First Croatian film in Cannes official competition in 15 years

by croatiaweek
April 24, 2024
in Entertainment

Čovjek koji nije mogao šutjeti

Zagreb, April 24 – The short feature film directed and written by Nebojša Slijepčević and produced by Katarina Prpić and Danijel Pek (Antitalent), “Čovjek koji nije mogao šutjeti,” will have its world premiere as part of the official competition program for short films at the 77th Cannes Film Festival.

Additionally, the feature-length minority co-production “Kad svane dan,” by Icelandic director and screenwriter Rúnar Rúnarsson, is part of the Certain Regard competition program.

The Croatian co-producer of the film is Igor A. Nola (MP Filmska produkcija).

“For five years, we’ve been working to turn one of the toughest war stories of the 90s into a film. In collaboration with Nebojša, who proves himself once again as one of the most important Croatian filmmakers today, with outstanding actors, a masterful team, and dedicated co-producers, we believe we have succeeded in making the film we wanted.

We thank everyone involved in the making of the film and everyone who supported us. Being selected for the Cannes Film Festival competition for the Golden Palm is a great recognition for all of us and for Croatian cinematography,” said the producer of “A Man Who Couldn’t Keep Silent,” Danijel Pek.

The script for the film, based on a true event, was written by director Nebojša Slijepčević. The film stars Goran Bogdan, Alexis Manenti, Dragan Mićanović, Silvio Mumelaš, Lara Nekić, Priska Ugrina, Dušan Gojić, Nebojša Pop Tasić, Mijo Pavelko, Martin Kuhar, Jakov Zovko, and Robert Ugrina.

The film follows a passenger train traveling from Belgrade to Bar. The train is stopped by armed members of Serbian paramilitary forces at a small station in Štrpci, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Upon receiving a tip that there are Muslim passengers on the train, they found 19 of them and executed them shortly after the train departed.

Approximately 500 passengers witnessed this, but no one dared to oppose them except one man: retired officer Tome Buzov, who was traveling to visit his son.

“Čovjek koji nije mogao šutjeti”(A Man Who Couldn’t Keep Silent) was produced under the auspices of Antitalent, with producers Katarina Prpić and Danijel Pek. Co-producers are Katya Trichkova (Contrast Films, Bulgaria) and Noëlle Lévénez (Les Films Norfolk, France).

The film was made with the support of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre. The film’s sales agent is the French Manifest.

Nebojša Slijepčević’s film is the second Croatian film since independence to be shown in the official main competition program at the Cannes Film Festival, specifically in the short film competition.

Čovjek koji nije mogao šutjeti

Prior to this, Goran Odvorčić’s film “Ciao Mama” (Propeler Film) was shown in 2009.

This year, there are 11 titles competing in the official short film competition, and one of the jury members for the short film competition is Vladimir Perišić, whose feature film “Lost Country,” co-produced with Croatia (Ankica Jurić Tilić, Kinorama), was shown in 2023 as part of the parallel Critics’ Week program (Semaine de la Critique). In the same program in the same year, the short feature film “True Rights of Stories about Šora” by director and screenwriter Andrea Slaviček and producer Katarina Prpić (Antitalent) had its world premiere.

Additionally, Icelandic director and screenwriter Rúnar Rúnarsson’s feature film “Kad svane dan” (When Day Breaks) will open the Certain Regard competition program at this year’s 77th Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday, May 15.

The film was produced in co-production with MP Filmska produkcija, with the support of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre. The Croatian co-producer is Igor A. Nola. The film’s sales agent is the French The Party Film Sales.

kad svane dane

“This is the third film I’ve worked on with director Rúnar Rúnarsson. We started our collaboration with the film ‘Sparrows,’ which was also supported by the HAVC, followed by ‘Echo,’ which we supported independently as MP Filmska Produkcija, and now with the third, we’re opening the Certain Regard program. This is an exceptional honor for Croatian cinematography and for my colleagues who worked on the film,” said Nola regarding the Cannes selection.

“Kad svane dan” tells the story of Una, a young art student, who from one sunset to another, encounters love, friendship, sorrow, and beauty.

You can find the official selection of the 77th Cannes Film Festival, which takes place from May 15 to 24, here.