"Koke" named best Croatian film, "Svadba" wins four Golden Arenas

The 73rd Pula Film Festival celebrated Croatian cinema, concluding with "Koke" and "Svadba" each earning four Golden Arenas, and the children's film "Glavonja" taking home three awards. "Koke," a humorous Mediterranean family drama directed by Igor Jelinović, was crowned the best Croatian film. Jelinović also received accolades for his screenplay, revealing that the film draws inspiration from his own family's experiences, with the script's inception dating back to 2012.

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Koke is a film about my family, and I started writing the script in 2012 when the events that inspired it were unfolding.

A notable surprise of the festival was the documentary "Ono što treba činiti" (What Must Be Done), which garnered awards for best direction and editing. Director Srđan Kovačević's work focuses on workers' rights. In the minority co-production category, the film "Tri tjedna kasnije" (Three Weeks Later) swept the awards, securing three out of a possible five.

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Wind, talk to me will change when students win.

Other significant awards included the Golden Arena for best direction for Srđan Kovačević's documentary. Ivan Kelava and Marko Jocić were recognized for their production work on the regional hit "Svadba." The film "Vjetre, pričaj sa mnom" (Wind, Talk to Me) was named the best Croatian minority co-production, with its director Stefan Đorđević and producer Dragana Jovović highlighting the challenges of film financing in Serbia.

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I dedicate this award to my late colleague Dari Vukić.

Acting awards were also presented: Snježana Sinovčić Šiškov won best actress for her role in "Koke," dedicating her award to a late colleague. Dado Ćosić received the award for best actor for his performance in "Lijepa večer, lijep dan" (Good Evening, Good Day), using the opportunity to draw attention to funding issues in Serbia's film center. Aleksandra Janković was recognized for her supporting role in "Koke," marking her first experience in a Croatian film and speaking the language. Roko Sikavica won for supporting actor in "Svadba."

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The Serbian Film Center has not received funding for two years, which affects the morale of all filmmakers in the region.