CROATIAN PROGRAMME

Croatian Film

General, directed by Antun Vrdoljak, What a Country!, directed by Vinko Brešan, All Alone, directed by Bobo Jelčić, The Last Serb in Croatia, directed by Predrag Ličina, F20, directed by Arsen Anton Ostojić, Extracurricular, directed by Ivan-Goran Vitez, The Diary of Diana B, directed by Dana Budisavljević, My Grandpa Is an Alien, directed by Dražen Žarković and Marina Andree Škop
Croatian Minority Co-Productions

Love Cuts, directed by Kosta Đorđević, Rafaël, directed by Ben Sombogaart, Erased, directed by Miha Mazzini, The Load, directed by Ognjen Glavonić, God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya, directed by Teona Strugar Mitevska, Stitches, directed by Miroslav Terzić

1. AWARDS OF THE FEDEORA JURY

The Jury:

1) Nenad Dukić (president)
2) Josip Grozdanić
3) Dubravka Lakić
4) Sergej Lavrentiev
5) Ondrej Biba

1) Recognition for Best Croatian Feature Film is presented to the film The Diary of Diana B., directed by Dana Budisavljević.
“For the excellently told true, complex, and emotional story with a large dose of dignity and strength, and the successful combination of live action, documentary and archival perspective.”

2) Recognition for Best Minority Co-Production is presented to the film Stitches, directed by Miroslav Terzić.
“For the maturity achieved in creating a disquieting and touching story about an extremely difficult topic and the emotional transformation of the main character.”

3) The Jury would like to present actress Judita Franković Brdar with special mention for creating a highly complex main character shown with great expressiveness in the film Erased, directed by Miha Mazzini.

2. GOLDEN GATE OF PULA AUDIENCE AWARD

Voting for a film in the Croatian Programme screened at the Arena, the audience has awarded the Golden Gate of Pula Award to the film Diary of Diana B, which received an average score of 4.90.

3. AWARDS OF THE CROATIAN PROGRAMME JURY

The Jury:

1) Damir Terešak (president)
2) Pavao Pavličić
3) Dijana Vidušin
4) Jasna Rossini
5) Tomislav Čegir

3.1. CROATIAN PROGRAMME – CROATIAN MINORITY CO-PRODUCTION

1. Golden Arena for Best Film is awarded to the film Rafaël, directed by Ben Sombogaart - unanimous vote
“An accomplishment which best defines the migration crisis and reflects the polarity of the main couple and social context.”

2. Golden Arena for Best Director is awarded to Teona Strugar Mitevska for the film God Exists, Her Name Is Petrunya - unanimous vote
“The precise signature work in directing has managed to draw the viewer completely into the events, characters, happenings, and social circumstances in the film.”

3. Golden Arena for Best Acting Performance is awarded to Judita Franković Brdar for the role of Ana in the film Erased, directed by Miha Mazzini - unanimous vote
“She has shown a wide range of emotion and has portrayed a complex character with a minimum of expression means.”

3.2. CROATIAN PROGRAMME – CROATIAN FILM

1. The Breza Award for best debutant is awarded to Predrag Ličina for the film The Last Serb in Croatia, directed by Predrag Ličina - unanimous vote
“Although this is his first feature film, the director has shown enviable command, of the material, with proper rhythm, working with actors, and excellent understanding of genre rules.”

2. Golden Arena for Sound Design is awarded to Dario Domitrović for the film F20, directed by Arsen Anton Ostojić - unanimous vote
“The film is characterised by vastness of sound and skilful coordination of all its aspects.”

3. Golden Arena for Best Make-Up is awarded to Svetlana Gutić and Miroslav Lakobrija for the film The Last Serb in Croatia, directed by Predrag Ličina - unanimous vote
“With a task that was in no way easy in terms of the character of the story, the make-up artist has convincingly and creatively upgraded the characters.”

4. Golden Arena for Best Visual Effects is awarded to Krsto Jaram, Michal Struss, Antonio Ilic, Goran Stojnić, Magiclab and Hommage for the film My Grandpa Is An Alien, directed by Marina Andree Škop and Dražen Žarković - unanimous vote
“Genre requirements of the story required a lot of invention and knowledge in creating visual effects, which the authors have shown in their work.”

