Valeria is an experimental documentary film conceived as an intimate encounter between the author and her ancestresses, inspired by portraits from the island’s cemetery, where it is common for women and men, while they are still alive, to decide on the photo that will represent them on their grave after they die.

The film’s producers are Vanja Jambrović (Restart) and Sara Jurinčić (Studio Nomad).

Sara Jurinčić will present her film to the audience in Vienna as part of the international competition programme of feature and documentary films.

Valeria had its world premiere at the 30th Sheffield DocFest, and has since appeared at many festivals around the world, including Dok Leipzig, and won awards at the Sarajevo Film Festival (Heart of Sarajevo for Best Short Documentary), 25 FPS (Grand Prix), Mediteran Film Festival (Special Mention), Minimalen Short Film Festival in Norway (Jury Special Mention), also being selected as a candidate for the European Film Award at the Zinebi 64 festival in Bilbao.

Matea Kovač’ animated short Y, which the Croatian Film Critics’ Association awarded the Oktavijan Award for the Best Animated Film of 2003, is a depiction of the struggle of artistic creation/disintegration as the protagonist recalls an intimate lesbian relationship. Y has also screened at festivals around the world, including DOK Leipzig, Fantoche and PÖFF Shorts, and won accolades at the International Animation Day (ASIFA) and the Cherry Pop Festival, among others. The film is produced by Vinko Brešan (Zagreb film).

Y is screening at Vienna Shorts in the animated film competition.

During the six days of the festival, from 28 May to 2nd June, Vienna Shorts will showcase 306 films from 67 countries. It is an Academy Award, BAFTA and European Film Award qualifying festival.