Press conference for the film General // Directors welcome the start of new edition of Festival
INTRODUCTORY PRESS CONFERENCE
Everything is ready for the 66th Pula Film Festival, it was said at the press conference held on opening day. Director of the Public Institution Pula Film Festival Gordana Restović thanked all the associates and the Ministry of Culture, City of Pula, and the Istria County for their support and assistance to the Festival so it can be held in all its glory. She emphasised that we are about to watch 110 films across 17 venues, and that good weather is to be expected for the duration of the Festival.
Zlatko Vidačković, the artistic director of the Festival, emphasised the return of the Popular Pogramme to the Arena, with screenings of European films about biographies of great people. “The audience likes it, and it gives the Festival a European context”, he said and added that the main Festival venues, besides the Arena and Valli Cinema, are the Istrian National Theatre and Ambrela Beach. The Festival will also have three round tables with participation from the Director of Film Department at Cannes Festival, selector of the Barcelona Festival, and many other filmmakers from the world who will be there to talk to Croatian journalists.
PRESS CONFERENCE FOR THE FILM GENERAL
This year’s first film crew press conference, in front of a numerous audience, was held by the crew of the long awaited film "General". Director Antun Vrdoljak, winner of Golden Arena Awards, said he is used to having his films being either controversial or turning out to be really good. However, he said it will be on the audience to decide. “I’d prefer this film not to be screened anywhere else, but at the Arena. When Goran’s character shows up on the big screen, it’s enough”, he said and added that his films are always done by good actors.
Vrdoljak has often come to Pula as a guest of the Festival, and Pula Film Festival reminds him of joy, sleepless nights and unforgettable times with friends.
Goran Višnjić said the role of general Ante Gotovina was very complex and has a lot of responsibility attached to it, but he added that everything fell into place when filming started. “You’ve watched a 2.5-hour film, but we had been filming for four months; eight episodes of a series, and much more material that will be shown on Croatian Radiotelevision”, he said. He said the idea for the film was born when Gotovina was still in the Hague, and that they once met briefly and talked. The role of young Gotovina is played by his son, and Višnjić said he was great in managing the role.
Goran Navojec has read the screenplay in preparing for the film and has spoken to the director, and as the film is about war events, he talked a lot with his mentor Bruno Zorica. He added, jokingly, that as opposed to Borko Perić, he did not get the role by strings being pulled. “Everybody calls him for roles because he is from Pula, so they hope the film will come to Pula because of him”, Navojec said. Perić admitted that he is very much looking forward to this festival, especially now, when he is here with a film.
German actress Jasmine Lord is also among the cast, and working on this film has been a magical experience for her. She said everything was calm and peaceful, and that everyone was really nice to her, despite the fact that she doesn’t understand Croatian.
Nataša Janjić said this was her second film working with Vrdoljak, and that he has promised her there will be a third. “I see Goran only when we work together on a film, I hope we will get to work together again soon”, she added. She said Vrdoljak loves actors and knows how to work with them as he is an actor himself, as well as that it is a pleasure working with him.
Rene Bitorajac has a small role in the film, and he said that working on this film was a challenge because he was speaking in French, as he plays a commander in the Foreign Legion. He added that all of them expect a lot from this film, and that they will watch it for the first time at the Arena.
