"This year's festival brings a rich film program, with an emphasis on documentaries from Mediterranean countries. We are screening a total of 40 films in 5 programs with several premieres and previews. 19 documentaries will be screened in the competition part of the program, and the best will be decided by an international jury, composed of film professionals," Tomislav Topić said at the opening of the 26th edition of the Mediterranean Film Festival on Tuesday, October 7, in the packed Borak cinema in Široki Brijeg.

The actor who left Široki Brijeg in 1970 and, just a few years later, achieved a notable film and theater career, took to the stage at the Borak cinema. He has more than eighty film and television roles, and numerous theatre performances. The audience remembers him for his legendary role of Bakalar the barber from „Velo Misto“.

It is a great honour for me and I declare the festival open“, said the actor Vinko Kraljević, who is a member of the jury at this year's festival, who, instead of giving a classical speech, opened the festival with Khalil Gibran's poem.

The screening of the film „Third World“, directed by Arsen Oremović followed the opening ceremony of the Festival. The director briefly presented the film to the audience in Široki Brijeg, emphasising that he couldn't have imagined that what is depicted in the film could happen, namely that he managed to reunite the members of the cult band Haustor. 

“A man simply has to have enough patience and let things happen naturally, regardless of what we would like to happen. I could have shot this film in twenty days, but I did it within three years because the dynamics of their relationship were like that”, Oremović said and invited the audience to enjoy his film. 

After this film, the first festival day continued with the screenings of films from the short documentary selection. 

We remind you that, in addition to top-quality film content, the 26th Mediterranean Film Festival is also offering an interesting accompanying program, created in collaboration with the Office for European Integration of the Government of the West Herzegovina Canton."

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.