5. Golden Arena for Best Special Effects is awarded to Zvonimir Krivec for the film General, directed by Antun Vrdoljak - unanimous vote
“The role of special effects is extremely successful in battle scenes.”

6. Golden Arena for Best Costume Design is awarded to Selena Orb for the film The Last Serb in Croatia, directed by Predrag Ličina - unanimous vote
“The solutions in terms of costume design have, in a wide range, presented the characters in a convincing way as functions of the story.”

7. Golden Arena for Best Production Design is awarded to Jana Piacun for the film The Last Serb in Croatia, directed by Predrag Ličina - unanimous vote
“The production design has successfully illustrated the wide range of the dystopian atmosphere.”

8. Golden Arena for Best Music is awarded to Alen Sinkauz and Nenad Sinkauz for the film The Diary of Diana B, directed by Dana Budisavljević - unanimous vote
“The evocative music has successfully underscored the characters’ emotions, illustrated the anxiety of war and pulled the viewers into events that happened several decades ago.”

9. Golden Arena for Editing is awarded to Marko Ferković for the film The Diary of Diana B, directed by Dana Budisavljević - unanimous vote
“Precise editing has harmonised all the segments of film narration and has designed a rhythmical structure of the film as a whole.”

10. Golden Arena for Best Cinematography is awarded to Sven Pepeonik for the film My Grandpa Is an Alien, directed by Marina Andree Škop and Dražen Žarković - unanimous vote
“The cinematography, with an excellent choice of planes, lenses, compositions, and light, has contributed to the flow of the story and the credibility of the atmosphere.”

11. Golden Arena for Best Supporting Actor is awarded to Borko Perić for the role of Nikica in the film General, directed by Antun Vrdoljak - unanimous vote
“He has portrayed an important character with emotion and layering, as well as the character’s evolution from an inexperienced volunteer fighter to a tried warrior.”

12. Golden Arena for Best Actor is awarded to Krešimir Mikić for the role of Minister Stanko Kelava in the film What a Country!, directed by Vinko Brešan - unanimous vote
“By choosing a minimalistic acting expression, he managed to make his character credible in various situations throughout the film.”

JL STORE joins in the Golden Arena for Best Actor, presenting the winner with a jewellery set.

13. Golden Arena for Best Supporting Actress is awarded to Olga Pakalović for the role of Milica in the film General, directed by Antun Vrdoljak - unanimous vote
“The indisputable strength of personality has enriched the character who has gone through very different emotional states in a short period of time.”

14. Golden Arena for Best Actress is awarded to Hristina Popović for the role of Franka Anić in the film The Last Serb in Croatia, directed by Predrag Ličina - unanimous vote
“With understated and measured acting, she has portrayed the character in this specific genre with humour.”

JL STORE joins in the Golden Arena for Best Actress, presenting the winner with a jewellery set.

15. Golden Arena for Best Screenplay is awarded to Mate Matišić for the film What a Country!, directed by Vinko Brešan - unanimous vote
“The complex structure of the story is rounded off with precise characterisation and layered social context.”

16. Golden Arena for best Director is awarded to Dana Budisavljević for the film The Diary of Diana B. - unanimous vote
“The director has brought together live action, documentary and archive elements in a convincing way, and has rhetorically pulled the viewer into the events in the film.”

17. Grand Golden Arena for Best Festival Film is awarded to the film The Diary of Diana B., directed by Dana Budisavljević, produced by the production company HULAHOP d.o.o., produced by Miljenka Čogelj and Olinka Vištica - unanimous vote
“The authors have tackled the important historical theme in an appropriate manner, and have convinced the viewer of its relevance.”

ZAGREBAČKA BANKA presents Dana Budisavljević, director of the film The Diary of Diana B., with an award in the amount of 30,000 HRK.

TELEKING and 100 present the producer of the film The Diary of Diana B. with a package of postproduction services: image and sound processing and mastering in the amount of 15,000 EUR.


We would like to thank everyone who has helped in the organisation and realisation of the 66th Pula Film Festival.


Ministry of Culture of Republic of Croatia, City of Pula, Istria County, Croatian National Tourist Board, Tourism Office Pula, Istria Tourist Board, and Festival Partner - Hrvatski telekom.

In Pula, 20 July 2019
66th Pula Film Festival