Who selected 'God Won't Help' as Croatia's candidate?

The Croatian Association of Film Workers (HDFD) selected the film as Croatia's candidate for the 41st Goya Award.

In which category is the Croatian film competing?

The film enters the selection for the Best European Film category, intended for productions outside Spain.

Which awards has the film already won?

It won the Leopard for Best Acting Performance in Locarno, a Special Award for Gender Equality in Sarajevo, and two Golden Arenas in Pula.

When and where will the Goya Awards ceremony take place?

The ceremony for the 41st Goya Awards will be held in Madrid in February 2027.

Culture

Hana Jušić's 'God Won't Help' Goes for Spain's Goya Award

K.U. · Prije 1 dana | 2 min

The historical drama about a Chilean woman on Dinara, following a Leopard in Locarno and Golden Arenas in Pula, is now Croatia's candidate for the prestigious European film award.

Summary

Hana Jušić's film 'God Won't Help' is Croatia's candidate for the 41st Goya Award.
The plot follows Teresa, a Chilean woman who arrives in an isolated shepherd community on Dinara.
The film has already won a Leopard in Locarno, an award in Sarajevo, and two Golden Arenas in Pula.
The Goya Awards ceremony will take place in Madrid in February 2027.

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The Croatian Association of Film Workers (HDFD) announced on Monday that "God Won't Help" by director Hana Jušić will represent Croatia in the race for the 41st Goya Award. This is Spain's most important film accolade, with production by Kinorama and partners from Italy, Romania, Greece, France, and Slovenia.

The candidacy marks entry into the selection process for the Best European Film category, awarded since 1992 by the Spanish Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This category is reserved for films produced outside Spain.

Set on an Isolated Mountain

The film is set in the early 20th century in a remote shepherd community on Dinara. The protagonist, Teresa, arrives from Chile claiming that her husband, the elder's brother, died in a mine there. Her arrival unsettles the rigid social dynamics of the community but also opens up space for change and personal freedom.

Awards from Locarno to Pula

The world premiere took place at the 78th Locarno International Film Festival, where Manuela Martelli and Ana Marija Veselčić won the Leopard for Best Acting Performance in the main competition. At the Sarajevo Film Festival, the film received a Special Award for Promoting Gender Equality, and it was also screened in Thessaloniki, Sofia, Busan, Vancouver, and numerous other festivals.

Domestic audiences honored it at the 73rd Pula Film Festival: Jana Plećaš won the Golden Arena for Cinematography, and Stavros Evangelou, Iris Asimakopoulou, and Vasilis Chontos won for Music. Ana Marija Veselčić, for her role as Milena, also took home the Breza Award for Best Debutante.

Second Croatian Nomination in Three Years

Croatia has already had a film nominated for the Goya: "Safe Place" by Juraj Lerotić was nominated in the same category in 2024. The Goya has been awarded since 1987 and is often called the Spanish Oscar.

The ceremony for the 41st Goya Awards is scheduled for February 2027 in Madrid.