The Association’s aim is the union, stimulation, improvement and development of independent Croatian cinemas, ensuring diversity and availability of audiovisual works on the Croatian territory, exchange of knowledge and information among its members, representation of mutual interests in public, and development, curating, exchange and distribution of film programmes, film training programmes and other programmes, development of all forms of education in the area of audiovisual culture, promotion of audiovisual activity and cinema operating activity, as well as increasing the visibility and attendance of programmes in entire Croatia.

At that occasion, we asked the Cinema Network president Hrvoje Laurenta a few questions. In continuation, he revealed to us the further steps of the Association and plans for his two-year term of office.

What is the focus of the newly established Association you are chairing, and what will you stand up for? How many members does it have now and how many towns and cities are included?

The basic task and focus of the Association is promotion and development of audiovisual and media culture with an accent on cinemas. The Association aims to unite, stimulate, improve and help develop independent Croatian cinemas, ensure diversity and availability of audiovisual works in Croatia, exchange knowledge and information among the members, represent common interests in public and develop, curate, exchange and distribute film programmes, film training and other programmes, develop all kinds of education in the field of audiovisual culture, promote audiovisual creativity and cinemas, and increase visibility and attendance of the programmes in entire Croatia. Pursuant to the duty and purpose, we will design and implement numerous activities related to independent cinema programmes, their promotion, greater share of Croatian films, lobbying and collaboration with local, national and international bodies, education and development of the audience, development of film literacy, strengthening competitiveness, development of professionalism and specialisation of employees in the cinema sector, exchange of knowledge and experience among the members, but also with other networks, associations and cinemas across Europe and globally. Countless activities are ahead, but we have strong will, energy and knowledge, and I am certain that the Board of Directors, chaired by myself, will do their best to implement the plans we are going to design and arrange in the next few months. The Association currently has 27 members from 24 towns, which already makes us one of the larger cultural and artistic associations. Along with the membership, I am particularly pleased by the number of towns our members come from, because it includes more or less all parts of Croatia, from smaller towns to larger cities and regions.

What are the Association’s first steps?

Next to the registration of the Association with the competent authorities, which is our task zero, the first step will be to give the Association solid ground for laying good and strong foundations to all our future activities. These foundations include drafting a short and long term strategic plan of activities and financing, and the selection of a Secretary as a professional figure, who will be involved in the planning and implementation of all our activities together with the Board of Directors. In order to be on the level we want right from the start, we need to agree on a short-term financial plan as soon as possible and ensure initial funds, as well as find a location to work from. After all these steps, we will proceed according to the plan of activities for the upcoming period.

What are the issues facing independent cinemas?

The Network members are diverse and different, both in their legal status and the environment they work in, and the advantages and challenges they encounter on a daily basis. However, mutual issues and disadvantages we all share are how to reach more people, how to profile and promote particular cinemas better and how to obtain additional funds for a better and richer programme. These three things are key and all our activities will revolve around them.

Where do you see the Association in two-year’s time, at the end of your term of office?

I see it with solid financial and organisational grounds, I see it as important and acknowledged first of all among the members, and then among the local and international public. Since we are only just beginning, it is very important to take care of the Association itself – its structure, organisation and financial stability, all in accordance with the short and long term strategic plan of the Association’s activities and financing. I hope and trust the Association will become an important partner to all the independent cinemas and a training ground for joint project and programme development that will be of benefit to us all.

What are your impressions of the first ever independent cinema operators’ congress KIN-KING, recently held in Zadar?

Even though the idea of the Network is quite old, Zadar marked the real beginning of networking; after a bit more than two months, this finally saw light. It was beneficial and nice to spend more time with the colleagues than usual, which make it possible to get to know each other better and discuss in more detail about all the qualities and flaws of our cinemas and local communities. I believe a similar congress will be organised every year and coincide with the regular annual assembly session of our Association.

The Cinema Network president Hrvoje Laurenta is the executive director and manager of Zagreb’s Europa cinema, and the Association vice-president Josip Nakić Alfirević is the director of Public Open University Koprivnica. The Association is founded by 27 independent cinemas. The Board of Directors, next to the president and vice-president, includes: Marijana Bošnjak, CEO of Kinematografi Osijek d.d., Snježana Kuzmanić, CEO of Split-based company Ekran d.o.o., and Slobodanka Mišković, director of Rijeka’s Art Cinema Croatia.

Also, the General Assembly selected the disciplinary body of the Association, consisting of: Danijel Pavlić, head of the film centre at Kristalna kocka vedrine Culture House Sisak, Marina Oskoruš, head of cultural activities for film and exhibitions at Čakovec Cultural Centre, and Tanja Miličić, head of cinema and film production at Pula’s Valli Cinema.

Miroslav Perošević, head of the Public Open University Novska, is the Association’s administrator.

Title photo: Hrvoje Laurenta