President Milanović at Opening of 69th Pula Film Festival: Open up to the world, but keep being a Croatian film festival
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended on Saturday evening at the Pula Arena the opening ceremony of the 69th Pula Film Festival, which is being held under his patronage.
At the opening of the 69th Pula Film Festival, President Milanović said he was glad to see a full Arena, recalling his earlier visits to the Arena and the city of Pula, which, as he put it, “certainly influenced me in life.”
“I wish to underline one more thing: this is a Croatian festival, but we are a small, open country and a small nation and we cannot but look towards the world. It is not good for us to be introverted. I see that from year to year distinguished, important people, Oscar winners from around the world are coming to be members of the jury, and that’s no small thing. Today, this is a major and respectable event and my wish is for it to be even better and to open up to the world even more, but to keep being a Croatian film festival,” said President Milanović.
The 69th Pula Film Festival kicked off with the premiere of the film “Šesti autobus,” directed by Eduard Galić. At the start of the opening ceremony, actress Ljubica Jović was presented with the “Fabijan Šovagović” Lifetime Achievement Award. President Milanović’s wife Professor Sanja Musić Milanović, Ph. D., was in the company of the President at the opening ceremony of the 69th Pula Film Festival. Also attending the event alongside President Milanović were Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Culture Zdravko Zima and Special Adviser to the President of the Republic for Homeland War Veterans Marijan Mareković.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Dario Andrišek