Honey Bunny, the debut feature film by director and screenwriter Igor Jelinović will have its world premiere as part of the Bright Future programme, traditionally devoted to feature-length debuts, characterised by original subject matter and an individual style, representing the cutting edge of contemporary filmmaking.

“The Honey Bunny project had many unusual twists and turns from the beginning, both favourable and adverse, while having the premiere at this festival is definitely a highlight”, commented the film’s director and screenwriter Igor Jelinović.

Honey Bunny is the story of Tonina, whose plan to inherit an attractive stone house on the island of Hvar disrupts the relationship with her sister Tajana leading to an awkward family gathering.

The director of photography was Marko Jerbić, with production designer Veronika Radman, costume designer Katarina Bilan, makeup artist Dušica Vuksanović, film editor Tomislav Stojanović, and sound editor Ivan Zelić. Starring in the film are Snježana Sinovčić Šiškov, Aleksandra Janković, Stojan Matavulj, Leon Lučev, Anamarija Veselčić, Šimun Šitum, Dara Vukić and Mare Rodin.

The film is financed by Creative Europe (MEDIA Sub-programme), the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Croatian Radiotelevision and the City of Split, with the support of the Serbian Film Center, in co-production with Serbian production company Baš Čelik, while the film’s producer is Rea Rajčić for Eclectica, alongside co-producer Jelena Mitrović (Baš Čelik).

The project was developed through the Goethe Institute’s First Films First workshop, and in 2020 it won two awards at the Connecting Cottbus co-production forum: the Avanpost Pitch Packaging Award and the MIDPOINT Consulting Award, as well as the Cinelink 2024 WIP TRT Award.

Another film produced in Eclectica’s fold will also have its world premiere as part of the IFFR.

This is the short feature Wind Beneath the Wings directed and written by Sonja Tarokić, which has been included in the Short & Mid-length programme, intended for films of all genres with a duration not exceeding 63 minutes.

Wind Beneath the Wings is a story about Anica (60), who is resisting her ongoing chemotherapy, seeing her daughter’s care as an assault on her dignity, and Vlatko (60), an alcoholic and loner, completely written off by his work colleagues. Separated long ago and filled with mutual contempt, Anica and Vlatko seemingly no longer communicate. Yet, on their drawn-out paths toward oblivion, they search for an ally who will hear their desperate cry for the will to live.

Heading up the cast are Vesna Trivalić, Milivoj Miki Roš, Lucija Barišić, Srđan Šarić, Filip Šovagović, Hrvoje Grill, Alen Đurica, Gordana Gadžić and others. The director of photography was Danko Vučinović, while the film’s editor is Borna Buljević. The production design was done by Tajana Čanić Stanković, Lina Leković created the costume designs, while Julij Zornik did the sound design. 

The film’s producers are Rea Rajčić and Tina Tišljar. The film is produced by Eclectica, in co-production with Manjana from Slovenia, Protos Film from Montenegro and Baš Čelik from Serbia. The film was realised with the support of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, the Slovenian Film Centre, the Film Centre of Montenegro and the City of Zagreb.

The International Film Festival Rotterdam will take place from January 29 to 8 February 2026. One of the jury members in the main programme, the Tiger Competition, will be Croatian film critic and screenwriter Jurica Pavičić.

Cover photographs: scenes from Honey Bunny i Wind Beneath the Wings