We have been offering films that cannot be seen in cinema theatres or television programs for 26 years,which is the case this year too, and I can proudly present program with exceptional quality that we will offer to film enthusiasts” Tomislav Topić said at the press conference on the occasion of opening of the 26th edition of the documentary film festival that is taking place from October 7 to 11 in Široki Brijeg. 

When talking about the competition program, the films come from 13 countries, and the OFF program is also featuring interesting works, within which we the festival is screening three films from the local authors. This confirms that the festival is still successful on three levels – educations, screenings and production. 

“Over 300 films were submitted for this year’s tenders, after which the selector Zdravko Mustać has preselected 50 of them and finally 19 documentaries entered the official competition program”, the festival director added and thanked to all the institutions and partners for their support to the festival. 

Robert Bubalo, producer of the festival, Ivan Kraljević on the behalf of the town of Široki Brijeg, and Nela Ćosić on behalf of HT Eronet, general sponsor of the Festival, also spoke about the festival, the official competition part of the program, films from the accompanying programs, workshops and numerous festival contents.  

“I believe that even the biggest enthusiasts that started all this in Široki Brijeg could not have imagined that, what started as a film review program, continued as Film Days and grew into the festival, it would become what we are witnessing here today: one of the most highly regarded film events in the region. For a town with about 30 thousand inhabitants to have such a festival is something that places us extremely highly on a cultural map. I am sure that nobody would expect for such a small town to have a great number of film premiere screenings, socialising with the most esteemed film critics, directors, actors, creative workshops, but the team gathered around the Mediterranean Film Festival has succeeded all this. Thanks to them Široki Brijeg has become the town of film over these past 25 years”, Kraljević said and congratulated the organisers and wished for another successful edition of the festival and announced further support of the town of Široki Brijeg to the festival.

 

Speaking about the festival’s additional program, producer Robert Bubalo announced the cooperation with the Office for European Integration of the Government of West Herzegovina Canton. As part of this collaboration, a tourism forum, art workshops, and cultural discussions will be organized. He emphasised that from the very beginning, the festival has aimed not only to showcase film but also to promote a broader cultural offering, and expressed enthusiasm about the festival becoming more deeply integrated with the town itself. 

“New initiatives are emerging for different versions of the festival in cooperation with the Town authorities, and I hope we’ll be able to bring them to life as early as next year,” he said.

He pointed out that the process of putting together the festival program is very long and far from easy, and that many people still confuse film screenings or reviews with actual film festivals.

“A festival means having an original, curated program that is developed throughout the entire year. It requires engaging numerous directors and top filmmakers from Mediterranean countries — and we’ve been quite successful at that. So I can confidently say that there’s strong competition to have a film screened at the festival in Široki Brijeg,” he added.

Nela Ćosić, on behalf of HT Eronet, which this year also provides rich prizes to festival visitors, pointed out that they are happy to be with the Mediterranean Film Festival as a general sponsor again and that they continue to have the opportunity to grow and socialise with the MFF. 

“HT Eronet has been supporting key film events in Bosnia and Herzegovina for years, and a special friendship connects us to the Mediterranean Film Festival from the very beginning. MFF has grown into a unique cultural event, which joins film, music, tourism and socialising, in these past 26 years, and that’s what makes the festival atmosphere unforgettable. MFF is not only the oldest festival of documentary films in the region, but also a place for meetings, inspiration and new beginnings. We would like to congratulate to the organisers for another successful festival edition and we are looking forward for all that’s yet to come, Ćosić said and invited all the film fans to see the MFF Video Library over Home TV platform and to watch some of the films from the previous festivals.  

Screening of the documentary film “Third World”, directed by Arsen Oremović, is opening the 26th edition of the Mediterranean Film Festival on Tuesday, 7 October at 7 p.m. in Borak cinema theatre. In addition to the strong competition program, the ‘In Focus’ program features nine short documentaries - the best cinematography works from the Mediterranean countries in the previous year. 

The audience will have the opportunity to see the film “Tomislav, the King”, directed by Dražen Klarić, within the OFF Program on Friday, 10 October at 9 pm, a spectacular reconstruction of the era of King Tomislav, from his coronation on Duvanjsko Field to the epic battle against the Bulgarians and the church council from 925. We will also present a teaser for the film Conspirators, directed by Bobby B. Grubić, based on a screenplay by acclaimed writer Miro Gavran.

The last festival day brings morning screenings as a part of the MFF Fora program, featuring the animated film "Bumblebee's Summer", directed by Daniel Kušan, and short works created at the "Zelenkapica" children's camp and the "Zabavator" workshop. 

Saturday, October 11th, brings a double screening at 5 p.m. - the documentary “TOVA - Greatest Hand, Worst Elbow“, directed by Damir Jelić, dedicated to world table tennis champion Antun Tova Stipančić, and the film “Time of Suffering”, directed by Jozo Patljak, which speaks about tragic events in Bosanska Posavina during the Second World.

Screenings of local authors’ films will take place at Borak Cinema at 6 p.m. that same day. The audience will have the opportunity to see the film “Labyrinth of the Mind and Body”, directed by Katja Jurić and Lucija Delić, followed by "Andrej Meets a Flower", directed by Milij Đukić, and at 7 p.m. "Međugorje Breviary", directed by Zdenko Jurilj, a poetic short documentary dedicated to the phenomenon of Medjugorje.

The international jury in three categories will decide on the best works at MFF – best feature documentary film - MFF Grand Prix, best short film - MFF Best Short, and Best Camera award, signed by the Association of Cinematographers in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The winners will be announced on Friday, October 11, and traditionally, the audience will award their prize.

French documentary "Miyazaki: Spirit of Nature", directed by Léo Favier, is closing the festival on Saturday, 11 October.