“I’m happy! We worked on Murina for a long time and this is the best festival I could have hoped for to hold its world premiere. It was moving and all of us are proud to have the film screen at Quinzaine de Réalisateur, especially given the cinematic legacy of this Cannes section. I am grateful to the Croatian Audiovisual Centre for its assistance. HAVC provides vital support to directors launching their international careers at festivals such as Cannes,” said director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović shortly after the world premiere.

“The film received the best possible treatment in Cannes and praise has been pouring in from all sides. Croatia has every right to feel proud. We congratulate Antoneta and the entire team on their wonderful success and I am convinced the audience at home will be just as thrilled,” added Croatian Audiovisual Centre CEO Chris Marcich.

The screening was held in the full auditorium of the Théâtre Croisette, with an introductory greeting by members of the film crew in attendance: director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović, cast members Danica Ćurčić, Gracija Filipović, Leon Lučev and Jonas Smulders and co-screenwriter Frank Graziano. Other creative team members attending the premiere were actress Tatjana Filipović, music composer Evgueni Galperine, producer Danijel Pek, co-producers Zdenka Gold and Jožko Rutar, editor Vladimir Gojun and costume designer Amela Bakšić. 

The screening received a long applause, followed by a Q&A session with director Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović and actress Gracija Filipović.

Murina is a psychological family drama set over the course of four days on one of the Croatian islands, largely inspired by the director’s multi-award-winning fiction short Into the Blue. The film was shot on the island of Hvar, the Kornati archipelago and the island of Koločep near Dubrovnik. 

Murina is the opening film of Pula Film Festival, and the screening is due on July 17th. After that Murina is heading to theatres across the country. 

Next to Alamat Kusijanović, the script was co-written by Frank Graziano, Danijel Pek (Antitalent) and Rodrigo Teixeira (RT Features) produced the film, with co-producers Zdenka Gold (Spiritus Movens), Jožko Rutar (SPOK Films) and Miha Černec (Staragara). The film’s creative team also includes Helene Louvart (director of photography), Ivan Veljača (production designer), Amela Bakšić (costume designer), Snježana Gorup (make-up artist), Julij Zornik (sound designer), Vlado Gojun (editor), Poster (visual effects) and Evgueni Galperine and Sacha Galperine (music composers). Staring in the film are Gracija Filipović, Leon Lučev, Danica Ćurčić and Cliff Curtis.

The Directors’ Fortnight (Quinzaine des réalisateurs) runs until 17th July, in parallel to the Cannes Film Festival, featuring short, feature and documentary films from across the globe. Ever since its launch in 1969, the programme has shone a spotlight on new directors, discovering auteurs with bold and original signatures and poetics.  

All other information is available on the following link. 

High resolution photographs from the premiere are available HERE. The photographs are royalty free, with author credits attributed to Alban Pinchon.