Večernji list editor Dražen Klarić receives special Vukovar Film Festival honor

Dražen Klarić, editor-in-chief of Večernji list, received a special award for his contribution to film culture at the closing ceremony of the 20th Vukovar Film Festival. The honor recognized his documentary "Vjesnik: The Last Edition," which he directed and produced through Večernji list.

The festival's top feature-film prize, the Golden Barge, went to the Romanian biographical drama "The Yellow Tie," directed by Serge Ioan Celebidachi. The jury said the film strongly addresses the price of artistic uncompromisingness and the importance of remaining faithful to one's ideals. It also praised the film's direction, cinematography and music.

The Bulgarian short film "Director Director" by Lyubomir Pechev won its competition with a humorous and imaginative story about a child's love of cinema. Croatian director Jozo Schmuch received a special young-author award for the student film "Rahlo," which explores the consequences of war through an intimate meeting between a mother and her missing son.

Slovak director Pepe Lubojacki achieved a historic success when "If Pigeons Were Turned to Gold" won the festival's documentary prize. The jury highlighted its uncompromising authorship, innovative combination of personal archives and contemporary visual forms, and emotional force. Croatian filmmaker Krešimir Pernek won the animation award for "Aspiration."

Klarić's documentary premiered at the festival in Vukovar's Water Tower before a full audience. The award citation said he combined journalistic instinct, investigative work and authorial passion, preserving important stories from oblivion. It also recognized his contribution to Croatian documentary and historical production and his persistence in addressing subjects that extend beyond the news cycle. A special award for film music went to Macedonian guitarist and singer-songwriter Vlatko Stefanovski, who performed briefly after accepting it.