partners from the Muscular Dystrophy Society of Istria, the Istria County police force, and the Croatian Car Club Pula-Rovinj have been joining us every year. By participating in European Mobility Week, we want to encourage sustainable development and upgrade urban traffic. Twenty new buses operating in Pula are fueled by natural gas which satisfies the highest ecological standards and are adapted to disabled people. This all contributes to the image of Pula as a modern European town,'' said Pula's Deputy Mayor Elena Puh Belci at the opening in the programme earlier this week.

On Wednesday, in the spirit of Car-Free Days, the main waterfront, Lungo Mare promenade, was closed for car traffic from 06:30 to 15:30.

''The pedestrians we bumped into yesterday thought some construction work was underway instead of it all being a promotion of a more healthy lifestyle, given the no-traffic-sign was placed all the way from Valkan to Mornar,'' wrote the local Glas Istre daily newspaper.

Glas Istre journalists also asked the locals whether or not Lungomare should be closed for traffic in general and not just symbolically on September the 22nd.

''It would actually be really nice if people could have a promenade without traffic so they could walk its whole length. Given that the younger population gathers here on benches at night, maybe it would be good for the promenade to be open for traffic from 22:00 to 06:00,'' locals Tin Knežević and Ana Milotić told Glas Istre.

''It should be closed off for traffic. People need to move more and walk around more, and there's too much traffic here. People want to jump straight from their cars into the sea without doing any walking. The beginning of this road is slim and the road from the restaurants goes off in two directions, so everyone should arrive here by walking,'' said Marta Pešutić.

While many in the article felt that cars on Lungomare should be limited, apart from not being sure whether or not something like that would be possible in the near future, some people also openly took into account the fact that cars aren't useless.

''Cars get in the way, but sometimes they're needed, so maybe we should think about that too,'' concluded Glas Istre with a quote from Mira Filipović.

Learn more about Pula in our TC guide. 

For more about ecology in Croatia, follow TCN's dedicated page.

ZAGREB, 30 July 2021 - In just two days the new mayors of Pula and Vodnjan rejected two major projects by the Istrian Democratic Party (IDS) worth about HRK 90 million, Jutarnji List daily said on Friday.

Both projects are from the EU's Integrated Territorial Investment (ITU) mechanism, and a portion of the funding was grants from the European Regional Development Fund. But both independent mayors decided to forgo the grants arguing that the stakes of their respective cities in the investment projects were too high.

The aim of the projects was to convert a former industrial complex in Pula and an old oil mill in Vodnjan into tourism and cultural centres. A HRK 34.9 million grant agreement for the Mehanika polyvalent centre in Pula was signed in February, while Vodnjan's MMC Torcio project was awarded a HRK 7.15 million grant.

Both mayors said that the main reasons for rejecting the projects were too short implementation deadlines, an excessive credit burden on their budgets and too high bids for the performance of construction works.

For more on politics, CLICK HERE.

July 18, 2021 - The 2021 Pula Film Festival is held in 15 locations, four of which are reserved for the film program with more than 90 screenings.

Without traditional fireworks, with a limited number of spectators, and in compliance with all epidemiological measures, the 68th Pula Film Festival was opened in the Pula Arena on Saturday night with a festive program and screening of the Croatian film "Murina" directed by Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović, reports Jutarnji List.

The envoy of the Croatian president, special advisor for culture Zdravko Zima, said at the opening that Pula was recognized and will remain so in the future - as a unique place of pilgrimage for many film workers. As he pointed out, it is a city mentioned because of its many sights, because of the film festival and the Book Fair, and he concluded the address by assessing that "art is permanent, and human lives are short."

State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture Krešimir Partl, as an envoy of the Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Media, said that the 68th edition of the Pula Film Festival is taking place in different challenging circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic. He pointed out that the pandemic had suspended numerous projects, but as he said, "although there are fewer films, they are of high quality and have already been awarded at festivals" and therefore believes that the program can be beautiful.

"Behind us is a challenging year that has particularly hit the culture and audio-visual sector. However, I believe a better time is ahead of us, and the Government will do everything in its power to help normalize and restart economic and cultural activities," said Secretary of State Partl.

He said that the Ministry of Culture is proud of this year's Croatian program, the authors, producers, artists, and employees who managed to complete the shooting and production of films presented at this festival in difficult circumstances.

The mayor of Pula, Filip Zoričić, said that the pandemic had left its mark on the cultural sector and that the connection between film and Pula was deeply rooted in the city's tradition.

"The festival is part of our past and part of the future. Pula is a city of film, and we will work to extend the film story of three thousand years of Pula through quality programs throughout the year," said Zoričić. He expressed the desire for the festival to outgrow its framework and become an even more important social and cultural moment of modern and urban Pula.

"Pula is a city of culture, Pula is the Croatian Rome, which especially evokes respect and culture. The film sums up all the arts, and that is a special feeling of freedom, the freedom we always have to talk about. The film and the book give us the opportunity to travel, dream, fantasize, ask questions and give some answers," said Mayor Zoričić. As he pointed out at the end of his speech, "the Pula Film Festival is a world festival, a European, regional, Croatian, but above all a Pula Film Festival."

Like every edition, films will be shown on the most beautiful natural stage under the open sky until Friday.

Members of the Croatian Program Jury are Polish screenwriter and director Pawel Pawlikowski, actress Zrinka Cvitešić, director Danilo Šerbedžija, assistant professor at the University of Split Academy of Arts Mirko Pivčević, and artistic director of the Chicago International Film Festival Mimi Plauche.

The festival opened with a screening of the Croatian film "Murina," debutant Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović, the first screening of the film after its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Camera d'Or award for the best debut film. This is one of the greatest successes of Croatian film.

1,500 spectators in the Arena could enter without COVID certificates.

The Pula Film Festival is held in 15 locations, four of which are reserved for the film program with more than 90 screenings, and of the films in competition, there are six Croatian and ten co-productions.

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