June 26 to 28, 2025
2025 FILM FESTIVAL
Inspired by
The fifth edition of the Ponta Lopud Film Festival will once again bring Lopud Island to life with the magic and power of cinema.
We are honoured to welcome Sean Baker—Oscar-nominated and award-winning writer, director, producer, and editor of eight acclaimed independent feature films; Golden Globe-winning director and executive producer Daniel Minahan; and Dragan Bjelogrlić, one of the region’s most prominent actors, directors, and producers. Joining them are celebrated director Rajko Grlić; Peter Spears, Oscar-winning producer of Call Me By Your Name and Nomadland; César-nominated producer Diana Elbaum; film financier Marlon Vogelgesang; Suzana Perić, Primetime Emmy-nominated music editor; and Mark Kermode, renowned UK film critic, writer, and broadcaster.
Their exceptional contributions promise to shape an unforgettable festival experience, one that resonates deeply with this year’s theme, INSULA: Film as an Island, inviting filmmakers, cinephiles, and artists to explore the island as a refuge, a mirror of the self, a boundary, and a world unto itself.
Buy the 2025 Film Festival tickets!
Anora – directed by Sean Baker
Screening 01
Guardians of the Formula – directed by Dragan Bjelogrlić
Screening 02
Croatian Premiere “On Swift Horses” – directed by Daniel Minahan
Screening 03
Film Screening
The 2025 Ponta Lopud Film Festival embraces the theme “INSULA: Film as an Island,” presenting three distinctive films that each create their own cinematic world—both sanctuary and boundary. Sean Baker’s Anora tells an intimate story of connection and resilience, Dragan Bjelogrlić’s Guardians of the Formula unfolds a tense Cold War drama of loyalty and survival, and Daniel Minahan’s On Swift Horses—making its Croatian premiere—explores longing and escape through a haunting emotional journey. Together, these films invite audiences to reflect on the paradox of isolation and belonging, revealing how cinema crafts islands of imagination where human experience is continuously redefined.
26/06/2025
Anora – directed by Sean Baker: A five-time Academy Award winner, Anora follows a young stripper from Brooklyn meets and impulsively marries the son of a Russian oligarch. Once the news reaches Russia, her fairy tale is threatened as his parents set out for New York to get the marriage annulled. Written and directed by Sean Baker, starring Mikey Madison, Paul Weissman, and Yura Borisov. Sean Baker will present the film to the Ponta Lopud audience.
27/06/2025
Guardians of the Formula – directed by Dragan Bjelogrlić : In 1958, during the Cold War, two scientists, two worlds, and two ideologies faced a race for survival at the Vinca Scientific Institute near Belgrade. Written by Dragan Bjelogrlić, Goran Milašinović, and Vuk Ršumović, and directed by Bjelogrlić. Starring Alexis Manenti, Radivoje Bukvić, and Lionel Abelanski. Dragan Bjelogrlić will present the film at Ponta Lopud.
28/06/2025
Croatian Premiere “On Swift Horses” – directed by Daniel Minahan: Muriel and her husband Lee are about to begin a bright new life, which is upended by the arrival of Lee’s brother. Muriel embarks on a secret life, gambling on racehorses and discovering a love she never thought possible. Written by Bryce Kass, directed by Daniel Minahan, and starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Jacob Elordi, Will Poulter, and Diego Calva. Director Daniel Minahan and producer Peter Spears will present the film at Ponta Lopud.
Masterclasses
Please note:
The programme is exclusively available to Ponta Lopud Film Festival participants and fellows.
Thursday 26/06/2025
- In Conversation with Sean Baker
Moderated by Mark Kermode - Does It Make Sense to Turn a Book into a Film?
