Chief Executive of HAVC Hrvoje Hribar presented the results of the Centre’s activities, showing that 2014 saw the completion of 13 feature fiction films, eight minority co-productions, 11 feature documentaries and 47 short films of all genres; decisions were made on the co-funding of 79 projects and development of 99 feature fiction, documentary and animated films, as well as decisions on the co-funding of 194 events, educational programmes and similar activities by way of a Public Call for Complementary Activities.

In the past three years, since HAVC has been conducting the incentive system for investment into audiovisual industry, the local expenditure has grown from 24.5 to 82.8 million kuna. Croatia confirmed its reputation of a serious partner in film business with the many years of successful collaboration with the producers of the globally popular TV series Game of Thrones. In 2014, several TV series like Borgia, Christmas in the Sun, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell and Dig were shot on different location across Croatia. The potential of such incentives to screen tourism and national promotion became visible to the broader public, because the filmmaking process directly promotes development and profitability not only of the film branch, but also, indirectly, of all other related industries: tourism, catering, transportation, production etc.

Mario Kozina of HAVC’s Department of Festivals and Promotion made a mention of the success stories written by Croatian films at over 100 film festivals in the past year. Next to the European Film Academy Award for best short film given to The Chicken by Una Gunjak, and a series of awards to These Are the Rules by Ognjen Sviličić, merits went to documentary films that focused on important social issues through brave and personal stories. They include Happily Ever After by Tatjana Božić, Naked Island by Tiha K. Gudac, Autofocus by Boris Poljak, Mitch – A Diary of a Schizophrenic by Damir Čučić. A successful festival tour was done by many animated films as well, and most appearances at international events occurred to Simulacra by Ivana Bošnjak and Thomas Johnson, Hunger by Petra Zlonoga, Hidden Talent by Miran Miošić, Collapse by David Lovrić etc.

The Cinema Network was also founded in 2014 – Croatian Independent Cinema Network – presented to the audience by its president Hrvoje Laurenta. The Cinema Network gathers 27 independent cinemas in 24 cities and towns, and Laurenta also announced the Network activities in the upcoming months – such as organising a Film Market in Rijeka 13-18 September. 

Other detailed information on the activities of all HAVC departments, as well as a list of all the projects granted co-funding through public calls, accurate rates and information on the participation of Croatian films at important festivals, as well as many other useful information are available in a PDF of the report, in the Publications section of the Centre’s official website. 

Photos from the presentation can be downloaded on this link; please credit Croatian Audiovisual Centre as the source.