Young Acting Talents Presented; Pula PRO in Full Swing; Audience Scores for All Films 4 or Higher
The intensive and abundant programme for film professionals marked the start of the week at Pula Film Festival: the new programme for young talents was successfully completed, the first of the three pitching programmes was held, Make the Scene – Comedy Edition, and Sergio Mimica-Gezzan gave his lecture about the most competitive industry in the world to a large audience of interested in attendance. Along with reports from film crew presentations, we bring new audience scores, as well as the scores from film critics and journalists, and it is encouraging that the audience has given all films screened up until now very good or excellent scores
“First Time on Film”
First Time on Film is the new programme of the professional platform Pula PRO, and has successfully brought together twelve debut actors and actresses who participated in the Festival over the tow days. These are: Lucija Alfier, Kristian Bonačić, Stipe Jelaska, Tea Ljubešić, Franka Mikolaci, Lovro Mirth, Domagoj Nižić, Lav Novosel, Jara Sofija Ostan, Mina Švajger, Zdravko Vukelić, Andrija Žunac. The workshop Audition as Networking by Katarina Madirazza (Petit teatar) was held on 12 and 13 July at the Festival Centre and was led by Sanja Drakulić, with mentoring from renowned talent agents Anila Gajević and Timka Grin. Workshop participants learnt how to prepare for auditions and castings in a quality way through exercises and performing scenes in English, and professional advice and critique. The first day of the workshop was closed to the public, while on day two the young talents had the chance to present the skills they had learnt in front of an audience. Anila Gajević’s masterclass was held after the workshop.
Pula PRO: Pitch Make the Scene – Comedy Edition
The first of this year’s three pitching forums was held at Valli Cinema – Make the Scene – Comedy Edition, aimed at developing domestic and regional TV comedy and comedy drama projects. Authors of six projects participated in the pitching:
1 The Agency – A comedy drama by screenwriter and playwright Hajdana Baletić in eight 30-minute episodes, which the author describes as a “series about hope”. It follows Una (36), a single mother who loses her job and opens a dating agency – even though she has never been in a successful relationship.
2 Inteligenza – Political satire in nine 50-minute episodes by co-writer and professor of literature Đurđica Ćilić, screenwriter Srđan Ćasić, and producer Miroslav Mogorović. In a country where power rests on secrets and manipulation, Maia, the artificial intelligence, enters the presidential race, shapes public opinion, and sabotages democracy.
3 Hedgehogs in the Haze – Comedy drama by actress and screenwriter Džana Pinjo and actor and director Ermin Brav in six 50-minute episodes. A story of three friends fighting for survival whose friendship is put to the test by a mysterious box.
4 Unhinged – Coming-of-age comedy by actress Jana Bjelica and screenwriter Lora Džoli in six 30-minute episodes “for all young people who are wondering if this is happening only to them.” Staša (27) discovers she has hereditary narcolepsy and the story follows her social life, her refusal to accept her diagnosis, and a vivid inner world in which everything is possible.
5 Silence, Please! – Comedy drama by screenwriter and director Goran Kulenović (22-23 episodes, runtime: 35-40 minutes) about the not-so-talented, but business-savvy team shooting a TV series, in which we follow absurd situations and relationships behind the scenes of the TV industry.
6 Representative – Comedy with elements of drama by production designer Ivan Veljača (23 episodes + 2 specials, runtime: 35 minutes) about Franjo, a pensioner who has become tenant representative and is trying to get 100% of signatures for the renovation of the building, encountering a series of obstacles – from resistance from the neighbours to unforeseen family situations.
The projects will be scored by the jury – actress Judita Franković Brdar, chief editor and deputy programme director of Nova TV Group Zrinka Jankov, and screewriter Stefan Bošković. The authors are competing for two prizes – the 5,000 EUR prize, sponsored by United Media, and mentoring for the project from renowned authors Vladimir Tagić and Goran Stanković. The winners will be announced on Wednesday.
