ZAGREB FILM FESTIVAL

Three years after its birth, Zagreb Film Festival placed itself among the most important cultural events in the city, which is supported by the fact that just last year 15 000 people came to film screenings and 35 000 visited the Festival attracted by the rich festival program on the premises of Student Centre in Zagreb.

During the Festival the Student Centre transforms into a city wide awake from 9 am until 4 am with all its halls, lobbies and bars at the disposal of festival events. Already with its first appearance in 2003 the Festival attracted public attention to the Student Centre as a frequented venue of presentations, creations and cooperation. It prompted it to open for the public and stay that way all year round. These are exactly the characteristics that we remember from the second half of the 29th century when it was the venue of some of the most significant events of the Zagreb modern culture. The premises in the city centre got back its dynamics and, besides students and young people it is primarily intended for, it opened up for other generations as a meeting place for a creative dialogue. These two festivals, with the determiner the first, attempt to raise awareness of the importance of contemplating new creative possibilities, to encourage innovativeness and interdisciplinary approaches and to see young people as their primary though not exclusive audience.

Besides the competition program split in three categories - feature film, short feature film and documentary film - in shaping the program we paid the same attention to the supporting program in which every year the film production of a certain country is presented as well as the culture from which the films come. In addition to primary promotion of the film art, directors and their debutant works particular importance is given to film making in other and different worlds. By bringing them closer to the audience we promote tolerance, acceptance of differences and raising awareness of difference as the basic value.
A part of the supporting program comprises book promotions, film and cultural projects as well as the presentations of new technological achievements related to film production, and finally inescapable entertainment programs.

Festival of the First, as a part of Zagreb Film Festival, recognizes debutant works in some other areas of creative expression and the decision on the artistic form through which the story on a given subject is told is left with the author.

The award at ZAGREB FILM FESTIVAL and FESTIVAL OF THE FIRST is called GOLDEN PRAM, and the winners will receive the sculpture of Nedjeljko Mikac as well as the monetary prize provided by the general sponsor VIPnet.

Zagreb Film Festival is the project of the production house Propeler film d.o.o., and the Festival of the First is created by the artist organization Studio artless.