The Pula Film Festival, Istra ( Istria ) the oldest and the most visited film festival in Croatia (43 800 spectators at the 55th edition) and "one of the three best and most spectacular open air festivals in Europe", (The Guardian, 2005) is preparing its 56th edition that shall run from 18 to 25 July, with an attractive international warm-up programme from 11 to 17 July 2009.
It’s a unique experience for numerous spectators who will enjoy the screenings of Croatian and best international films at the picturesque Kaštel, at the state-of-the-art Valli Cinema, and in the magnificent Arena every night during the two festival weeks. For more than five decades the Pula Film Festival has been a trademark of Croatian films in the region and internationally, a traditional place of gathering for Croatian film makers, visited by the biggest names of cinematic art (Christopher Lee, Greta Scacchi, Jiří Menzel, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich and others).
The festival is also attented by numerous visitors from the ranks of festival selectors and foreign journalists.
We expect that films by experienced Croatian directors shall be ready for the National Programme of the 56th edition: The Land of Wonders (U zemlji cudesa) by Dejan Sorak, Let's keep it between us (Neka ostane medu nama) by Rajko Grlic, Metastases (Metastaze) by Branko Schmidt, but also films by younger directors: Donkey (Kenjac) by Antonio Nuic, The Postman (Postar) by Niksa Svilicic, The Blacks (Crnci) by Zvonimir Juric and Goran Devic, and The Man Under the Table (Covjek ispod stola) by Neven Hitrec. We shall also present the best films of the Days of Croatian Film, pay tribute to the winners of Croatian film awards for life achievements, but also present Croatian feature-length films in production.
Kino Valli as part of the International Programme we shall screen finest film delicacies from the international festival stage.
Numerous sidebar programmes shall add to a festival atmosphere: Pulica Children’s Film Programme, Pula Film Factory, Cinemania(c) Exhibition, Videoport, 640x480 max Best Short Amateur Film Competition, and we also plan for the Film Street project to grow into a Film Town.
Istra (Istria) has a centuries-old tradition of trade fairs which Istrian towns keep alive. Fairs are places where people trade, meet, communicate, have fun as always…
