Competition programme of the 59th Pula Film Festival:
National Programme
a) Main section (10 films)
Sonja and the Bull, dir. Vlatka Vorkapić, A Letter to My Father, dir. Damir Čučić, Flower Square, dir. Krsto Papić, Night Boats, dir. Igor Mirković, Accidental Passer-by, dir. Jozo Patljak, Zagreb Stories Vol. 2 (omnibus), Halima’s Path, dir. Arsen Anton Ostojić, Hives (omnibus), No Laughing Allowed, dir. Davor Žmegač, Vegetarian Cannibal, dir. Branko Schmidt
b) Minority co-productions section (2 films)
The Parade, dir. Srđan Dragojević, Practical Guide to Belgrade with Singing and Crying, dir. Bojan Vuletić
International Programme (15 films)
Shun Li and the Poet, dir. Andrea Segre, Chaos, dir. Etienne Faure, Romeos, dir. Sabine Bernardi, I, Anna, dir. Barnaby Southcombe, Perfect Days, dir. Alice Nellis, Coriolanus, dir. Ralph Fiennes, The Conquest, dir. Xavier Durringer, Black Heaven, dir. Gilles Marchand, Farewell, My Queen, dir. Benoît Jacquot, dir. The Woman in the Fifth, dir. Pawel Pawlikowski, A Distant Neighbourhood, dir. Sam Garbarski, The Door, dir. István Szabó, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, dir. Robert Guédiguian, This Must Be the Place, dir. Paolo Sorrentino, Hotel Lux, dir. Leander Haußmann
Short Films Programme (10 films)
Captain and the Audition, dir. Zvonimir Jurić i Antonio Nuić, Weekend, dir. Goran Ribarić, Red Handed, dir. Bruno Mustić, Father, dir. Ivica Mušan, Chillin’, dir. Luka Rukavina, Rom kom, dir. Zvonimir Rumboldt, Out of Season, dir. Dijana Bolanča, One, dir. Matija Radeljak, Elephant, dir. Dalija Dozet, Farewell 2, dir. Irena Škorić
Children’s Film Programme Pulica – Morning screenings for children (9 films)
Captain Mikula, the Kid, dir. Obrad Gluščević, Yellow Submarine, dir. George Dunning, Wolfgirl, dir. Natalija Župan Lucić, Zarafa, dir. Rémi Bezançon, Jean-Christophe Lie, The Crocodiles Strike Back, dir. Christian Ditter, The Gruffalo’s Child, dir. Uwe Heidschötter, Johannes Weiland, Lotte and the Moonstone Secret, dir. Janno Põldma, Heiki Ernits, French Fries War, dir. Nicole van Kilsdonk, The Painting, dir. Jean-François Laguionie
JURY DECISIONS
I. Awards granted by the Jury of the National Competition Programme
Jury: Nina Violić actress (president), film critic Tomislav Kurelec, director Dalibor Matanić, screenwriter Ante Tomić, and cinematographer Vanja Černjul.
a) NATIONAL PROGRAMME – minority co-productions section
1. Golden Arena for Best Screenplay is granted to Srđan Dragojević for the film The Parade.
„Cheerfully mocking political incorrectness, Srđan Dragojević told a story which, on the whole, could not be more politically correct and humane.”
2. Golden Arena for Best Actress in a Leading Role is granted to Hristina Popović for the role of Biserka in the film The Parade by Srđan Dragojević.
“Creating an exceptionally humorous and charming role of Biserka, with particular vivacity in front of the camera, she demonstrated a wide range of acting capabilities in the film “Practical Guide to Belgrade with Singing and Crying” by Bojan Vuletić as well.
b) NATIONAL PROGRAMME – main section
1. The Breza Award for best debutant director is granted to Damir Čučić for the film A Letter to My Father.
“For creating an exciting emotional whirlwind focused on the relations between two generations representing two different worlds at the same time. A bold combination of the elements pertaining to feature, experimental and documentary films resulted in an original and particularly innovative work of art.”
