Croatian film Murina has world premiere at Cannes

Murina has world premiere at Cannes (Photo credit: Alban Pichon)

Croatian film returned to the Cannes Film Festival last weekend with the debut success of “Murina” by director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović.

Last Saturday, the fiction feature film Murina premiered at a packed Théâtre Croisette in Cannes and received a long applause. 

“I’m happy! We worked on Murina for a long time and this is the best festival I could have hoped for to hold its world premiere. It was moving and all of us are proud to have the film screen at Quinzaine de Réalisateur, especially given the cinematic legacy of this Cannes section. I am grateful to the Croatian Audiovisual Centre for its assistance. HAVC provides vital support to directors launching their international careers at festivals such as Cannes,” said director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović shortly after the world premiere.

Murina (Photo credit: Alban Pichon)

The film was part of Directors’ Fortnight (La Quinzaine des réalisateurs) programme at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. 

(Photo credit: Alban Pichon)

After the screening of the film, director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović and actress Gracija Filipović took part in a Q&A session.

Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović and actress Gracija Filipović at the Q&A (Photo credit: Alban Pichon)

“The film received the best possible treatment in Cannes and praise has been pouring in from all sides. Croatia has every right to feel proud. We congratulate Antoneta and the entire team on their wonderful success and I am convinced the audience at home will be just as thrilled,” said Croatian Audiovisual Centre CEO Chris Marcich.

Murina is a psychological family drama set over the course of four days on one of the Croatian islands, largely inspired by the director’s multi-award-winning fiction short Into the Blue. The film was shot on the island of Hvar, the Kornati archipelago and the island of Koločep near Dubrovnik. 

The screenplay was co-written by Frank Graziano, the producers of the film are Danijel Pek (Antitalent) and Rodrigo Teixeira (RT Features), and the co-producers are Zdenka Gold (Spiritus movens), Jožko Rutar (SPOK Films) and Miha Černec (Staragara).

Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović (Photo credit: Alban Pichon)

The film’s creative team also includes Helene Louvart (director of photography), Ivan Veljača (production designer), Amela Bakšić (costume designer), Snježana Gorup (make-up artist), Julij Zornik (sound designer), Vlado Gojun (editor), Poster (visual effects) and Evgueni Galperine and Sacha Galperine (music composers). Staring in the film are Gracija Filipović, Leon Lučev, Danica Ćurčić and Cliff Curtis.

(Photo credit: Alban Pichon)

Murina will open the Pula Film Festival, and the screening is due on July 17th. After that, the film will screen at Sarajevo Film Festival and at Rab Film Festival. Soon after, Murina is heading to theatres across the country. 

(Photo credit: Alban Pichon)