‘Making this film has been a wonderful experience, and even just being selected to screen at the festival was a major recognition of all the effort put in. When such an experience culminates into an award, the feeling is simply indescribable. All I want now is to enjoy this moment,’ said Dubravka Turić, renowned editor of numerous feature and tv productions (The Reaper, Mjenjačnica, Svlačionica). Belladonna is her directorial debut. The five-member jury, headed by Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs), awarded Turić the prize for best short, which she then dedicated to her father. 

Belladonna is a film about three different women who randomly meet in an ophthalmologist’s waiting room, where, unexpectedly, they experience a moment of closeness. The film stars Aleksandra Naumov and Nada Đurevska, with Lana Barić, Dražen Kühn, and Anita Matković. Zdenka Gold from Spiritus Movens is the producer, while Ivana Ivišić from Everything Works was responsible for promotion and distribution. Dubravka Turić also wrote and edited the film; the cinematographer is Branko Linta, and the sound engineer is Hrvoje Petek. The film was co-financed by the Croatian Audiovisual Centre.

The Orizzonti programme of the Venice Film Festival is dedicated to putting the spotlight on up and coming directors and cinematic trends, both in short and feature films. These Are the Rules by Ognjen Sviličić, brought Emir Hadžihafizbegović the award for Best Actor in the same programme last year. This year, the Orizzonti programme also premiered the Greek-French-Croatian co-production Interruption, directed by Yorgos Zois, and produced by Jaako Dobra Productions, in cooperation with Nukleus Films.

Free in Deed, directed by Jake Mahaffy, was awarded Best Feature Film in the Orizzonti category, while the Golden Lion went to the film From Afar, directed by Lorenzo Vigas. For a complete list of winners please head over to the festival’s official website.

All materials relating to the film Belladonna are available at this link.

Photo from red carpet: courtesy of ASAC - la Biennale di Venezia
In the photo: Zdenka Gold (producer), Branka Rušnov (production assistant), Dubravka Turić (director), Aleksandra Naumov (actress); scene from Belladonna