2015 Croatian Summer Film Festival Guide

(photo credit / Motovun Film Festival)

This summer Croatia will not just be about music festivals (you can check out our 2015 Croatian summer music festival guide here) but a host of exciting film festivals will be going on up and down the country. Check out our summer film festival guide below to see what is going on in Croatia over the summer…

DokuMA Film Festival – Makarska, 3 – 6 June 2015

DokuMA Film Festival is an international documentary film festival held in Makarska, Croatia. The festival is organized by DokuMA Civic Association from Makarska. Programme consists of international competition ‘Little Garmaz’, ‘Feature Hit Movies’, ‘Midnight at the Garden’, ‘Partner Nation’ retrospective, ‘MAteenée‘ youth program and ‘Regional Student Films’.

Animafest Zagreb, 9 – 14 June 2015

The World Festival of Animated Film – Animafest Zagreb, founded in 1972, is the second oldest film festival that is entirely devoted to animation and one of the world’s most important animated film festivals. The festival takes place each year in early June. Winners of Animafest’s Grand Prix directly qualify for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science’s Oscar Awards as well as the main European animation award, the Cartoon d’Or.

Mediterranean Film Festival Split, 5 – 13 June 2015
+ CINEMA MEDITERRANEAN – Makarska, Omiš, Trogir, Šibenik, Komiža, Bol, Lastovo, Silba, Imotski, Korčula, Blato, Hvar, Stari Grad, Vis (TBA)

Mediterranean Film Festival Split has become one of the best and most popular cultural events on the Adriatic and its positive spirit has been recognized by more than 60.000 visitors in the last 7 years. The reason are films from the Mediterranean region and their regional and Croatian premieres in Split since they cannot be seen in regular cinema distribution. But the smell of hundred year old pines and the sound of the sea, the center of the beautiful UNESCO city, sandy beach and smiling faces having a good time…all that is a bonus during the eight days of the festival.

Festival novih – International Documentary Film Festival – Slavonski Brod, 15 – 21 June 2015

Festival Novih is an international festival of documentary films that takes place in Slavonski Brod. It is organised by the association SB Film.

SEFF – Sisak Eco Film Fest – Sisak, 15 – 26 June 2015

The Sisak Eco Film Fest (SEFF) is the only Croatian film festival that keeps changing locations throughout its ten-day duration. The festival’s team tours through some thirty places around the Sisak-Moslavina County and Bosnia and Herzegovina on bicycles, which they consider to be an eco-friendly means of transportation, presenting selected short eco-films to rural and urban audiences. Its programme focuses on short films up to 15 minutes in length and the winner is chosen by the audience.

Đakovački rezovi – Đakovo, 17 – 20 June 2015

Đakovački rezovi is an event that brings together film, theatre and music. In addition, it offers entertaining educational workshops for children, youth and all other interested participants.

Fantastic Zagreb Film Festival – Zagreb, 26 June – 4 July 2015

Fantastic Zagreb Film Festival brings special cinematic treats through the end of June and the beginning of July to all film buffs and fantastic fans. In nine days of the Festival, fans of fantastic and related genres – science fiction, horror, thriller, mystery, experimental etc. will get to watch a number of intriguing and interesting films from both new and acknowledged authors.

Supetar Super Film Festival – Supetar (Brač), 14 – 18 July 2015

This summer will be the 6th edition of the SSFF – festival of European contemporary documentary films. After Scotland, Sweden, Czech Republic and Serbia have all been partner countries with this young festival, it is expected that this year will once again be a great week of film, concerts and workshops on the beautiful island of Brač.

The Island of Pašman Film Nights – Pašman, 17 – 22 July, 2015

The Island of Pašman Film Nights is an annual non-competition programme of repertoire films screened in the open-air summer theatre on the island of Pašman. It is organised by the Pašman Youth Association Dica.

Pula Film Festival – Pula, 18 – 25 July 2015

Long ago, in 1938, even before the establishment of the Cannes Film Festival, a well visited first film revue took place in the Pula Arena and since 1953 Pula has established itself as a place where you can enjoy the film under the starry sky. London newspaper The Guardian in 2005 wrote that Pula is “one of the three most spectacular open-air festivals in Europe”. Its National & Popular programme, opening and award ceremonies are traditionally held in ancient Vespasian’s Amphitheatre (constructed in the mid-1st century B.C), popularly called Arena, that in summer becomes one of the biggest open-air cinemas in the world (along with Locarno and Taormina). European Programme usually hosts a feast of cinematic delicacies from around the world, while the National Programme, thanks to which Pula proudly holds the title of the oldest film festival in the world, expects to present more than a dozen Croatian titles.

