„After these 25 years we can freely say that we have launched the film industry in Herzegovina”,   Tomislav Topić said at the opening of the 25th edition of the Mediterranean Film Festival in Borak cinema, on Wednesday, October 9.   

Director of the MFF pointed out that over 150 jury members from the world of film all over the Mediterranean has passed through the program of the festival, and around ten thousand guests from the world of film. 

“We have also educated over 200 children in our workshops, some of which have already graduated from the Academy of Dramatic Arts, and they are now engaged in different film professions. Together with the production company Kadar we have produced around thirty films that are regularly screened at festivals and you have probably watched them on TV. We have always worked on the program of screening the films, education and production”,  Topić said and added that a large number of guests, from Beijing to Spain visited Široki Brijeg this year. 

Traditionally this festival was opened by children’s song, but due to the tragedy that hit Jablanica and other parts of BiH, this time the song was missing. The children paid respect with a bow to the families of the flood victims and all others that were struck by floods in these parts. 

The producer of the festival Robert Bubalo didn’t want to emphasise anybody in his speech, and stated that each of the guests present are actually one strong link in this chain called the Mediterranean Film Festival. 

“We welcome and love you all in the same way. We have opened one truly beautiful story here and some new generations with the potential to continue this will come, and to bring a new energy and make this festival even better”, he said. 

He also stated that this has never been a completely film festival, and that the organisers have always tried to include music and tourism as well, gastronomy and oenology. 

“We wanted to present Herzegovina to the entire Mediterranean, and I believe that we have succeeded in this. From this year we are entering the world of multiculturalism more strongly”, he added and invited all those who have been with the festival so far to continue their support in the future, even more strongly. 

The festival was opened with the screening of the documentary film „Prison Beauty Contest“ directed by Srđan Šarenac. This is a film from the competition program, and one of the most important film events in B&H and the region is going to screen 20 documentaries in the competition program. 

In addition to the strong competition program, the ‘In Focus’ program brings the best cinematography works from the Mediterranean countries in the previous year. 

Besides excellent film contents, the 25th Mediterranean Film Festival is also offering an interesting additional program created in cooperation with the Office for European Integration of the Government of West Herzegovina Canton. 

Famous Croatian art photographer, sculptor and painter Stephan Lupino held a forum for young people on the topic "Art of photography in the digital age" in the National Library Široki Brijeg on the first day of the festival. There is another interesting meeting the day after with the painter and writer Dimitrije Popović in the morning hours in the premises of the Academy of Fine Arts, and Tony Mandich, the man who was the vice president of Atlantic Records for 30 years and who collaborated with the greatest pop-rock stars, is going to have a presentation on the topic of "The influence of pop music on the film industry".  

The MFF screened the short film "The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent" directed by Nebojša Slijepčević, which was awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Dimitrije Popović's documentary film ”Aureole Microcosm” is scheduled on the following day, while the film directed by Ozren Zogović, “The Ways of Homo Sapiens” is going to be presented in the National Library Široki Brijeg on Friday, October 11. 

Films from the ‘Home Authors’ program are going to mark the same day, in which the MFF is screening an emotional story that follows the life of the journalist Hassan Haidar Diab, the film “Hassan’s Wars” directed by Robert Bubalo.  The films “Sport to Inclusion” directed by Franjo Lovrić, “Forgotten Stations” by Zdenko Jurilj and the documentary “About People and Forests” by Josip Mlakić are also in this program. 

The award-winning animated film "The Cricket and Antoinette" by the Croatian director Luka Rukavina is going to be screened in the morning hours of the last festival day in the MFF Fora program, along with the short films created at the children camp “Zelenkapica” and the film created within the creative summer workshop “Zabavator”.  

The program of the last festival day also includes the documentary by the Croatian Association of Prisoners of the Homeland War ''Stories from the IV Elementary School Prison Camp''. 

The international jury decides on the best works at MFF in two categories – best feature documentary and best short. Besides the six members of the jury that will decide on the winners of the 25th Mediterranean Film Festival on October 11 and award the MFF Grand Prix and the MFF Best Short, the audience decides on the third prize and awards the MFF Audience award. The festival is going to award the 'Best Camera' award, signed by the Association of Cinematographers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

The award ceremony will be held on Friday, October 11, while the festival will close on Saturday, October 12, with the screening of the feature film "Wrath of God" by Kristijan Milić.