2. Special Golden Arena for Technological Innovation is granted to Jozo Patljak, the producer of the film Accidental Passer-by for the introduction of 3D technology in Croatian film industry.
3. Special Golden Arena for Best Sound is granted to Martin Semenčić for the film A Letter to My Father by Damir Čučić.
“The sound is impressive in building inner tension and relations between the two protagonists.”
4. Special Golden Arena for Best Make-Up is granted to Jasna Rosini for the film Vegetarian Cannibal by Brank Schmidt.
„Believable make-up used in the film greatly contributes to the depiction of brutal reality.”
5. Golden Arena for Best Costume Design is granted to Slavica Šnur for the film Sonja and the Bull by Vlatka Vorkapić.
“Costume design greatly supports the plot and characterization from the very first frame.”
6. Golden Arena for Best Art Direction is granted to Ivana Škrabalo for the film Vegetarian Cannibal by Brank Schmidt.
“She created a convincing framework for an attractive visualization and directorial solutions”.
7. Golden Arena for Best Music is granted to Stanko Kovačić, Damir Martinović and Ivanka Mazurkijević for the film Sonja and the Bull by Vlatka Vorkapić.
“The music is precise in depicting different backgraounds and mentalities of the protagonists.”
8. Golden Arena for Best Editing is granted to Hrvoje Mršić and Damir Čučić for the film A Letter to My Father by Damir Čučić.
“By means of brave combinations of film expressions pertaining to different genres and precise timing in terms of their rotations, the editing has determined the dramatic structure of an exceptionally peculiar film.
9. Golden Arena for Best Cinematography is granted to Dragan Ruljančić for the film Vegetarian Cannibal by Branko Schmidt.
“With its visual values and dynamics the cinematography represents strong support both to the director and excellent actors.”
10. Golden Arena for Best Actor in a Supporting Role is granted to Mate Gulin for the role of Father in the film A Letter to My Father by Damir Čučić.
“Portraying a tyrannical father from Dalmatinska Zagora (Dalmatian Hinterland), unskilled when it comes to expressing tenderness, Mate Gulin in the film “A Letter to My Father” gives the right example of how proud men can sometimes be impossible fools.
11. Golden Arena for Best Actor in a Leading Role is granted to Rene Bitorajac for the role of Dr. Danko Babić in the film Vegetarian Cannibal by Brank Schmidt.
“Portraying a diabolical doctor, Rene Bitorajac represents the unscrupulous new elite. Heading an excellent team of actors, he plays the calculating, cold-blooded and cynical evil with great confidence, exactness and incredible ease.”
12. Golden Arena for Best Actress in a Supporting Role is granted to Olga Pakalović for the role of Safija in the film Halima’s Path by Arsen A. Ostojić.
“Safija had to make a painful decision between her father and her husband and between two faiths and nations. Olga portrays Safija in a convincing manner with the anxiousness of a person who will never find out whether she made the right decision.
13. Golden Arena for Best Actress in a Leading Role is granted to Ana Karić for the role of Helena in the film Night Boats by Igor Mirković.
“Ana Karić makes a mesmerizing transformation from a tired and defeated pensioner into a woman once again in love and she does that with great acting strength in the manner of a true diva.”
IMAGE HADDAD – Pret-a-porter brand IMAGE HADDAD, signed by Zrinka Haddad, joins this award. IMAGE HADDAD has been collaborating with the Festival for as many as 11 years and this collaboration has become a tradition which is based on Haddad’s cureless love for film and its belief that business must support culture and art. Apart from providing clothes to governing council members, IMAGE HADDAD will award this year’s Golden Arena for Best Actress in a Leading Role winner, actress Ana Karić. The award will be handed out by Mr. Samir Haddad, owner and manager of IMAGE HADDAD.
14. Golden Arena for Best Screenplay is granted to Vlatka Vorkapić for the film Sonja and the Bull.
“Vlatka Vorkapić manages to be original and fresh in the typical romantic comedy plot. Benevolently playing with the clichés of our mentalities, she matches two young persons from different social backgrounds and opposing worldviews in a humorous fashion.”
