72nd Pula Film Festival Officially Opens
The President of the Republic Zoran Milanović and his spouse, Prof. Dr. Sanja Musić Milanović, attended the official opening of the 72nd Pula Film Festival and the premiere of “Južina” (“South Wind”), directed by Ante Marin, held at the Pula Arena.
The opening ceremony, held under the patronage of President Milanović, was hosted by Pula-based actresses Dijana Vidušin and Nika Ivančić. Artistic Director Danijel Pek and Programme Selector Mario Kozina introduced the films featured in the Croatian competition programme. The festival was formally opened by Miodrag Flego, a long-time technical coordinator at the festival and this year’s recipient of the “Marijan Rotar” Award.
One of the oldest film festivals in Europe, the Pula Film Festival continues to honour its rich tradition beneath the starry sky of the ancient Roman Arena. This year’s edition opened with the premiere of “Južina”, a comedy directed by Ante Marin and starring Snježana Sinovčić, Donat Zeko, and Stojan Matavulj. Set in a typical apartment building in a Split neighbourhood, the film uses the southern wind (južina) as a symbolic trigger for a chain of unusual events – misunderstandings, minor intrigues, and escalating chaos – where even heroes come to be seen as villains by their neighbours.
The Festival received 57 submissions for the Main Programme, including 37 entries in the Croatian Film section and 17 in the Minority Co-Productions section. Eleven films were selected for the Croatian Programme, and seven for Minority Co-Productions. A five-member jury – comprised of actress Tihana Lazović, screenwriter Jelena Paljan, editor Tomislav Pavlic, actor Janko Popović Volarić, and director/cinematographer Silvestar Kolbas – will decide the winners of the Golden Arena awards.
PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan