DJ Ahmet Opens the 23rd ZFF

The 23^rd edition of the Zagreb Film Festival was officially opened on Monday, November 10, at a packed CineStar Branimir with the screening of DJ Ahmet, an unbelievably witty and visually striking coming-of-age film directed by Macedonian filmmaker Georgij M. Unkovski. In addition to festival representatives, director Boris. T. Matić, executive director Lana Matić, and program director Selma Mehadžić, and part of the DJ Ahmet cast, actors Arif Jakup and Dora Akan Zlatanova, the opening was attended by Zagreb Deputy Mayor Luka Korlaet, City Assembly President Matej Mišić, Croatian Audiovisual Centre director Christopher Marcich, and many other notable figures from Croatian cultural and public life.

“In the next seven days, here at CineStar Branimir, as well as at Kinoteka, the MSU, and KIC, we will screen 120 films, while our extensive Industry program will take place across multiple locations in the city and bring together around 150 film professionals,” said Zagreb Film Festival director Boris T. Matić. Program director Selma Mehadžić added that “the selection of films from the ZFF Travels program will tour in as many as 20 cities whose cinemas are members of the independent cinema network.”

“We support filmmakers whose work promotes tolerance, humanity, and inclusivity. We hope that our festival will continue to be a safe space that celebrates these films and the brave voices behind them,” she emphasized.

Part of this year’s program will also be available online on the festival’s official website. For the second year in a row, films from the Competitive Short Film Program, including titles from the national Checkers program, are competing for an award that qualifies them for consideration for the European Film Academy Awards, placing the Zagreb Film Festival among the prestigious circle of European festivals such as Venice, Locarno, and Cannes.

At the opening, the Albert Kapović Award was also presented. This award, given annually by the Croatian Association of Producers (HRUP) in memory of the founder of the Croatian Audiovisual Centre (HAVC), recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves in the field of film art or have significantly contributed to the quality and promotion of Croatian cinema. On behalf of the HRUP jury, Nina Petrović, founder of the production company Švenk, presented the award to film producers Vanja Jambrović and Tibor Keser in recognition of their exceptional role in producing the multi-award-winning docudrama Fiume o morte! (2025) directed by Igor Bezinović, one of the most significant films of the year.

In the coming week, from Tuesday to Sunday, culminating with the gala closing on Saturday, Zagreb audiences will be treated to 120 feature-length and short films from around the world, including the Golden Lion-winning family triptych Father Mother Sister Brother by legendary American indie filmmaker Jim Jarmusch. Nine feature films, 12 international short films, and eight domestic short films from the Checkers program will compete for the festival’s top award, the Golden Pram.

The Golden Bicycle Award will be presented to the best film in the Together Again program, while the PLUS Award from the young jury will go to the film that explores themes of growing up in an innovative and bold way. Meanwhile, votes of the Zagreb audience will be combined with those of audiences from regional festivals to select the best film in the Network of Festivals in the Adriatic Region program.

The program, schedule, and ticketing information are available on the official festival website.

The Zagreb Film Festival is held with the support of the City Office for Culture and Civil Society, the Croatian Audiovisual Centre, Creative Europe – MEDIA sub-programme, Kultura Nova Foundation, and the Zagreb Tourist Board.