Editor

The third Zagreb Film Festival, from 17 to 22. October 2005, hosted by the City of Zagreb, presents films by studio or independent filmmakers, is devoted to the exhibition of three-category feature film, short film and documentary film, as well as other aspects of the film and multimedia projects.

The premises of this center had a sort of artistic dynamics and beside students, it is primarily intended for other generations as a meeting place for contemplating new creative potentials. Besides the competition program that splits in 3 categories, it is shaping the program, for the same attention to the supporting program, in which every year the film production of different political or cultural country is presented. Aiming to promote film art, directors, and their debutant works, the importance is given to film making in other countries, in order to promote tolerance, acceptance of differences, and raising awareness of the difference as the value.

The official program is the selection of Ludmila Cvitkova, the Rotterdam Film Festival selector for E Europe. Festival program includes Romanies ethno-cultural, African film from mainly French speaking parts of Africa. The news is definitely retrospective of films on Romanies, or “Gypsies” European biggest national minority. This program is called the Wheel. With the support of the City, African film is arranged with Cameron Baily, responsible for the screening of the latest African films. Festival created a special program Cubelets, the program dedicated to Croatian feature films, feature length and short, in collaboration with the CFA the Croatian Film Association.

The most interesting part of the festival program deals with issue of domination, with the association on politics of course. However some performances dealt with personal domination understanding. A part of the supporting program comprises book promotions, film and cultural projects as well as the presentations of a new technological achievements related to film productions, and entertainment program. Festival of First, as part of the festival, recognizes debutant works, in some other areas of creative expression and the decision on the art on a given subject about domination. ZF Fest award is called Golden Pram. And theme of the 3d festival of the First is Domination. This year theme poses questions on a public scene in a closed milieu where different forms of domination prevent faster development of democracy issue (in whatever terms) and public discourse. Examining sensitivity of art population to deal with real problems of the society and the interest of civil sector of public expression. The Festival of the First welcomes this situation, which makes it more socially attractive and provocative.


ZAGREB FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS

And the winners are: in the category feature film the award Golden pram goes to film “Iceberg” by Dominique Abel, Fiona Gordon and Bruno Romy, special mention is dedicated to the film “Illumination” by Pascale Breton. In the category short feature award Golden pram goes to the film “Hibernation” by John Williams, and special mention is dedicated to the film “In the Dark” by Olivier Masset-Depasse. In the documentary competition the award goes to the film “First on the Moon” by Alexey Fedorchenko. In the Croatian competition Checkered the awarded film is “The Last Communion” directed by Ivan-Goran Vitez.
VIPnet audience award goes to film directed by Hrvoje Hribar “What is a Man Without a Moustache”. The Festival of the First divides prize on three pieces: Ana Ogrizović with the piece “Silly Castel”, Ivica Juretić for the work Art brut: Symbols and Emil Matešić with drama “Sorted”. The winner of the Red Bull flesh film is Danilo Dučak for the piece “Pram”.

The Jury of 3rd International Zagreb Film Festival:
-Li Yang was born in Xiang, China, in 1959. Coming from a family of actors, spent his entire childhood in theatre. Former student of German Literature, Drama Theory, and Direction, in Beijing and Cologne.
-Denis Vaslin, producer from Netherlands, is working in Volya Films company. He produced the last year winner of the Special jury award for the feature lenght documentary 'Poetins Mama' directed by Ineke Smits (Netherlands).
-Slavko Štimac, actor, was born in 1960 in Konjsko Brdo near Gospić. Graduated from the Belgrade Drama School, Serbia. His first appearance on film was at the age of eleven (Vuk samotnjak / Lone Wolf) and very soon became one of the biggest theatre and film stars of former Yugoslavia, living between Belgrade and NewYork.

The Director of Zagreb International Film Festival:
Boris T. Matic


FESTIVAL MOST VISITED FILMS

“Good night and good luck”
The festival presented awarded films from Cannes Film Festival 2005. One of the most visited film was, of course “GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK” directed by George Clooney, who co-wrote the script with the film's producer Grant Heslov. A longtime dream project for Clooney, a suspenseful nerve war, set in the environment of the 1950s TV news studio, time when the social, cultural, and commercial influence of television was rapidly growing, just as a Cold War fear and paranoia atmosphere, provoked by the investigations of Senator Joseph McCarthy. This is the most critically acclaimed film “Good Night, and Good Luck” directed by and featuring by film star George Clooney, who obviously is not just another pretty sex star of the Hollywood.

“Pride and Prejudice”
Also “Pride and Prejudice” starring Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Brenda Blethyn, Donald Sutherland, Tom Hollander, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone and Judi Dench. The first movie version of the story in 65 years, of the glorious Jane Austen, a classic tale of love and misunderstanding as it happening in class-conscious England, of the 18th century.

“Layer cake”
I think that film “Layer cake”, BY Matthew Vaughn, which suggests layers in British class society, is a British answer to Guy Ritchie’s “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels” and “Snatch”. And it proves just right, for a first-time director Matthew Vaughn, shows G.Richie’s influence on British gangster film.
A cocaine dealer wants to distances himself from the criminal underworld and to retire. But, local gang boss hires him to find his missing girl. Once again, he gets involved with the drug dealers.
The soundtrack is yet another little something: The Cult “She Sells Sanctuary”, Candi Staton on “You Got the Love” and former Duran Duran.

“Coffee and cigarettes”
An interesting series of short films starring an eclectic cast including Tom Waits, Iggy Pop, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, Wu-tang Clan...once more Jim Jarmusch strikes again. This is a colorful film with an eclectic group of characters: musicians, actors and rap-artists.

Consisting of 11 shorts made over 17 years by Jim Jarmusch, are entertaining vignettes build in one. The opening short was shot for Saturday Night Live in 1986 and is set in a smoky cafe discussing Cigarettes and Coffee. The film proceeds with visual links, thematic repetitions and coffee restaurants. Tom Waits and Iggy Pop's uncomfortable and at times insulting chat about music in a North Carolina restaurant. A fabulous performance by Cate Blanchett in a Hotel Lobby. Blanchett plays a movie star on the promo circuit taking some time out of her schedule to spend with her unknown cousin (also Blanchett). Than Alfred Molina and Steve Coogan putting each other down over a cup of tea. Than Robert Benigni and Steven Wright bonding over coffee. Also comic story when Wu-tang clan chat with goofy waiter Bill Murray, who asks them to tell no one that he works there….

“Kinky boots”
Film “Kinky boots” focuses on Charlie Price with a Midlands accent, which inherits the Northampton family business when his dad (Robert Hugh) dies. But making men's classic shoes is not his cup of tea. He wants to study marketing in London and his partner dreams of a new apartment there. Charlie discovers the factory is on the edge of bankruptcy. However, one of them, Lauren suggests that Charlie should start a new product line instead of just firing, he takes her down south to check out a drag act in London's Soho district.
"Whatever Lola Wants". Charlie gets drunk in Soho, rescuing "Lola" (Ejiofor), from being beaten up in a back alley; later to discover Lola is a drag queen act at a small club. Film finally gets under way when Lola, who's agreed to design the boots but stay clear of Northampton, turns up on Charlie's doorstep in full drag. Agreeing to stay on for five weeks to help Charlie's people get the new line ready for a Milan fashion show Lola makes everyone to face their prejudices and insecurities.