PHOTOS: Woody Harrelson arrives on Croatian island as festival guest

Woody Harrelson on Vis (Photo: Matko Petrić)

Actor Woody Harrelson arrived on the Croatian island of Vis, invited by the 35mm Vis Film Festival, to attend the screening of the film The People vs. Larry Flynt.

Accompanied by his wife, Laura Louie, he revisited the 1996 film at the open-air Hrid Cinema.

The biographical story, which centres on the controversial American publisher of the Hustler magazine, earned Harrelson an Academy Award nomination.

(Photo: Matko Petrić)

This year’s 35mm Vis Film Festival is dedicated to the works of renowned director Miloš Forman (Hair, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Amadeus).

The festival is unique in that all films are shown on 35mm film, offering audiences the special pleasure of experiencing cinema in its original format – an experience not even the celebrated Hollywood actor could resist. Harrelson, dressed casually, was joined by Martina Formanová, the late director’s widow, for the screening.

(Photo: Matko Petrić)

The plot of The People vs. Larry Flynt follows the professional rise and personal decline of Larry Flynt, dubbed the “king of the porn industry,” as well as his conflicts with religious institutions and the law.

Upon its release, the film sparked debate about the hypocrisy in American society, where the portrayal of sexuality was considered obscene, while images of war, genocide, and mutilated bodies were widely accepted without eliciting much emotional response.

In addition to Harrelson, the film features performances by Courtney Love, Edward Norton, Donna Hanover, and others.

Following the film, the American actor engaged with the audience and media, expressing his surprise at the level of interest shown in both the film and his visit to Vis.

He reflected on the many roles that have marked his distinguished career, noting that he is most recognised for the TV series Cheers and the now-iconic True Detective, in which he starred alongside Matthew McConaughey.

When asked which role he felt most connected to, Harrelson was unable to choose, as he dedicates himself fully to every character he portrays, which he believes is the key to his long and successful career. “All my roles are like my children,” Harrelson remarked. However, he spoke particularly fondly of Larry Flynt, explaining that delving into Flynt’s mind was the first time he was arrested for activism – an experience he has had several times since.

(Photo: Matko Petrić)

He also shared memories of working with Miloš Forman, with the highlight of his media interaction being his impression of Forman directing the film. Harrelson also touched on his role in Natural Born Killers, describing the experience of embodying such a character as particularly strange.

In response to a journalist from Sarajevo who asked him to comment on Michael Winterbottom’s film Welcome to Sarajevo, shot just a year after The People vs. Larry Flynt, in which Goran Višnjić stars, Harrelson recalled the shock he felt upon arriving in Split and learning more about the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

(Photo: Matko Petrić)

He emphasised how important it was for him to help share that story with the world. At the end of his time with the press, Harrelson expressed his admiration for the beauty of the island of Vis and mentioned that he could easily see himself living there one day.

(Photo: Matko Petrić)

The 35mm Vis Film Festival runs until 10th September, with producers Rudolf Biermann and Mike Downey, along with long-time Berlinale director Dieter Kosslick, serving as its selectors. The festival opened with a screening of the Hollywood classic Gone with the Wind to commemorate 60 years since the film’s premiere at the newly opened Hrid Cinema. The festival’s concept is based on an irresistible principle: 5 days, 7 films, and the starry skies above Vis.