Awards of the 69th Pula film festival

News
23. July 2022.

AWARDS OF THE 69th PULA FILM FESTIVAL

Croatian Programme

4:2, directed by Anđelo Jurkas
Kick and Scream, directed by Nina Violić
Savages, directed by Dario Lonjak
The Head of a Big Fish, directed by Arsen Oremović,
Illyricvum directed by Simon Bogojević Narath
Even Pigs Go to Heaven, directed by Goran Dukić
High on Life, directed by Radislav Jovanov
The Uncle, directed by David Kapac and Andrija Mardešić
Sixth Bus, directed by Eduard Galić
The Staffroom, directed by Sonja Tarokić

International Programme

Miracle, directed by Bogdan George Apetri
Burning Days, directed by Emin Alper
How I Learned to Fly, directed by Radivoje Andrić
The Odd-Job Men, directed by Neus Ballús
Mimi, directed by Darijan Pejovski
Leave No Traces, directed by Jan P. Matuszyński
Heavens Above, directed by Srđan Dragojević
Let It Be Morning, directed by Eran Kolirin
Being Human Is Not So Bad, directed by Dušan Kovačević
Sun, directed by Kurdwin Ayub
Butterfly Vision, directed by Maksym Nakonechnyi

JURY DECISIONS

AWARDS OF THE CRITICS JURY

Critics Jury: Dr. Martin Blaney, Susanne Gottlieb and Hrvoje Pukšec

The award for Best Film in the Croatian Programme is awarded to the film The Staffroom directed by Sonja Tarokić.

The Critics’ Award for the Best Film in the Croatian Competition goes to an impressive debut by a director who shows great skill in handling a large ensemble cast as well as being consistent in tone in this devastating study of someone making compromises in their everyday working life. The film features adept camerawork and editing alongside a remarkable tour de force performance by an actor who appears in practically every scene.

The award for Best Film in the International Programme is awarded to the film Burning Days directed by Emin Alper.

The Critics’ Award for the Best Film in the International Competition goes to a visually powerful film that dares to not address issues in a conventional way, instead making frequent use of allegory and symbolism. While the film is clearly made to appeal to a local audience, its message has an urgent, universal validity, which resonates long after the last image has appeared on the screen.

AWARDS OF THE INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMME JURY

International Programme Jury: Danica Čurčić, Jure Pavlović and Christian Routh

Golden Arena for Best Croatian Contribution to a Minority Co-Production is awarded to Snježana Sinovčić Šiškov for the film How I Learned to Fly directed by Radivoje Andrić.

The Golden Arena for the Best Croatian Contribution to a Minority Co-Production goes to Snježana Sinovčić Šiškov for her warmhearted and life enhancing portrayal of the aunt in this charming coming-of-age film, in which she heals the generational and ethnic differences.

Golden Arena for Best Croatian Minority Co-Production is awarded to the film Burning Days directed by Emin Alper.

The jury were enthralled by this tense and visually stunning thriller that confronts issues of homophobia, local corruption and the mob mentality. The unnerving narrative revelations build towards a climax that is sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

Special Mention is presented to the director Maksym Nakonechnyi for the film Butterfly Vision.

This is a powerful portrayal of a female soldier struggling to readjust to her life after having been raped as a prisoner of war. It authentically conveys the brutal psychological aftereffects of war and is utterly relevant to our times.

Golden Arena for Best Film is presented to the film Burning Days directed by Emin Alper.

AUDIENCE AWARD

Voting for a film in the International Programme, the audience awards the Diploma to the film How I Learned to Fly directed by Radivoje Andrić, produced by Sense Production, which received the average score of 4.87.

HOW I LEARNED TO FLY	4.87
BURNING DAYS	4.59
LEAVE NO TRACES	4,58
BUTTERFLY VISION	4.56
LET IT BE MORNING	4.51
MIMI	4.50
BEING HUMAN IS NOT SO BAD	4.49
THE ODD-JOB MEN	4.47
MIRACLE	4.16
HEAVENS ABOVE	4.02
SUN	3.86

AWARDS OF THE CROATIAN PROGRAMME JURY

Jury members: Stefan Ruzowitzky (president), Rita Di Santo, Miran Miošić, Zrinko Ogresta and Marija Škaričić

Golden Arena for Best Sound Design is awarded to Frano Homen for the film High on Life directed by Radislav Jovanov.

You can close your eyes but you cannot close your ears: never underestimate the sound – great camerawork, great acting: it’s great sound that makes them shine!

Golden Arena for Best Make-Up is awarded to Ana Bulajić Črček for the film Illyricvum directed by Simon Bogojević Narath.