Motovun Film Festival – Motovun, 25 – 29 July 2015

Motovun Film Festival takes place in a picturesque medieval  town situated in a fort 270 m above sea level. A five-day film marathon with evening outdoor screenings and daily screenings in theatres. Festival program consists of around 70 titles from all over the world, from documentaries to feature films, from shorts to long forms, from guerilla made films to co-productions. Motovun is one of the most popular Croatian festivals and summer destinations.

Supertoon – International Animation Festival, 26 July – 31 July 2015

Supertoon, also known as the Festival in Flip – Flops, is definitely adding some flavour to an already rich summer season in Sibenik. Supertoon is known for showcasing recent short animated films for adults and for kids and especially for its carefully curated music video selection programme – Supertoon Supertunes.

Postira Seaside Festival – Postira (Brač), 29 July – 2 August 2015

The Postira Seaside Film Festival is organized by a small group of enthusiasts who are trying to further cultural life in their little village to make life better for it´s inhabitants (especially the young). The festival takes place in the old town square of the picturesque village Postira on the island of Brac. Laid back and definitely fun!

Solo Positivo International Music Documentary Film Festival – Opatija, 1 – 6 August 2015

After five great, amazing years in Starigrad Paklenica, the SPFF (ex Starigrad Paklenica Film Festival) has moved to Opatija. With its programs, the increasing number of guests and excellent atmosphere amongst people, the SPFF has in its first five years been established as an unavoidable destination for all those who love documentaries, good music and good company.

Video Days – Lovely Days – Bol (island of Brač), 16 – 22 August, 2015

Video Days – Lovely Days invites international and national curators to present video works and films by artists they admire. Participants are invited to meet, share, discuss and present a cca one hour and 30 minutes program to the general public in Bol, on the island of Brač. The relaxed atmosphere and a intriguing program helps bridging the gap in between video art and experimental film with the general public and marks Bol as a spot where contemporary art meets during summers.

Opuzen Film Festival – Opuzen, 27 – 22 August, 2015

The Opuzen Film Festival presents European films of all forms and genres through more than 10 programmes. The competition programme comprises of feature fiction films, feature documentaries, fiction shorts and animated films. In addition to its film programme, the festival also organises the OFF school, an educational programme for children and youth from the Dubrovnik-Neretva County.

Avvantura Festival – FilmForumZadar – Zadar, 22 – 29 August 2015

Avvantura Festival – FilmForumZadar is the first international film festival being focused on European Co-Productions and is taking place in Zadar during the last week of August. It’s also the first international film festival in Zadar gathering not only the cinema audience during the film projections but also the professionals participating at the creative Film Forum. “This is the most beautiful sunset in the world” – said Alfred Hitchcock, delighted during the staying in Zadar. The organizers believe that the new generations have the great opportunity to show that Zadar disposes of more than just perfect geographic position on the Adriatic sea along with the beautiful landscapes perfect for the film sets.

Vukovar Film Festival – Vukovar, Ilok, Županja, Borovo, Vinkovci + VFF in Cinestar (ZG, OS, RI, VA), 24 – 29 August 2015

Vukovar Film Festival – Danube Region Film Festival  is a one week manifestiation whose rich programme selection includes winners of the world’s largest film festivals. It takes place on several locations in Vukovar. Evening screenings take place on the Terrace of the Agency for Waterways and the beautiful park of Eltz Castle, while standard day – time screening locations are Ruzicka’s house, Cinema Borovo and a summer getaway place Danubian Sand Island “Ada”.

Liburnia Film Festival, Ičići (Opatija), 25 – 29 August 2015

Liburnia Film Festival is the first documentary film festival in Croatia and the only festival screening only the latest in Croatian documentaries. This open air documentary film festival is held every year in August and has built up a reputation for showing quality documentaries in a stunning setting with a relaxed atmosphere.

Kinookus Food Film Festival – Ston, 3 – 6 September 2015

The Kinookus Food Film Festival takes place in Ston (Croatia) every September. The area around Ston (Dubrovnik-Neretva County) is renowned for the cultivation of shellfish, superb wines and olive oil. By bringing the seventh art back into the open public spaces of Ston, the Kinookus organizers wish to give their support to the ongoing efforts of the local community and civic associations to revive and preserve the unique spirit of this magical place.

Trash Film Festival – Varaždin, 9 – 12 September 2015

Trash Film Festival is a festival of low-budget action movies. Trash Film Festival is much more than just a review – it is a large glam-trash event in which all present play role; guests, organizers, performers and contestants. Great care is taken to organize concerts, kitsch parties and red carpet events. On the final evening, the festival award Golden Chainsaw is given to the best movies.

Split Film Festival – International Festival of New Film – Split, 12 – 19 September 2015

Split Film Festival – International Festival of New Film takes place every year in an ancient town on the Adriatic coast. It showcases new, innovative, personal, experimental, radical, subversive works (film, video, new media) of all genres and lenghts, preferably from outside the mainstream, whether it was made on a shoe string budget, or is a studio release.