Pula Film Forum: Sergio Mimica-Gezzan – Working and succeeding in the most competitive industry in the world
One of the biggest directors and producers from the area, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, spoke with producer Tibor Vukelić at Pula Film Forum and revealed that he was not interested in film at first. “It is a paradox, seeing how my father, Vatroslav Mimica, was a director and screenwriter, and I was involved in creating film from an early age,” he said. He started his career by accident, when, as a student of economics and business, he worked at Jadran film as co-production assistant. He was then especially fascinated by the American way of working on set, and later brought together the two models – European and American, when working with the famous Steven Spielberg on Schindler’s List. “I think that’s why he liked me. The man is a genius, and his work was my film education. And, of course, I learnt alongside my father, who was disciplined in making film I didn’t understand as a young man,” he said and added that the best advice he received from Spielberg was: “Don’t say anything. Don’t tell anyone what you are going to do, and just do it, show it, and be prepared to accept that no one understands you. That’s when you know you’ve made it”.
Speaking about opportunities for young film professionals in Hollywood today, he said they are on the rise thanks to the Internet and globalisation, but that young film professionals should not even think about it without having an agent and work permit status. “The key to success is in the attractiveness of your last project,” he said.
Commenting on the selection of mentors and the situation in which the older film professionals fail to provide enough support to the younger ones because of their ego or fear, he said: “There is a rule – a director, if he’s smart, will surround himself with people who are smarter and more open than him, because this is what provides space for new and higher quality production content. And it makes the director more interesting, being surrounded by these kinds people.”
Mimica also commented on Croatian production, emphasising he believes there is room and opportunity to make a domestic series that could rival global projects. “Universal themes always do well on the global market, and personally, I would like to make something in Croatian production. Croatian actors are interesting, the musicians are excellent, as well as the directors,” he said.
Conversation with the film crew: Praslovan
Slobodan Maksimović’s doucmentary film Praslovan about the life and career Zoran Predin, one of the most important singer-songwriters from these parts, is a part of the main programme at the 72nd Pula Film Festival, in the Minority Co-productions section. On the day of the screening at the Istrian National Theatre, Ljubo Lasić spoke to Predin and Maksimović, as well as Slovenian producers Jure Vizjak and Maja Zupanc (Invida), Croatian co-producer Jure Bušić (Jaka produkcija), and editor Jurij Moškon. “I saw the film for the first time in editing,” said Predin. “I tried to watch it as a viewer, and not the subject of the film. The film is a story of a time, it’s not only about me. I didn’t want to be a black and white hero, but a hero in colour. I have to admit, what impressed me the most was the number of hair styles I’ve gone through in the last 40 years,” he said and added that he is grateful to the audience who reacted with loud laughter midway through the film: “It is our biggest reward and proof that we’ve done a good job.” When asked to what extent the film serves as political commentary, Maksimović reminded us that politics is all around us, that we are a part of it, and that “no matter how hard we try not to get involved, it defines us as a society.” It is paradox, he added, “because it is the society that should be creating politics.”
Conversation with the film crew: Wondrous Is the Silence of My Master
The history drama and minority co-production Wondrous Is the Silence of My Master, which premiered at Rotterdam International Film Festival, had its regional premiere in the main programme of the 72 Pula Film Festival. Director Ivan Salatić and lead actor and Croatian writer Marko Pogačar, for whom this was his first film role, spoke to Ljubo Lasić about the film the day after its screening at Valli Cinema. The film is based on motifs from the life of Montenegrin bishop, philosopher and poet Petar Petrović Njegoš, and tells the story of the dying ruler Morlak, who sets out on a journey seeking a cure. He is accompanied by his loyal servant, who is battling jealousy and the fact that he is always in his shadow. Wondrous Is the Silence of My Master is a critique of the Balkan cult of personality and patriarchy, and is told entirely from the servant’s perspective, said Salatić, hinting at the importance of the shift of authority between the two main characters. “The power relationship between ruler and master is one that is mutually dependent. They can’t exist without one another,” he explained. The language and treatment of historic facts, he added, play a key role in the film: “The language is free and gives a sense of being archaic. It is archaic, but understandable.”
