World premieres of Croatian films at Cannes Film Festival

Prava istina priče o šori (The Real Truth about the Fight) (HAVC)

Two Croatian films will have their world premieres as part of the parallel program of the Cannes Film Festival – the Critics’ Week (Semaine de la Critique).

These include the short fiction film “Prava istina priče o šori” (The Real Truth about the Fight) by Andrea Slaviček, produced by Antitalent, and the feature film “Lost Country” by Vladimir Perišić, realized in co-production with the Croatian company Kinorama.

In addition, Croatian filmmakers are participating in industry programs, and the Croatian Audiovisual Centre will promote Croatian cinematography at the Film Market (Marché du Film). The Cannes Film Festival opened on Tuesday, May 16, and will run until May 27.

The film “”Prava istina priče o šori” (The Real Truth about the Fight)” will have its world premiere on Tuesday, May 23, as part of the Critics’ Week program. It is a short fiction film about a teenager named Leni who, amidst school troubles, infectious songs, and a mysterious blue car, tells the real truth about a great secret, hinting that there is something she doesn’t want to reveal.

Prava istina priče o šori (The Real Truth about the Fight) (HAVC)

Andrea Slaviček directed and wrote the screenplay for the film. The main role is played by Vida Tunguz, with notable performances by Ana Ugrina, Lucija Plesac, Lily Antić, Lola Jelčić, Nedim Hasanbegović, Adrian Babić Herceg, and Pan Jelić.

The film was produced by the Croatian company Antitalent, with co-producers Fractal from Spain and Blank from Croatia. The film’s producer is Katarina Prpić, and the co-producer is Marc Guanyabens. The film was made with the support of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre and the City of Zagreb.

In addition, the feature film “Lost Country,” directed by Vladimir Perišić, will have its world premiere on Monday, May 22, at the Critics’ Week.

The screenplay is co-written by the director and Alice Winocour, with whom he collaborated on his first feature film “Ordinary People,” which also had its world premiere at the Critics’ Week in 2009. The film is set in Serbia in 1996, during student demonstrations against Milošević’s regime. Fifteen-year-old Stefan faces the toughest of all revolutions – he must confront his own beloved mother, the spokesperson for the same corrupt government his friends are fighting against.

Lost Country (HAVC)

The lead roles are played by Jovan Ginić and Jasna Đuričić, with notable performances by Duško Valentić and Helena Buljan. The film also stars Marija Škaričić, Vinko Kraljević, and Goran Navojec. The film was realized in co-production between France, Serbia, Luxembourg, and Croatia (Kinorama, produced by Ankica Jurić Tilić), with the support of the Serbian Film Centre, ARTE France Cinéma, CNC, Luxembourg Film Fund, and the Croatian Audiovisual Centre.

The Critics’ Week (Semaine de la Critique) is a parallel program of the Cannes Film Festival, launched in 1962. This year, the 62nd edition takes place from May 17 to 25 and traditionally presents 10 feature films and 10 short films from around the world. The goal of the program is to discover new talents, and names like Bernard Bertolucci, Alejandro González Iñárritu, and Gaspar Noé had their breakthroughs at the Critics’ Week.

Croatian producer Miljenka Čogelja (Pipser) will participate in the Producers on the Move platform in Cannes. Every year, the European Film Promotion selects twenty producers to participate in this platform based on their work and international co-productions. Miljenka Čogelja was chosen to be part of the program thanks to her successful producing career and her work on critically acclaimed films such as “A Safe Place” by Juraj Lerotić and “The Diary of Diana B.” by Dana Budisavljević.

Croatian producer Marta Eva Mećava (Eclectica) will participate in the new platform called New Producers Room, which is part of the one-week program Short Film Corner / Rendez-vous Industry, designed for professionals involved in short films.