With less than a month to go until Zagreb Film Festival gets underway, its exciting line-up has been revealed. Highlights include the premiere of Croatian director Hana Jušić's first feature film, and acclaimed Romanian director Cristi Puiu's latest film Sieranevada.
Jušić has screened several short films in ZFF new name's category in previous years, winning the Golden Pram award in 2012 for her film Terrarium. ZFF has always been about celebrating new work, and its main section is dedicated to first or second feature films. Quit Staring at My Plate is Jušić's feature debut, and it has already won the Fedeora Award for best European film at this year's Venice Film Festival.
Dead-pan comedy Sieranevada was warmly met when it premiered at Cannes Film Festival this year. Puiu, one of Romania's leading New Wave filmmakers, has a long history with ZFF, winning an award for his short film Coffee and Cigarettes at the second edition of the event.
It's also been confirmed that New Zealand director Taika Waititi's new film Hunt for the Wilderpeople will be screened. Waititi is best known for his Vampire mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows, and his new film is a typically off-beat comedy, which takes the misfortunes of a juvenile delinquent and his uncle as its subject. It stars Jurassic Park's Sam Neill.
ZFF always celebrates Croatian work, but this year's programme also puts a focus on collaborations between Croatian filmmakers and those from other European countries. Nationalities on the line-up include Russia and Spain, as well as the current Georgian Oscar candidate Russudan Glurjidze. Her semi-autobiographical drama House of Others explores the psychological effects of war.
There's also a specially curated Eastern European comedy category, featuring several mockumentaries. The festival takes place between the 12 - 20 November, and most of it will be at Europa and Tuškanac cinemas.