Brač Film Festival Opens Its 12th Edition
From August 6 to 9, Zijah Sokolović, Mirjana Karanović, Snježana Sinovčić-Šiškov, and Aleksandra Janković arrive in Supetar. Screenings of Pula Festival winners 'Koke' and 'Paviljon' are already sold out.
From August 6 to 9, Zijah Sokolović, Mirjana Karanović, Snježana Sinovčić-Šiškov, and Aleksandra Janković arrive in Supetar. Screenings of Pula Festival winners 'Koke' and 'Paviljon' are already sold out.
In Supetar on the island of Brač, the 12th edition of the Brač Film Festival begins today. Over the years, the festival has established itself as a meeting point for regional and international filmmakers, and this year it brings one of its strongest programs to date, running until August 9, 2026.
Festival director Bruno Mustić confirmed to Slobodna Dalmacija the arrival of numerous acting greats who have marked regional and Croatian cinema. The festival opens with the film "Paviljon" directed by Dino Mustafić, and on this occasion, acting legends Mirjana Karanović and Zijah Sokolović are coming to Supetar.
There is particular interest in the Croatian film "Koke," the big winner of this year's Pula Film Festival. "The film will be presented by director Igor Jelinović, who has family ties to Supetar and Brač, along with actresses Snježana Sinovčić-Šiškov and Aleksandra Janković, who won Golden Arenas for their roles," Mustić stated.
"As we speak, screenings of 'Paviljon' and 'Koke' are already sold out, which shows the immense interest from the audience. We are in for a truly special festival atmosphere."
Mustić emphasized that the festival proves Supetar and Brač are not just tourist destinations. "This is especially gratifying because it shows that Supetar and the island of Brač are not only a tourist destination but also a serious film location where numerous domestic and international projects have been shot over the years," said the BFF director.
The audience will have the opportunity to recognize parts of the island on the big screen, and Mustić hopes that in the future even more international productions will come to shoot on Brač.
The festival director was particularly delighted by the invitation to another acting legend, Zlatko Burić, who was a guest at last year's festival. "He told us he and his wife will come back for a friendly visit. That is perhaps the greatest confirmation that people feel good here," Mustić pointed out.
The children's program opened with the animated film "Crystal Planet" by director Arsen Anton Ostojić, which received a Special Golden Arena for its contribution to Croatian animation. "We are especially pleased that the film's director is from the island of Brač," added Mustić, noting that the film was shown before its official theatrical release to a packed cinema.
BFF has also established itself as a haven for young filmmakers from the region who, through short films, workshops, and masterclasses, get the opportunity to present themselves. "It was precisely at the Brač Film Festival that numerous collaborations, co-productions, and even new shoots on the island were born," said Mustić.
He is particularly pleased that the festival has become part of the local community's life. "Today we already have a generation of young people who came to morning screenings as children and now regularly follow the evening program, bring friends, or volunteer at the festival. This means that BFF has become part of the community's life, and that was our goal from the very beginning," concluded the festival director.
