Evening screenings will be held from Thursday to Saturday, with free admission and boat transfers from Dubrovnik available for all visitors.

Last night, the 2024 edition of the Ponta Lopud Summer Screenings was officially opened at a press conference held on the terrace of the RMH Lopud Lafodia. Over the next few days, Lopud Island will transform into a paradise for film enthusiasts, offering young talents the chance to further their professional development through lectures and interactions with top filmmakers from the region and around the world. This year’s lecturers, Rajko Grlić, Suzana Perić, and Nebojša Slijepčević, along with Ponta Lopud founder Tilda Grossel Bogdanović, addressed the guests at the conference.

“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,” said the acclaimed Croatian-American music editor, Suzana Perić.

“It is an exceptional feeling to be among people who have inspired me and from whom I have learned throughout my career. This is precisely the value that Ponta Lopud provides, not only to students who gain significant breadth from such a line-up of lecturers but also to us, as we can apply new experiences to our work through these exchanges,” concluded Nebojša Slijepčević, this year’s Palme d’Or winner at Cannes.

“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,” said the award-winning Croatian director and screenwriter, Rajko Grlić.

Following the press conference, the summer screenings were inaugurated with the film Io Capitano (2023) by director Matteo Garrone, which also marked its Croatian cinema premiere. The film was introduced via video message by the director himself.

“This film offers a different perspective, one that we usually don’t see when we talk about migrants coming to our country in search of a better life. With the help of migrants in Sicily, we made this film to faithfully depict their view of the world, their odyssey that brought them here, and in doing so, give a voice to those who usually don’t have one,” summarized Matteo Garrone, thereby opening the summer screenings.

“While the evening film screenings provide visitors with a unique experience and showcase the beautiful ambiance of Lopud, what makes this event special is its educational component. Here, award-winning and experienced filmmakers pass on their knowledge to talented film students from Croatia and the region through thematic workshops and informal gatherings,” emphasized Tilda Grossel Bogdanović, founder of the Ponta Lopud Creative Platform.

The summer screenings will take place from Thursday to Saturday, starting at 9:00 PM, in the unique setting of LaBaja Beach at the RMH Lopud Lafodia, the central venue for the event.

“It is a great pleasure for Lafodia to once again host film screenings on Lopud, which, under the starry sky on one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, leave no one indifferent. The programs that Ponta Lopud has been bringing to the island for years are equally important for all participants, guests, audience, and artists, as well as for the local community and the promotion of the island itself,” said owner Alessandra Severi, who has supported the creative platform for years.

Admission to the film screenings is free for all visitors. Additionally, a free transfer by Argosy boat will be provided from June 27 to 29 for audiences coming from Dubrovnik. The boat will depart daily from Gruž port (across from the market) at 6:30 PM and from Lopud in front of the Lafodia Hotel at midnight.

Ponta Lopud Creative Platform hosts and presents three summer culture programs in 2024 and welcomes all art enthusiasts, particularly those passionate about film, music, and literature. The Ponta Lopud Summer Screenings, the first of three events, will celebrate the art of film from June 27 to 29. The second event, the popular Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival, will attract music lovers to the island from August 28 to 31. A new addition to the creative platform is the Ponta Lopud Book Bridge, which will run from September 27 to 29, rounding off the summer events and closing Lopud’s cultural and artistic season.

For more information about the program, schedule, and screenings, visit pontalopud.hr and follow Ponta Lopud on social media!