15. Golden Arena for Best Director is granted to Branko Schmidt for the film Vegetarian Cannibal.
“Branko Schmidt made a cruel film commentary of our present times cutting into the sick social tissue where there are truly no boundaries between respectable citizens and the social scum. Boldly, confidently, and consistently, from the first to the last minute of the film, Schmidt follows its protagonist through the moral silt to his complete defeat in crime, when he loses his soul in the manner of Faustus.”
16. Grand Golden Arena for Best Film is granted to Vera Robić-Škarica, the producer of the film A Letter to My Father by Damir Čučić.
"A Letter to My Father” is a convincing story about a relationship between a father and a son in a patriarchal society where men shrink from tenderness. In an impressive artistic adventure, the authors of the film, deep under the ten-year layers of rage, accusations, blame, and regret, encounter hidden love, forgiveness and peace for both protagonists.”
Hypo banka grants a prize amounting to HRK 30,000.00 to Damir Čučić, the director of the film A Letter to My Father, and the winner of the Grand Golden Arena for Best Film at the 59th Pula Film Festival.
II. Golden Gate of Pula Audience Award
Voting for the National Programme screened at the Arena, the audience granted the Golden Gate of Pula Audience Award to the film Halima’s Path by Arsen Anton Ostojić, produced by Arkadena Zagreb, with an average score of 4.86.
Sonja and the Bull, dir. V. Vorkapić – 4.72
Flower Square, dir. K. Papić – 4.44
Night Boats, dir. I. Mirković – 4.31
Accidental Passer-by, dir. J. Patljak – 2.50
Zagreb Stories Vol. 2, (omnibus) – 4.10
Halima’s Path, dir. A. A. Ostojić, 4.86
No Laughing Allowed, dir. D. Žmegač, 4.08
Vegetarian Cannibal, dir. B. Schmidt, 4.48
The Parade, dir. S. Dragojević – 4.83
Practical Guide to Belgrade with Singing and Crying, dir. B. Vuletić, 3.63
III. Awards by the Jury of the International Programme
Jury: director Milčo Mančevski (president), actress Mirjana Karanović, director and actor Metod Pevec.
1. Golden Arena for Best Actor/Actress: Denis Podalydès in the film The Conquest by Xavier Durringer;
„An exceptionally precise character analysis which not only represents a public personality in an almost documentary fashion, but creates an integral film character with its internal emotions.”
2. Golden Arena for Best Director: Benoît Jacquot for the film Farewell, My Queen;
„The director takes us on an exciting journey behind the scenes of a huge historical event with a dynamic film rhythm. He reconstructs the everyday life from that period in a convincing and imaginative way, focusing on an analytical observation of human relations.”
3. Golden Arena for Best Film: The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Robert Guédiguian;
„With a precisely conducted story about a near-forgotten humanity, authentic characters and plot, “The Snows of Kilimanjaro” tackles a topical theme in an unpretentious and hones manner.”
The Jury of the International Programme grants a special recognition to the film Shun Li and the Poet by Andrea Segre.
„For an engaged approach and subtle depiction of the relationship between two cultures through an encounter of two people.”
IV. The Federation of Film Critics of Europe and the Mediterranean Jury (FEDEORA)
Jury: Awad Sherif film critic, Dukić Nenad, film critic, Holub Radovan, critic and journ
1. Croatian short feature films
A Diploma for Best Film from the Short Film Programme is granted to the film
Father by Ivica Mušan.
2. National Programme – minority co-productions section
A Diploma for Best Minority Co-production goes to the film Practical Guide to Belgrade with Singing and Crying by Bojan Vuletić.
3. National Programme – main section
A Diploma for Best Film in the National Programme Main Section is granted to the film Vegetarian Cannibal by Branko Schmidt.
For a main section feature film the jury grants a special recognition to the film Halima’s Path by Arsen Anton Ostojić for recognizing uniform and stylistically consistent treatment of the delicate topic of religious and ethnic conflicts in this region.