With Rajko Grlić & Nebojša Slijepčević
- BFFL: Your Producer is Your Best Friend
With Diana Elbaum
Friday 27/06/2025
- Film as an Asset: The Financier’s Perspective
With Marlon Vogelgesang
Powered by Croatia Full of Life - The Journey and the Role of Music in a Film
With Suzana Perić
- The formula for a Balkan blockbuster with Dragan Bjelogrlić
Moderated by Krešimir Macan
Saturday 28/06/2025
- From Novel to Screen: Behind The Scenes of The Making of On Swift Horses
with Daniel Minahan & Peter Spears - Festival Industry Round Table
Moderated by Mark Kermode
Masters &
Guests of Honour
Sean Baker
Director, Screenwriter, Producer
Sean Baker is an Oscar-winning director, writer, producer, and editor known for his work in independent cinema. His latest film, Anora (2024), won five Oscars, including Best Pictu
Daniel Minahan
Director, Producer
A Golden Globe winning director and producer, Daniel Minahan’s recent work includes On Swift Horses, which premiered at TIFF and was released by Sony Pictures Classics. He made h
Peter Spears
Producer
Peter Spears is the Oscar winning producer of Nomadland. The film from Searchlight also won Academy Awards for director Chloé Zhao and star Frances McDormand, and won the Golden
Mark Kermode
Film Critic, Broadcaster
Mark Kermode is a film critic, broadcaster, writer and musician. He is the co-presenter of BBC Radio’s 4 Screenshot, and the Sony podcast Kermode and Mayo’s Take. He is
Dragan Bjelogrlić
Actor, Director, Producer
Dragan Bjelogrlić is a renowned Serbian actor, director, and producer with a 40-year career spanning over 90 film and TV roles. Since 2009, he has directed several highly successf
Rajko Grlić
Director, Screenwriter, Producer
A Croatian director and screenwriter, Rajko Grlić has made 12 feature films, including Svemu dođe kraj (2024), Ustav Republike Hrvatske (2016), and Karaula (2006). His films have
Suzana Perić
Music Editor
Suzana Perić is a Croatian-American music editor and associate professor at NYU Steinhardt. Born in Zagreb, she studied film arts at Columbia College Chicago and has worked on fil
Diana Elbaum
Producer
Since her beginning in advertising and then film production, Diana Elbaum has produced a vast number of films. Diana set up her first company, Entre Chien et Loup, in 1989. She pro
Marlon Vogelgesang
Film Financier
Marlon Vogelgesang is the CEO of Media Finance Capital, a company that provides strategic financial solutions for independent film and TV projects. MFC has cofinanced or fully fina
Nebojša Slijepčević
Director, Writer
Nebojša Slijepčević is a film director based in Zagreb, Croatia. He has directed numerous documentaries and short fiction films. His short fiction film The Man Who Could Not Rem
Sean Baker
Director, Screenwriter, Producer
Sean Baker is an Oscar-winning director, writer, producer, and editor known for his work in independent cinema. His latest film, Anora (2024), won five Oscars, including Best Pictu
Daniel Minahan
Director, Producer
A Golden Globe winning director and producer, Daniel Minahan’s recent work includes On Swift Horses, which premiered at TIFF and was released by Sony Pictures Classics. He made h
Peter Spears
Producer
Peter Spears is the Oscar winning producer of Nomadland. The film from Searchlight also won Academy Awards for director Chloé Zhao and star Frances McDormand, and won the Golden
Mark Kermode
Film Critic, Broadcaster
Mark Kermode is a film critic, broadcaster, writer and musician. He is the co-presenter of BBC Radio’s 4 Screenshot, and the Sony podcast Kermode and Mayo’s Take. He is
Dragan Bjelogrlić
Actor, Director, Producer
Dragan Bjelogrlić is a renowned Serbian actor, director, and producer with a 40-year career spanning over 90 film and TV roles. Since 2009, he has directed several highly successf
Rajko Grlić
Director, Screenwriter, Producer
A Croatian director and screenwriter, Rajko Grlić has made 12 feature films, including Svemu dođe kraj (2024), Ustav Republike Hrvatske (2016), and Karaula (2006). His films have
Suzana Perić
Music Editor
Suzana Perić is a Croatian-American music editor and associate professor at NYU Steinhardt. Born in Zagreb, she studied film arts at Columbia College Chicago and has worked on fil
Diana Elbaum
Producer
Since her beginning in advertising and then film production, Diana Elbaum has produced a vast number of films. Diana set up her first company, Entre Chien et Loup, in 1989. She pro
Marlon Vogelgesang
Film Financier
Marlon Vogelgesang is the CEO of Media Finance Capital, a company that provides strategic financial solutions for independent film and TV projects. MFC has cofinanced or fully fina
Nebojša Slijepčević
Director, Writer
Nebojša Slijepčević is a film director based in Zagreb, Croatia. He has directed numerous documentaries and short fiction films. His short fiction film The Man Who Could Not Rem
Fellows
Anastasia Veber
Director, Producer, Screenwriter
Anastasia Veber is a Berlin-based director and writer. Her graduation short film, Trap, won the Golden Bear for Best Short Film at the Berlinale and has been featured in numerous i
Paul Vincent de Lestrade
Director
Paul Vincent de Lestrade is a Belgian director and screenwriter known for politically charged, body-centered storytelling. A graduate of La Sorbonne and INSAS, his short films Mian