Are the ancient Illyrians, Liburnians and Dalmatians the better Apaches, Mohicans and Cherokees? Of course – just look into their faces!

3. Golden Arena for Best Costume Design is awarded to Ana Savić Gecan for the film The Uncle directed by David Kapac and Andrija Mardešić.

A great costume can help an actor find his character – these costumes are great, the stylized look of this movie is great, these actors are great.

Golden Arena for Best Supporting Actor is awarded to Ljubo Zečević for the role of Joža in the film Even Pigs Go to Heaven directed by Goran Dukić

This is the archetypical face of rural Croatia! No – this is the face of an amazingly versatile actor!

Golden Arena for Best Supporting Actress is awarded to Nives Ivanković for the role of Vedrana in the film The Staffroom directed by Sonja Tarokić.

What a force majeure on the screen! She repelled and attracted us at the same time, she scared us and made us laugh, we loved her but we definitely don’t want her as our principal.

Breza Award for Best Debutant is awarded to screenwriter and director Nina Violić for the film Kick and Scream.

We want to see more of these sensitive analyses of emotions and relationships, of love and the lack of love, we want to see more brilliant acting, more genius kids like Bruno Frketić Bajić, we want to see more movies made by Nina Violić.

Golden Arena for Best Editing is awarded to Borna Buljević for the film The Staffroom directed by Sonja Tarokić.

Is this a documentary or is it fiction? A brilliant montage of sights and sounds and music pulls us into that world and makes daily life in a school an exciting and emotional rollercoaster!

Golden Arena for Best Cinematography is awarded to Stanko Herceg for the film High on Life directed by Radislav Jovanov.

What a firework of great visual ideas! And even better: they are not l’art pour l’art but they all help to tell this great story of a reunion of friends.

Golden Arena for Best Actor is awarded to Stojan Matavulj for the role of Siniša in the film The Staffroom directed by Sonja Tarokić

We all had a teacher like that, we all hated him – but we love, when someone portrays this character in such an absolutely brilliant way.

Golden Arena for Best Actress is awarded to Lana Barić for the role of Vesna in the film The Head of a Big Fish directed by Arsen Oremović.

When an actress wins this award without “big” dramatic scenes, without crying, screaming or nervous breakdowns, when she convinces us just with her authenticity.

Golden Arena for Best Screenplay is awarded to David Kapac and Andrija Mardešić for the film The Uncle directed by David Kapac and Andrija Mardešić.

Christmas with the family, roasted turkey, Christmas tree and presents – it takes a pretty brilliant writer to turn that into a nightmare of horrors, perversions and absurdities.

Golden Arena for Best Director is awarded to Sonja Tarokić for the film The Staffroom.

In almost every category the work done in Staffroom was outstanding – the acting, the look, the sound – maybe because the directing was outstanding!

Grand Golden Arena for Best Festival Film is awarded to the film The Staffroom directed by Sonja Tarokić, produced by Kinorama, producer Ankica Jurić Tilić.

For two hours we were in that school, we smelled it, we felt the atmosphere, we remembered all the little details from our own school days; we believed every character, every problem, big or small, we felt with that counsellor in every moment. After two hours we thought: what a wonderful experience, what a wonderful movie!

ZAGREBAČKA BANKA presents the award in the amount of 30,000.00 HRK to Sonja Tarokić, director of the film The Staffroom, which the jury of the 69th Pula Film Festival has awarded the Grand Golden Arena for Best Festival Film.

TELEKING I 100 presents the producer Ankica Jurić Tilić of the film The Staffroom, which the jury of the 69th Pula Film Festival has awarded the Grand Golden Arena for Best Festival Film, with a post-production package of picture and sound processing in the amount of 10,000.00 Euro.

ZAKS, the Croatian luxury gold and silver jewellery brand, presents:

– a set of women’s jewellery to Lana Barić, winner of Golden Arena for Best Actress

– a set of men’s jewellery to Stojan Matavulj, winner of Golden Arena for Best Actor.

GOLDEN GATE OF PULA AUDIENCE AWARD

Voting for a film in the Croatian Programme, the audience awards the Golden Gate of Pula to the film Even Pigs Go to Heaven directed by Goran Dukić, produced by Švenk d.o.o., which received the average score of 4.57.

EVEN PIGS GO TO HEAVEN	4.57
THE STAFFROOM	4.43
SIXTH BUS	4.39
HIGH ON LIFE	4.29
SAVAGES	4.25
KICK AND SCREAM	4.20
4:2	4.04
THE HEAD OF A BIG FISH	3,99
ILLYRICVM	3.92
THE UNCLE	3.68