V. Awards granted by the Jury of the Croatian Film Critics’ Association
1. International Programme
- A Diploma is granted to director Ralph Fiennes for the film Coriolanus with an average score of 4.63
2. National Programme – minority co-productions section
- A Diploma is not granted. According to the vote by film critics the films of the minority co-production section did not receive an average score of 3.5 or greater, which is a precondition for a Diploma.
4. National Programme – main section
- The OKTAVIJAN Award is granted to director Branko Schmitd for the film Vegetarian Cannibal with an average score of 4.21.
VI. Awards granted by the Young Cinephiles Yury
Jury of the Young Cinephiles for the International Programme: Adis Šabić, Adriana Jelovac, Ariana Bagarić, Deniel Zec, Filip Zadro, Katja Regvat, Barbara Antić, Željko Pernar, Petar Brodarić
1. International Programme
- A recognition goes to director Alice Nellis for the film Perfect Days with an average score of 4.75.
Jury of the Young Cinephiles for the National Programme, Minority Co-productions and Short Croatian Film: Adis Šabić, Adriana Jelovac, Ariana Bagarić, Deniel Zec, Filip Zadro, Katja Regvat, Petar Brodarić, Ivan Mardešić, Ivana Vanjak, Katja Milohanovic, Katja Vretenar, Luka Galešić, Manda Brčina, Marija Škrlec, Marijana Bukvić, Václav Martinovský, Mateja Brodarič, Matija Agatić, Robert Cukon, Sunčica Divković, Zoja Poropat, Zvjezdana Balic.
1. Croatian short feature films
- A Diploma is granted to director Luka Rukavina for the film Chillin’ with an average score of 3.71
2. National Programme – Minority Co-productions Section
- A Diploma is granted to director Srđan Dragojević for the film The Parade, with an average score of 4.31
3. National Programme – Main Section
- A Diploma for Best Film in the National Programme Main Section is granted to director Arsen Anton Ostojić for the film Halima’s Path with an average score of 4.27
VII. Awards granted by the Children’s Jury
Jury: Simona Berc (11), Matija Kostešić (8), Anja Kuzmić (11), Filip Peroković (11), Marin Perković (9), Nikola Rojnić (7), Luna Vojnović (7), Vasja Šumonja (7)
1. A Diploma is granted to the films Zarafa (dir. Rémi Bezançon, Jean-Christophe Lie) and The Crocodiles Strike Back (dir. Christian Ditter)
VIII. Bring Your Own Film! Awards
Jury: Zoran Stajčić, editor-in-chief of the web site Ravno do dna and journalist for the TV-show Ružiona (Croatian Radiotelevision), Jakov Kosanović, film critic and journalist with the daily paper Slobodna Dalmacija, and Matija Debeljuh multimedia artists and director.
1. A Diploma for Best Bring Your Own Film is granted to Instant panic by Vlasta Meštrović.
On behalf of the jury Zoran Stajčić concludes: Instant panic – an unusually usual life episode.
A story is well told, complete and with a clear message. On the other hand, its realization is imaginative with plenty of skilled framing. The jury did not reach an instant decision, but Instant panic received the highest general grade. The author was awarded with an elegant smart phone – Windows Phone - Nokia Lumia 800, a device which blew away its competition on the market with the sales velocity.
2. The Audience Award Winner, i.e. award granted by Maxzone Tportal visitors, is the film Urlator by Ivan Galić, the new owner of Samsung Galaxy MINI.
The competition programme of the Bring Your Own Film call for entries has been concluded for this year and the films are ready for screenings. One only needs to visit max.tportal.hr and go in search of their film!
IX. The Marijan Rotar Award
The Marijan Rotar Award, bearing the name of the founder and the originator of the Pula Film Festival, is granted to individuals and institutions whose ideas, actions, help, tendencies and support have helped bring together Pula and film.
This year, the ninth consecutive year, the winner of the award is Pula photographer Duško Marušić – Čiči who has been recording all the cinematic events at and around the Festival for as many as 36 years.
Pula, July 28, 2012.
Management of the 59th Pula Film Festival
The European Programme of the 60th Pula Film Festival shall start at the fortress Kastel (from Saturday 13 July to Friday 19 July 2013), with evening open-air screenings. 
