The press conference was held today in Široki Brijeg on the occasion of the opening of the 17th Mediterranean Film Festival – documentary film festival, which takes place from 24 to 27 August. Tomislav Topić, director of the festival, Robert Bubalo, producer of the festival, Misijana Brkić Milinković on the behalf of HT Eronet as the general sponsor, and Nikica Gilić, member of the jury for the feature documentary competition, were present at the press conference and informed the public about the festival, official competition program, off program, workshops and other events within the festival.

Around forty films will be screened at this year’s Festival, and the director Tomislav Topić specially emphasised home authors and creation that this Festival is proud of.

“This Festival has become a platform for home authors and this creation is something we are really proud of. We have always tried not to be just the screening industry, but to try to create films throughout the year. We have excellent program this year and for the first time we shall have simultaneous screenings. I am convinced that we are well prepared and we are hoping that that the weather will be on our side too”, said Topić and wished a warm welcome to the guests and a lot of fun at this year’s Festival.

Misijana Brkić Milinković, head of the Corporate Communication Department at HT Eronet, which has provided rich awards for the visitors of the Festival, highlighted that she is delighted with the fact that the Mediterranean Film Festival can commend with the label of one of the best festivals in these parts.

“By its quality and recognition MFF has already exceeded the B&H borders. So, during these few days Široki Brijeg will be a little world. The fact is that being in the competition of MFF has become a prestige among the documentary filmmakers. And this fact is what makes HT Eronet happy and proud, which as the partner of the Festival strongly supports every new initiative, project and idea that arises within the MFF. And there are plenty of these”, said Brkić Milinković.

Robert Bubalo, the producer of the Festival, also addressed to the media representatives and mentioned the program and wishes of the organizers for support and financial breakthrough that this Festival deserves.

“In the past three, four years we have been stable, but a normal wish of all of us who would like to develop is to get this financial injection that we deserve. When one sees what we do with a small budget that we have, where every invested mark is visible and multiplied, and efforts put in all, then this festival makes one nice film fiesta. But, it would be a lot easier if we had some additional support. By all means, we believe this will happen some day. World renowned brands are already attracted to us, and if we included the local ones this would be a perfect story”, said Bubalo and added that this Festival has never been perceived as one that only brings authors and film screenings, but also production and education.  

“This is the triangle that we make at this Festival, and this is evident, the film industry in Herzegovina is growing”, pointed the producer of the Festival and added that this year’s program will even satisfy a more demanding audience, that’s for sure.

Nikica Gilić also confirmed the quality of the program, emphasising that the selector of the Festival Damir Čučić has done a great job, and that the first-rate selection of films covers the entire Mediterranean basin.  

“On the one hand, artistically this is really well-thought-out choice, and on the other it covers what it should according to the title of the Festival, the entire Mediterranean basin, with all the political, social, religious, cultural and other problems, conflicts and trends that happen here. By this year’s selection this is a kind of a mirror of the entire Mediterranean basin with all the connections with the rest of the world”, said Gilić.

Zdenko Jurilj, the director of the film ‘A Second Family’, Nives Skoko Žanić, deputy executive of the Assoiation fra Mladen Hrkać, Ivan and Stanko Čolak, the authors of the film ‘Petra’s Choice’, Mario Ćužić and B.B. Clark, the authors of the film ‘Garage Rockin Craze’, Lucy Eagleson and Tyler Gunderson, the leaders of the MFF Workshop and Barbara and Tvrtko Bubalo, the directors of the film ‘On Paper’ created at this year’s workshops were also presented to the press.

This year’s Mediterranean FF will start on Wednesday, 24 August, with the screening of Croatian film ‘Tourism’, directed by Tonći Gaćina, from the competition program that will screen 22 documentary films, eleven in feature length and eleven in short documentary selections.

The film from the MFF Workshop will also be screened at the opening ceremony, while the off program will start on the first day of the Festival at 17h with films by ‘Home Authors’.