Welcome to

Ponta Lopud

Croatia’s beautiful Lopud Island is a hidden meeting place for artists. Here, emerging talents and renowned filmmakers, musicians, and authors gather to create, connect, and inspire one other. Through festivals, masterclasses, and cultural events, the island becomes a vibrant stage where artistic collaborations are born and new masterpieces come to life.

Artistic Freedom

We bring together most renowned creatives of our time in a peaceful island setting, where they connect, create, and exchange feedback. They leave Lopud
with new friendships that often grow into future collaborations.

Inspiration

Emerging artists, Fellows, engage in workshops, lectures, and discussions led by visiting expert Masters. We aspire to see new partnerships and projects grow from these connections, with the hope of welcoming past fellows back as our future Masters.

Culture

During the Ponta Lopud Festivals, the island becomes a vibrant hub of artistic exchange and expression, uniting the local community, visiting artists, and global attendees in a shared passion for film, jazz, and literature.

2025 Festivals

2025 Festivals

An Unforgettable Experience

Edward Norton
I’ve been making films for 30 years and the large majority of what I’ve learned about the craft and art has come from talking to older filmmakers about the details of their experiences. We make films for audiences, yes. But we need each other to really learn the trade and I absolutely love the idea of a film festival for filmmakers.

Edward Norton - Golden Globe recipient, multiple Film Critics Awards winner, and Oscar nominee, Film Festival 2023
Frances McDormand
Joel and I valued our time talking with participants during the Ponta Lopud Film Festival. It was exciting and inspiring for both of us. Navigating this crazy world is challenging and it is good to know there are many of us in the same lifeboat. Vive le cinéma!

Frances McDormand - Four time Oscar Winning Actress, Film Festival 2022
Joe Lovano
Sharing the Blessings of Music in an idyllic setting such as this is a dream. The Love and Passion of all the folks I encountered was incredible beyond words. I was truly enlightened by the experience and look forward to a return visit to the Festival again and again

Joe Lovano - Grammy winning saxophonist, Jazz Festival 2023
Joel Coen
It’s been very rewarding for me to be able to talk to younger filmmakers who are just starting out. It’s very interesting to know what their problems and their interests are. I’m several generations older than they are. I come from a different time in moviemaking, different world, really... It’s been interesting and rewarding. This place is gorgeous. It’s a true revelation. The people are great. This is a beautiful part of the world. I would definitely come back. That’s for sure.

Joel Coen - Four time Oscar Winning Director, Film Festival 2022
Antonio Sánchez
I have never been to a festival quite like the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival. The beautiful setting, lovely camaraderie and ambiance, transcendent masterclasses, incredible gastronomy and the high level of the visiting artists makes this a one of a kind festival that no one should miss.

Antonio Sánchez - 4x Grammy winning drummer from Mexico, Jazz Festival 2023 & 2024
Linda May Han Oh
The Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival is truly one of its kind. We had a beautiful week playing music, sharing information with the enthusiastic students and absorbing the local culture. We hope we will be returning soon!

Linda May Han Oh - Grammy winning bassist, Jazz Festival 2024
Ruben Östlund
For me filmmaking is social and that’s the biggest reason why I enjoy doing it. The intimate atmosphere of Ponta Lopud creates a great opportunity to meet colleagues and friends, talk about work and get inspiration.

Ruben Östlund - Recipient of Palmes d'Or, European Film Awards, and Oscar nominee, Film Festival 2023
Paweł Pawlikowski
It was wonderful at Ponta Lopud. I will recommend to all my friends from the film world that they come here if they receive an invitation. This is a beautiful, creative, and fun adventure. I’m delighted that I came here.

Paweł Pawlikowski - Oscar Winning Director, Film Festival 2021
Nicole Zuraitis
I don’t often describe things as perfect, but the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival is perfection in every way. Absolute highlight of my career in music.

Nicole Zuraitis - Grammy winning vocalist and pianist, Jazz Festival 2024
Kenny Werner
The Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival is a rare treat and a rare experience. Great talent and tremendous commitment by two giants in Jazz, Thana Alexa and Antonio Sanchez.

Kenny Werner - American jazz pianist and composer, Jazz Festival 2024
Rajko Grlić
The educational aspect of this event is paramount. In all the festivals I’ve attended, the educational content is what is produced, while everything else is merely displayed. What truly matters is producing something meaningful. If we can share our experiences and insights with young people, our future colleagues, then we have accomplished our goal.

Rajko Grlić - award-winning Croatian director and screenwriter, Film Festival 2024
Suzana Perić
It is a great honour to be on Lopud with such a distinguished group of lecturers, especially with our Rajko Grlić, with whom I have collaborated and whose work I deeply admire, and with Nebojša, who, earlier this year brought Croatia its first Palme d'Or from Cannes, an extraordinary achievement.

Suzana Perić - Acclaimed Croatian-American music editor, Film Festival 2024
Thana Alexa
As an independent artist I know how valuable time and space is in processing life experiences and being fully in the moment to help cultivate our creativity. I also know how rare it is to be given that luxury. Providing an opportunity for artists at different career levels with this kind of experience is what the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival is all about and is exactly what makes it the most unique and life changing jazz festival experience in the entire world.

Thana Alexa - Grammy nominated vocalist and Artistic Director of the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival
Michael League
Ponta Lopud is everything a small, exquisitely-curated festival should be. An idyllic location, incredible hospitality, direct contact between the artists and the audience, and an unpretentious ambiance that is, at the same time, extremely luxurious. I hope to come back for many more editions.

Michael League - 5x Grammy winning bassist/ producer from USA, Jazz Festival 2024

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