President Milanović at World Premiere of the Film “Alpski ratnici” in Fužine

On Wednesday evening, the President of the Republic Zoran Milanović attended the world premiere of the documentary “Alpski ratnici” (“Alpine Warriors”) in Fužine, held as part of the Cinehill Film Festival, which runs from 22 to 27 July.

The film, directed by renowned Croatian alpinist, filmmaker, and cinematographer Stipe Božić – this year’s recipient of the festival’s “50 Years” award – tells a gripping story of Slovenian and Croatian climbers conquering some of the most dangerous Himalayan peaks. In the documentary, Božić reflects on his five decades of documentary filmmaking, drawn from his own expeditions, including historic footage from his 1979 ascent of Mount Everest.

The “50 Years” award, presented by Cinehill in cooperation with the Croatian Film Authors’ and Producers’ Association, honours professionals who have dedicated their entire lives to film. The festival highlights Božić as a perfect embodiment of this lifelong passion, having documented his mountaineering achievements since 1975.

“Alpski ratnici”, based on the book by Bernadette McDonald, features testimonies from legendary figures in world alpinism – including Edmund Hillary, Elizabeth Hawley, and Reinhold Messner – and is enriched with authentic footage from Božić’s extraordinary career.

PHOTO: Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia / Marko Beljan