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    • NTC Award Ceremony
      New Talent Competition gives young filmmakers from Central, Eastern and Southern Europe the opportunity to present their outstanding debut or second film to the public. Join us on Sunday 1 December at 19h
    • Music at ENFF
      The Eastern Neighbours Film Festival welcomes special musical guests each year to enrich our program. For this 16th edition, we’re thrilled to present two talented young musicians: guitarist Antonio Peršak (CR) and violinist İdil Yunkuş (TR). Together, they will perform a traditional Balkan dance and folk song, highlighting the beauty of this music through the… Read more: Music at ENFF
    • Masterclass with Janez Burger
      This masterclass presents a unique opportunity to explore Burger's distinct storytelling style, genre use, and exploration of contemporary social issues. Join us on Saturday 30 November at 17h - Room 5
    • Panel Discussion: Exploration of individual and collective memory in cinema
      Panel Discussion: Exploration of individual and collective memory in cinema on Friday 29 November at 18h

Once We Were Good for You

Branko Schmidt is a veteran of Croatian cinema with dozens of successful films in his filmography. Sharp, critical, brave and eloquent in its cinematic expression, he depicts in his latest film the destiny of Croatian war veterans and their dissatisfaction with their social status. The film won the Golden Arena for the Best Screenplay at Pula festival and brilliant Rene Bitorajac won the main award as the Best Actor. 

Synopsis

25 years after the Croatian War of Independence, decorated war hero Dinko is bitterly disappointed with Croatia and life. His family has left him, and the country he fought for is plagued by poverty, corruption and emigration. When his fellow veterans stage a protest demanding the museum that the Government promised them, Dinko gets involved. Soon however young fascists join the protest and the violence escalates.

A BILI SMO VAM DOBRI

Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2021 | 72 min

DIRECTOR: Branko Schmidt

PRODUCTION: Stanislav Babic – Telefilm; Kazalisno-filmska udruga Oktavijan

CAST: Rene Bitorajac, Slaven Knezovic, Rakan Rushaidat, Goran Navojec

SCREENPLAY: Sandra Antolic, Ognjen Svilicic, Branko Schmidt

CINEMATOGRAPHY: Dario Hacek

EDITING: Hrvoje Mrsic

SCREENING: Thursday 24.11. / 21:30h / Zaal 2 & Friday 25.11. / 20:45h / Zaal 5

The screening will be followed by Q&A with director Branko Schmidt. Dutch Premiere

Director’s bio

Branko Schmidt (Osijek, 1957) graduated in film and TV directing at the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb. He is an awarded director and has won numerous acknowledgments. He has directed many feature and documentary films and TV series. Select filmography: Sokol Did Not Like Him (1988), Đuka Begović (1991), Vukovar: The Way Home (1994), Christmas in Vienna (1997), The Old Oak Blues (2000), Queen of the Night (2001), The Melon Route (2006), Metastases (2009), Vegetarian Cannibal (2012), Ungiven (2015), Agape (2017)

Festivals & Awards (selection)

Pula Film Festival, 2021 – Golden Arena for Best Screenplay (Sandra Antolic, Ognjen Svilicic, Branko Schmidt); Golden Arena for Best Actor (Rene Bitorajac) | Mostar Film Festival, 2021 | FilmFestival Cottbus – Festival of East European Cinema, 2021 | International Film Festival of India, Goa 2021