From Omiš to the world – hit promo film scooping awards

(Operation 4/TZ Omiš)

If one of the aims of the popular promotional video for the Croatian town of Omiš was to win numerous awards at national and international festivals, then the mission has been a success.

“Operation 4” is the name of the promotional film by the Omiš Tourist Board, which, after its premiere last year, attracted a significant number of views from across Croatia and beyond.

It tells the story of a little girl and boy from Omiš searching for their idol, the famous Omiš-born footballer Ivan Perišić. The film, which follows their “operation” to find the famous footballer on social media, achieved over 500,000 views, along with hundreds of positive comments, reactions, and shares.

Positive feedback and praise continued to arrive from various parts of the world, particularly from the film industry and tourism professionals.

Directed by Danijel Bolić, the film has so far won awards at four national and international festivals, with a total of seven accolades.

At the 9th edition of the Terres Travel Festival, which focuses on promoting films that advocate sustainable development and tourism that cares for nature conservation, Omiš took first place in the Tourist Product – Cultural Tourism Destination category.

The festival featured more than 200 entries from around the world.

Omiš (Operation 4/Screenshot)

Recognition also came from far-off Japan. The Japan World Tourism Film Festival 2024 awarded “Operation 4” second place in the City Tourist Destination category, with promotional films for the city of Nazaré in Portugal and Jimena de la Frontera in Spain taking the top spots.

Regarding domestic awards, Omiš also celebrated at the 13th Zagreb Tourfilm Festival 2024, an international festival of tourism films. Competing against more than 90 films from 38 countries, it won two awards:

First place for the Best Tourism Video in Croatia in the City Tourist Destination category

Third place in the international selection for the City Tourist Destination category

At the second edition of the TEF KRK 2024 Festival of Tourism and Ethnographic Film, the film won the award for Best Screenplay, Best Direction, and the Grand Prix for Best Film of the festival. And we hope these awards are just the beginning, Slobodna Dalmacija reports.

In the overall ranking of the International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals (CIFFT), which grants one of the world’s most prestigious awards for the best tourism video, “Operation 4” currently ranks fifth in the City Tourist Destination category.

Given the current standings, it is likely to remain within the top five in the final ranking. CIFFT includes festivals such as the Terres Film Festival, Zagreb Tourfilm Festival, Japan World Tourism Film Festival, Amorgos Tourism Film Festival, ART & TUR – International Tourism Film Festival, Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards, Internationale Wirtschaftsfilmtage Vienna, New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, Silkfest Banostor, and US International Awards.

The Omiš Tourist Board extended its thanks to everyone who participated in the film’s production: actors Ivan Perišić, Niko Puhan, Sara Zeljko, Ivana Župa, Ljubica Beović, Boris Mimica, and Mladenka Medić; Vera Mekinić, who was responsible for set design and costumes; the female vocal ensemble Mirabela CZK Omiš; the Gusar volleyball club; the Omiš Pirate cultural and historical association; and special thanks to the film’s creator Danijel Bolić and Beep Films.