5 seconds
Group; Zvane Črnje High School, Rovinj, Croatia
This is a film about a challenging period of life the protagonsists find themselves in, filled with hard decisions which are not easy to make. There are many questions, but not enough answers. The highschoolers from Rovinj, in their own, humoristic way showed the dilemmas and the difficulty of the choices that need to be made in a relatively short amount of time.
“Through a charming and humorous mockumentary, the author playfully explores the dilemma of choosing a university after high school. A major life decision becomes the trigger for a stylishly playful and self-ironic film.”
Crescendo
Roberto Trainotti; Independent, Italy
The friendship between two aspiring singers falls apart when their choir announces auditions for a prestigious academy.
“Excellent story, extraordinary set design and locations. Beautiful photography and colours… A maturely crafted story about friendship, jealousy, and passion.”
Dandelion & Papaya
Mirej Đurović, Nika Sumrak; Private Art Grammar High School, Croatia
Dandelion and Papaya don’t know that Nika and Mirej are in love with them. Will they find out?
“Really fun. Also, one of those films that is truly childlike and appropriate for their age, making it feel authentic and sincere. That’s the age, and those are the sweet struggles… A charming approach, told humorously and directly.”
Leo and Knight
Theodora Nteli, Malvina Papazoglou, Iasonas Prelorentzos, Athina Troussa, Rafailia Chouliara; AUTH School of Film, Greece
The young viewers of the children’s show ask for a story. The cheerful clown Leo tries to distract them with whatever he can do—pull, inflate, twist, and tie balloons—but whatever he does, the shadow of Knight crushes him until he bursts. As the children’s show progresses, it is revealed that the clown’s persona is not a profession, but the impersonation of evil in his childhood nightmare.
“The film shines in every aspect—shot in a continuous take, it guides the viewer through the inner world of the protagonist, whose trauma and emotional shifts are conveyed with remarkable precision. From the start, the actions flawlessly follow the character’s development up to a climax that is powerful and convincing.”
Night at the blue streetlight
Nolan Berthet; BTS Audiovisuel de Villefontaine, France
A man walks alone on the heights of a city that is falling asleep when a woman comes to disturb his night and his thoughts.
“A film executed at a high professional level. An intriguing romantic story. / Very well shot with a beautiful underlying story. Reminds one of La La Land…”
Now and then
Iván Melguizo; Séptima Ars., Spain
“A lively depiction of the beginning and end of a relationship, although the end doesn’t have to be final. Very well acted and overall a high-quality film. / Fast-paced, interesting, engaging. Great chemistry between the actors…”
OC-Down, but not out
Maria Valenzuela Rivas; Escola Universitària ERAM, Spain
Lía is a dedicated and hard-working seventeen-year-old student but, despite her efforts to give her best, she carries a secret that is increasingly difficult for her to hide: her obsessive-compulsive disorder.
“Excellent script, and the film’s quality is greatly enhanced by above-average acting. / An important theme well handled.”
The Coffee Break
Asklipios Vrachnos; Independent, Greece
Two dialogues unfold in parallel. Beneath casual words lie quiet truths and unsaid feelings. A story about human connection, unspoken endings and everything we hear in silence. A minimalist exploration of love and distance.
“Honest, lifelike, well-acted, and at the same time conceptual.”
The Horla
Unax Bergasa; Independent, Spain
An insomniac man starts noticing inexplicable occurrences in his house. As he tries to document them, an invisible presence seems to be lurking around him. His search leads him to a disturbing discovery: something is watching him… or perhaps, inhabiting him.
“True to the classic horror aesthetics, the film builds an atmosphere of anxiety, which the viewer experiences while following the protagonist confronted with supernatural antagonism. The author masterfully employs classical film techniques, using space, light, and sound to create a sense of threat.”
The Orange sky
Martin Zadravec; Student Television, Croatia
Two young people, lost in sleeplessness, meet in the quiet stillness of a Zagreb night. As they wander the empty streets, they open up to one another and find a brief escape from routine and solitude.
“A beautiful, well-acted film. Conveys the feeling of being in that place, at that time, with those characters…”
Vincent Vega
Toma Sikavica; Centre of culture Ribnjak, Croatia
A missing teenager, a demented old woman, two lonely souls, and the apartment break-in.
“A witty, well-acted, and emotional film.”
Where the sistaz at?
Uma Zuban; Independent, Serbia
Despite the family conflicts, Sonja finally achieves what she has dreamed of her whole life – to become an adult.
“This dramedy, driven by convincing dialogues and strong acting, establishes a cheerful and humorous tone, under which everyday problems and challenges of a family subtly emerge.”