Conversation with the film crew: My Late Summer
The new film by Oscar-winner Danis Tanović, comedy drama My Late Summer, follows a woman who, in search of her roots on a small island, experiences an unexpected romance. The film grows to be a story of acceptance – of oneself, of others, and of the island itself. Following last night’s screening at the Arena in the main programme (Croatian film), Boško Picula spoke to lead actress Anja Matković, who also co-wrote the screenplay with Tanović and Nikola Kuprešanin, actor Mario Knezović, and producer Boris T. Matić (Propeler Film). When asked whether My Late Summer has autobiographical elements, Matković said it does, and added: “Sometimes I deal with the issues of belonging to this world and the search for identity, as well as fundamental questions.” The conversation also touched upon the great chemistry among the crew, what could also be felt through the big screen. Matić said that the atmosphere on set was always great, with unpredictable humorous situations. “We clicked as a crew. We were really like a band that I would bring to house in the mountains and record an album with.”
Before the screening of My Late Summer, some sad news was announced at the Arena – Branka Mitić died on 12 July in Zagreb, the long-time secretary of the Croatian Film Directors’ Guild. As someone who has been with directors for decades, Branka has left an indelible mark on the Croatian film community.
“Back in 1996, I was a young director when I became the president of the Guild, and I was running it together with young directors Hrvoje Hribar, Lukas Nola, and Snježana Tribuson. We had no idea how to run the Guild, nor what to do, but then we invited Branka Mitić to be the secretary of the Guild. She worked with great love, attention, and unusually great friendship to organise us, and indirectly organised Croatian film. She is one of the invisible people who made it possible for us to sit here today and watch Croatian films. That’s why I would like to ask you for a big applause for Branka at the Arena for the first time,” said Vinko Brešan, member of the management board of the Croatian Film Directors’ Guild, to the audience at the Arena, saying goodbye to Branka.
Pula Film Festival would like to express its condolences and gratitude for Branka Mitić’s great contribution to Croatian cinema.
TUESDAY AT PULA FILM FESTIVAL
ANNOUNCING PULA PRO PROGRAMMES
The third edition of the pitching programme Screenplay of a Blockbuster will take place at Valli Cinema at 10 a.m.. The programme is aimed at presenting projects in the phase of development that successfully combine artistic and commercial sensibilities. A screenwriting workshop with members of crews of six projects was already held, with mentors Vinko Brešan, Ljubica Luković, and Mitja Okorn, while producer Vanja Jambrović prepared the crews for the pitching. Read more about the projects that will be presented here.
Mitja Okorn, Slovenian director who has achieved international success in Poland and Hollywood (Life in a Year, Boxer), will give a lecture titled “Work Hard Mindset” about his professional journey at the Youth Centre (next to Valli Cinema, Giardini 2) at noon.
Matthieu Darras, the film expert behind several significant international projects for developing film talents and projects, will give a lecture titled From Screenplay to Screen as part of Pula Film Forum at the Festival Centre at 4 p.m.
We will start the day at the Festival Centre at 10 a.m. with the conversations with the film crews of All Operators Are Currently Unavailable, directed by Dalibor Barić (Croatian Film), Dwelling Among the Gods, directed by Vuk Ršumović (Minority Co-production), and Sandbag Dam, directed by Čejen Černić Čanak (Croatian Film). The day will continue with the High Noon critics’ duel, where Silvestar Mileta and Dina Pokrajac will discuss the films All Operators Are Currently Unavailable and Sandbag Dam. The annual Nikola Tanhofer Award will be presented at the Festival Centre at 12.45 p.m. The award is presented by the Croatian Cinematographers Society in three categories.
The evening at the Arena will bring the film Dražen, a biopic about basketball star Dražen Petrović, directed by Danilo Šerbedžija and Ljubo Zdjelarević (Croatian Film), in the main programme at 9.15 p.m., followed by the Australian hit horror from the PoPular Pula programme, the film Bring Her Back, directed by brothers Danny and Michael Philippou. We will see the documentary film Wishing on a Star, directed by Peter Kerekes (Minority Co-production) at Valli Cinema at 4 p.m. in the main programme, and the drama Good Children, directed by Filip Peruzović (Croatian Film), at the Istrian National Theatre at 7 p.m. The documentary film Eighty Plus, directed by Želimir Žilinik, will be screened at Valli Cinema at 8 p.m.
The Festival day will be concluded by the music programme, with a concert by Rundek Eko Kvartet at the Festival Centre at 11 p.m.
