The National Programme of the 57th Pula Film Festival and the preparations for this year's edition of the Festival were presented at a press conference held on June 17th, 2010 at the European Home in Zagreb.

The National Programme of the 57^th Pula Film Festival shall present eleven films, out of which seven in the principal section and four in the minority co-productions section. It is interesting that films tackling love problems and adultery dominate this year. Out of seven films in the principal section, there are as many as six world premieres. An independent film, the science-fiction drama The Show Must Go On by debut director Nevijo Marasović shall open the Festival. There are two more debutants in the competition: Ivan-Goran Vitez who shall present his dark humour action film Forest Creatures and Danilo Šerbedžija with his dark comedy 72 Days. Dalibor Matanić shall present his drama film Mother of Asphalt and Ognjen Sviličić his 2 Sunny Days. Director and video artist from Spit Dani Oki shall showcase his drama The Performance which shall be presented in digital HD format at the Valli Cinema. The only film from the principal section that has already been seen in Croatia (outside Istria) is the love drama Just Between Us by Rajko Grlić.

Among minority co-productions there are four films co-financed by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia in whose creation Croatian co-producers and film artists participated. The first among them is the omnibus by five directors from the former Yugoslavia named Some Other Stories. The Croatian story was directed by Ivona Juka and the Croatian co-producer is the production company 4Film (Anita Juka). The second one is Jasmila Žbanić’s drama On the Path, starring Zrinka Cvitešić and Leon Lučev and the Croatian co-producer is the production company Produkcija Živa (Leon Lučev). Bosnia and Herzegovina director Adis Bakrač directed the film The Abandoned with Mira Furlan as lead actress, co-produced by the Zagreb-based production company Olimp Film (Mario Vukadin).

Serbian director Srđan Karanović shall present (out of competition) his film Besa, featuring Miki Manojlović. The Croatian co-producer and director of photography is Slobodan Tminić.

Statutory changes

At the Pula Film Festival Council meeting held on June 16^th under the chairmanship of Minister of Culture Mr. Božo Biškupić a new Statute of the Festival was adopted allowing for co-productions with a minority Croatian share to be presented for the first time within the framework of the National Programme in the Arena. According to the former Statute such co-productions could not participate in the programme. The National Programme of the Festival now has two programme sections: the principal section and the minority co-productions section.

The films in which the Croatian production share or the participation of Croatian film artists accounts for more than 50%, as well as those that were granted financial assistance by the Croatian Audiovisual Centre as Croatian productions of feature-length films,  can participate in the principal section of the Festival’s National Programme. Multilateral co-productions with the Croatian share of more than 10%, as well as bilateral co-productions with the Croatian share of more than 20%, can apply for the minority co-productions section of the Festival’s National Programme.  The co-productions which do not meet these requirements can be presented out of competition.

The jury of the National Programme can grant up to three Golden Arenas for minority co-productions in all categories in which the Grand Golden Arena and the Golden Arena are granted. Minority co-productions can also be granted the Golden Gate of Pula award (audience award in the Arena for best film of the National Programme) as well as special awards by Croatian and international critics and young film lovers.

57^th   Pula Film Festival Press Centre invites journalists, media representatives and film professionals to send their registration forms for accreditations.

Applications will be accepted until the 10^th of July.

The Press Centre will notify You of your accreditation approval in due time.
The Festival reserves the right to accept or reject accreditation approval.

Accreditations are to be collected from the Festival Centre in the Italian Culture Club – Circolo, address Carrarina 1, Pula, from the 16^th of July 2009.

In case of any enquiries the Festival crew is always at your disposal.

TIME EMBARGO on electronic media publication: Film reviews of the National Programme are not to be published in any electronic media (including daily newspaper web sites) by journalists who has seen Press screening before the film evening screening in the Arena.

Accredited person is entitled to 10% discount in all Festival catering facilities and café bars, free transport on every city and suburban line.

The list of Festival catering facilities (restaurants, pizzerias, inns) and café bars will be available shortly.

For the accommodation enquiries feel free to contact our official Festival Hotel House Arenaturist Ltd.
vanja@arenaturist.hr
Tel. + 385 (0)52 529 434

Press accreditation
Professional accreditation