'The God Will Not Help' is Croatia's candidate for Goya Awards

Hana Jušić's film "The God Will Not Help" has been selected as Croatia's official candidate for the prestigious 41st Goya Awards, Spain's most significant film honor. The Croatian Society of Film Workers (HDFD) announced the decision, positioning the film for consideration in the Best European Film category.

The historical drama, produced by Kinorama and co-produced by Italy, Romania, Greece, France, and Slovenia, transports viewers to an isolated shepherd community in the Dinaric Alps at the turn of the 20th century. The narrative centers on Teresa, a woman from Chile who arrives claiming to be the widow of the community elder's brother. Her presence disrupts the established social order, simultaneously creating space for change and freedom within the community.

"The God Will Not Help" has garnered international recognition since its world premiere at the 78th Locarno Film Festival, where lead actresses Manuela Martelli and Ana Marija Veselčić earned a Leopard award for their performances. The film also received a Special Award for Promoting Gender Equality at the Sarajevo Film Festival and has been screened at numerous other international festivals, including Thessaloniki, Busan, and Vancouver.

Domestically, the film has also been celebrated. At the 73rd Pula Film Festival, it won the Golden Arena for Best Cinematography, awarded to Jana Plećaš, and the Golden Arena for Best Music, composed by Stavros Evangelou, Iris Asimakopoulou, and Vasilis Chontos. Ana Marija Veselčić further received the Breza Award for Best Debut Actress for her role as Milena. Croatia previously had a film nominated for a Goya Award when "Safe Place" by Juraj Lerotić was a contender for Best European Film in 2024. The Goya Awards ceremony is scheduled for February 2027 in Madrid.