The Zagreb Film Festival (ZFF) stands as one of Croatia’s premier film events, showcasing a wide range of independent films and emerging filmmakers from around the world. The festival will take place in various locations in the capital from November 4 to November 10.
Founded in 2003, it has grown significantly over the past two decades, earning a respected spot on the global cinema map for its dedication to promoting bold and innovative storytelling. Held annually in the Croatian capital of Zagreb, ZFF is not only a celebration of cinema but also a platform for new filmmakers to gain exposure and share their unique perspectives with a diverse audience.
Program Sections
The Zagreb Film Festival’s programming is both diverse and carefully curated, catering to a broad range of cinematic tastes. The event includes a number of specialized program sections, including:
- Main Competition Program: The core of the festival, this section features a selection of international debut films, allowing new filmmakers to present their work on a respected platform. Films in this category often include bold, original stories with strong artistic visions.
- Checkers: A unique competition program that showcases Croatian short films, Checkers (Kockice) is a testament to ZFF’s commitment to promoting local talent. This section provides a valuable space for Croatian filmmakers to gain visibility and connect with a larger audience, both locally and internationally.
- PLUS: A program specifically curated for young audiences, featuring films that resonate with youth-oriented themes and stories. Through PLUS, the ZFF encourages young people to engage with cinema and to appreciate diverse perspectives from a young age.
- Together Again: Â The program presents films by authors with which ZFF audiences are already well acquainted.Â
- The Network of Festivals in the Adriatic Region: A regional festival founded in 2021 in which five festivals from five countries come together: the Sarajevo Film Festival (BiH), Auteur Film Festival (Serbia), Montenegro Film Festival (Montenegro), Ljubljana International Film Festival (Slovenia) and Zagreb Film Festival (Croatia). Each festival will hold a special joint program, while the best films will be chosen by audiences from all five countries.
- KinoKino: All feature films from the year-long program are presented to the young audience, and the best film will be decided by a children’s jury.
- Industry: Besides film screenings, the ZFF also hosts workshops, masterclasses, and networking events under its Industry program. These events are targeted at filmmakers and industry professionals and provide a space for learning, collaboration, and professional development.
One of the defining features of the Zagreb Film Festival is its focus on films with strong social themes. Many of the films presented at ZFF delve into pressing global issues such as migration, social inequality, and personal identity. Through these stories, the festival fosters a dialogue on complex social and political topics and invites audiences to reflect on issues beyond their own experiences.
The full program and schedule are available on ZFF’s official website.
