The second day of the milestone edition of the Ponta Lopud Film Festival reinforced its position as a unique platform for knowledge exchange, inspiration, and the fostering of connections among film professionals from across the region and beyond. In the island’s inspiring setting, participants engaged in a series of masterclasses that offered a first-hand look at key aspects of today’s film industry – from film financing and scoring to strategic production insights.
The day opened with a masterclass led by Marlon Vogelgesang, CEO of Media Finance Capital, who offered a deep dive into the complex world of independent film financing. Using real-life examples, Vogelgesang explored how films become marketable assets, how risks are managed, and how projects are made financially viable. He also addressed the differences between European and American funding models, and the challenges of balancing public and private investments. He stressed the importance of understanding commercial realities and the need to strike a balance between artistic vision and market demands.
“There is often a disconnect in the film industry between what funding institutions want and what audiences truly care about. When most financing decisions are driven by institutional logic, there’s a risk of creating content that resonates more with funders than viewers,” Vogelgesang noted.
Next was a masterclass by acclaimed Croatian-American music editor and NYU Steinhardt professor Suzana Perić. Drawing from films such as The Silence of the Lambs (1991), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), and Barbie (2023), she highlighted the integral role of music in film – from the earliest creative concepts to the final sound mix. Emphasising the value of director-composer collaboration and the freedom to experiment, she said: “Directors often feel insecure because they don’t speak the ‘language of music,’ but music’s role is to reveal hidden layers of the story and follow its emotional arc – not to be constrained by technicality. Ultimately, the freedom to explore and take creative risks is what allows music to truly elevate the cinematic experience.”
The afternoon featured a compelling masterclass titled The Formula for a Balkan Blockbuster, led by renowned director Dragan Bjelogrlić and moderated by media strategist Krešimir Macan. Bjelogrlić spoke candidly about the challenges and opportunities of creating regional box-office hits, emphasising the importance of authenticity and audience connection.
“Over the years, I’ve always sought humanity and truth in my films – even though each of those stories has carried a touch of fairy tale. It seems to me that today, in these chaotic times, it’s more important than ever to stay authentic and speak about the things that truly matter to us – regardless of market pressures or audience expectations. In the end, what matters most is that a film remains honest and finds its way to the people, just like my own films have managed to bring audiences back to cinemas, even in the most challenging of times,” said Bjelogrlić.
The evening program in the garden of Hotel Grand featured a screening of Guardians of the Formula (2023), a historical drama set at the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences in 1958, during the Cold War. The film tells a gripping story of a group of Yugoslav scientists fighting for their lives after a reactor accident, and is based on true events that left a lasting mark on the history of science and medicine. The screening was personally introduced to the festival audience by the film’s director, Dragan Bjelogrlić.
The final day of the festival will open with the masterclass From Page to Screen: Behind the Scenes of On Swift Horses, where director Daniel Minahan and producer Peter Spears will guide participants through the complete independent filmmaking journey – from adapting a novel to securing distribution. Later, a roundtable discussion led by film critic Mark Kermode will bring together industry experts, while the evening will be marked by the Croatian premiere of On Swift Horses (2024), presented in person by Minahan and Spears at the Grand Hotel Garden.
Volunteers
During the Festival, a special boat transfer for attendees is organized by Argosy boat from Dubrovnik. Departure is from Lapadska Obala (in front of the Faculty of Economics) at 6:00 PM, with return from Lopud (in front of Hotel Lafodia) at midnight.
The creative platform Ponta Lopud encompasses three cultural programs in the summer of 2025, welcoming all lovers of art—particularly film, music, and literature. The Ponta Lopud Film Festival is the first of these three events, celebrating cinema from 26 to 28 June. The second event, the popular Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival, will attract music enthusiasts from 28 to 30 August, while the Ponta Lopud Book Bridge will turn the island into a literary haven from 18 to 20 September, rounding off the season of summer cultural events.
