International Documentary Film Festival "Zagreb Dox"

Unique Human Stories

Although South Eastern Europe has a long tradition of documentary film making, so far it has lacked a solid, documentary-only, international and competitive film festival. Even more, it lacked a place where the audience, filmmakers and other professionals from the region could meet and exchange their views and ideas


By MARINA DUVNJAK
from Zagreb, CROATIA


An international festival of documentary film that aims to offer the Croatian public a window to contemporary, in particular regional, documentary film production of all topics, runningtimes and production technologies was held between 26th February and 4th March in Zagreb, Croatia. The festival consists of three programs - the Regional Competition, the International Competition and the Documentary & Other program.

The following recognitions are awarded for the third time: the International Panel's Award for Best Film in the International Film Category, for Best Film in the Regional Film Category, for Best Film by a Young Director (up to 35 years of age) and the People's Award. Audience Award at 3rd ZagrebDox went to British film 'Blue Blood' by Stevan Riley. Film follows 5 Oxford scholars desperate to step through the ropes and defend university pride. A fine artist, astrophysicist, philosopher, mathematician and biochemist all quickly realize that a sharpened pencil and straight A's are of little use when the gloves are on and violence reigns. In competition of 40 films, Big Stamp Award for the Best Film in International Competition went to the film 'Civil Status' by Alina Rudnitskaya from Russia. It is a real documentary which gives a clear insight into the society in an ironic but also warm way. A mix of creativity, humanity and unique humor.

Big Stamp Award for the Best Film in Regional Competition went to Želimir Žilnik's 'Evropa preko plota' (Serbia). In a cracked up system of general and personal survival surroundings, people in one village in north Serbia find out all kind of bizarre ways to live on. Author leads the story with a brilliant dramaturgy, perfectly weaving in the narrative parts, which are almost unrecognizable from the film's documentary foundation. Petra Seliškar's 'The Grandmothers of Revolution' won Little Stamp Award for the Best Film by Young Author (up to 30).

Some Special Mentions were also handed out by the jury members, who gave an explanation of their decisions. "A story of People in War and Peace" from Armenia showing honest and courageous view on peoples' destinies in war without judgment and superfluous condemnation. "Village of Socks" from Romania where authors have successfully and professionally portrayed human existence in a context of joining one poor country to wealthy European Union by filming what seams to be a trivial job in an unknown Romanian village. "Macedonian Dream: A girl and her Accordion" from Macedonia, an everyday story about the gap between aspirations and possibilities. Young and talented accordion player - with a real youth zest about being a musician - faces real problems: she plays with a bad instrument, and has no money for a new one. Personal experience of a main heroine, told in a simple film language, shows us life in Macedonia.

Although South Eastern Europe has a long tradition of documentary film making, so far it has lacked a solid, documentary-only, international and competitive film festival. Even more, it lacked a place where the audience, filmmakers and other professionals from the region could meet and exchange their views and ideas and discuss future projects. It is a great opportunity to learn something about the region but also about other countries. This is why ZagrebDox is launched! Don't miss it next year!