Held annually in the town of Pula on Croatia’s northwest coast, the Pula Film Festival opened for its 56th edition on July 18, 2009. Screening local and international films over eight days, the festival is one of the largest open-air events of its kind in Europe.
The Pula Film Festival was established in 1953 and was the leading film event in what was then Yugoslavia until the republic’s breakup in the 1991. Since Croatian independence, the festival has continued to play an important role in the country’s national film calendar, as well as attracting increasing international recognition.
From the beginning, the festival’s main venue has been the Vespasian Arena, a spectacular first century AD Roman amphitheater located just outside the old city walls. The Arena can hold around 5,000 people and is one of the largest and best preserved examples of Roman architecture in Croatia.
The National Program
The festival comprises a National and an International Program. The National Program showcases Croatian productions and will this year screen a record ten films, eight of which will have their world premieres at the festival.
These films are I Believe in Angels by Niksa Svilicic, The Blacks by Zvonimir Juric and Goran Devic, The Land of Wonders by Dejan Sorak, The Man Under the Table by Neven Hitrec, Donkey by Antonio Nuic, Love Life of a Gentle Coward by Pavo Marinkovic, Closeness by Zdravko Mustac and Zagreb Stories, an omnibus of nine short films, one of which (Ciao mama by Goran Odvorcic) made Cannes’ Official Selection.
The International Program
The film festival’s International Program will screen 16 movies selected from leading festivals such as Berlin, Cannes, Sundance, Venice and Karlovy Vary.
The selection includes multi award-winning film such as Philippe Claudel’s French-language I Loved You So Long, starring British actress Kristen Scott Thomas as woman trying to start over after serving a 15-year prison sentence; and Aleksei Uchitel’s Captive, the story of two Russian soldiers who, trapped in the mountains, attempt to find their way back to their company with the aid of a young Chechen they take prisoner.
Also in the selection is Mexican filmmaker Guillermo Arriaga’s The Burning Plain, a complex tale of forgiveness and redemption with Kim Basinger and Charlize Theron in the lead roles. The film was a contender for the Golden Lion at the 2008 Venice Film Festival, but eventually lost out to the Mickey Rourke comeback vehicle The Wrestler.
Festival Awards
The Pula Film Festival is a competitive festival. The Golden Arena is presented in a number of categories, including best film (both national and foreign), best director, best actor/actress and best costume design. Festival visitors are also invited to vote for the winner of the Golden Gate of Pula public prize.
The Pula Film Festival runs until July 25. Full program, location and ticketing details can be found on the festival’s website.
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