Croatian short films to be screened at ARTos

It’s not often that independent Croatian films reach the island’s big screens yet that is what is coming up at ARTos Foundation in Nicosia later this month. On March 19, the Cyprus Contemporary Film Centre will present seven short films by the cinematic community of Kinoklub Zagreb.

Kinoklub Zagreb is a non-profit amateur film society founded in Croatia in 1928. During the early 60s, it became a central place of the Yugoslav avant-garde film movement, marked by ‘anti-film’ and Genre Film Festival (1963 to 1970), one of the first experimental film festivals in the world. Today, Kinoklub Zagreb remains the biggest producer, distributor and archiver of Croatian independent short films, with a special focus on alternative filmmaking.

Its main goal is to promote amateur filmmaking by providing its members with free access to filmmaking equipment and editing rooms, as well as distribution advice and constant education through workshops, cinematheque screenings and film discussions. Kinoklub Zagreb has the greatest number of films produced in the history of Croatian film – an estimated 2,500 films have been made since 1928, with 75 films being shot in 2017 alone. Its films have been in competition in festivals such as Rotterdam, Oberhausen and Sarajevo, as well as many other local festivals, where they have won numerous awards.

Coming to Nicosia this month are seven of these short films at an event lasting just over an hour and suitable for everyone above 15. The films are: Cabbage by Zorko Sirotić, I Smoke Whatever’s Left Again by Sirotić, +Topia by Petar Novak, Cartographer by Daria Blazevic, Dota by Petra Zlonoga, Drama is Overrated by Sunčica Ana Veldić and The Tiniest by Tomislav Šoban. The evening’s premise is simple. Pre-reserve the €6 ticket, arrive early with your mask and for 71 minutes explore Croatian independent short films.

Kinoklub Zagreb

Screening of 7 Croatian short films. March 19. ARTos Foundation, Nicosia. 7pm. €6. Tel: 99-457170