Alica Bednáriková
Director
Slovak director Alica Bednáriková gained international acclaim with her short films Nuda (2020), winner of Best Director at CineMAiubit, and Liquid Bread (2021), which was select
Thea Gajic
Director, Screenwriter
Thea Gajic is a writer and director born and raised in South London. Her first short film ‘RUN’ was selected as BFI Postroom’s Pick of The Month, Short of The Wee
Hana Japundžić
Screenwriter, Actress
Born in Zagreb, Hana studied painting at the High School of Applied Arts and Design before moving to Belgrade to complete a degree in Acting. During the pandemic, she enrolled in t
Sara Grgurić
Director, Screenwriter
Director Sara Grgurić, a graduate of the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb, gained international recognition with her short film In the Woods, which screened at over 40 festivals
Sara Alavanić
Director
Sara Alavanić is a Zagreb-based director currently completing her Master’s in Film and TV Directing at the Academy of Dramatic Arts. She previously studied Graphic Design at the
Tajana Bakota
Producer
Tajana Bakota is a Croatian film producer and line producer whose work has screened at festivals including Cannes, San Sebastián, Sarajevo, and ZagrebDox. A two-time Best Producer
Luka Galešić
Director
Luka Galešić is a Croatian screenwriter and director whose work spans both film and television. After studying Journalism and Dramaturgy, he graduated in Film and TV Directing fr
Bruno Mustic
Producer
Croatian producer Bruno Mustić is the founder of Brač Film Festival and a rising force in regional and international cinema. He produced the hit series Sram, the Croatian adaptat
Adrijana Prugovečki
Producer
Adrijana Prugovečki is a Croatian producer and founder of Woodz production. A graduate of the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb, she received two Rector’s Awards during her stud
Martina Marasović
Director
Martina Marasović is a Croatian director and screenwriter with a background in History and Philosophy. She earned her BA and MA in Film and TV Directing from the Academy of Dramat
Lana Barić
Director
Lana Barić is one of the most awarded Croatian actresses. She earned her acting degree from the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo. Since 2011 she has been a member of the Dra
Jakov Nola
Director, Screenwriter
Jakov Nola is a Zagreb-born director and screenwriter whose short films have screened at festivals including Sarajevo, Sofia, and Zagreb Film Festival, where Kontraofenziva receive
Anastasia Veber
Director, Producer, Screenwriter
Anastasia Veber is a Berlin-based director and writer. Her graduation short film, Trap, won the Golden Bear for Best Short Film at the Berlinale and has been featured in numerous i
Paul Vincent de Lestrade
Director
Paul Vincent de Lestrade is a Belgian director and screenwriter known for politically charged, body-centered storytelling. A graduate of La Sorbonne and INSAS, his short films Mian
Alica Bednáriková
Director
Slovak director Alica Bednáriková gained international acclaim with her short films Nuda (2020), winner of Best Director at CineMAiubit, and Liquid Bread (2021), which was select
Thea Gajic
Director, Screenwriter
Thea Gajic is a writer and director born and raised in South London. Her first short film ‘RUN’ was selected as BFI Postroom’s Pick of The Month, Short of The Wee
Hana Japundžić
Screenwriter, Actress
Born in Zagreb, Hana studied painting at the High School of Applied Arts and Design before moving to Belgrade to complete a degree in Acting. During the pandemic, she enrolled in t
Sara Grgurić
Director, Screenwriter
Director Sara Grgurić, a graduate of the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb, gained international recognition with her short film In the Woods, which screened at over 40 festivals
Sara Alavanić
Director
Sara Alavanić is a Zagreb-based director currently completing her Master’s in Film and TV Directing at the Academy of Dramatic Arts. She previously studied Graphic Design at the
Tajana Bakota
Producer
Tajana Bakota is a Croatian film producer and line producer whose work has screened at festivals including Cannes, San Sebastián, Sarajevo, and ZagrebDox. A two-time Best Producer
Luka Galešić
Director
Luka Galešić is a Croatian screenwriter and director whose work spans both film and television. After studying Journalism and Dramaturgy, he graduated in Film and TV Directing fr
Bruno Mustic
Producer
Croatian producer Bruno Mustić is the founder of Brač Film Festival and a rising force in regional and international cinema. He produced the hit series Sram, the Croatian adaptat
Adrijana Prugovečki
Producer
Adrijana Prugovečki is a Croatian producer and founder of Woodz production. A graduate of the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb, she received two Rector’s Awards during her stud
Martina Marasović
Director
Martina Marasović is a Croatian director and screenwriter with a background in History and Philosophy. She earned her BA and MA in Film and TV Directing from the Academy of Dramat
Lana Barić
Director
Lana Barić is one of the most awarded Croatian actresses. She earned her acting degree from the Academy of Performing Arts in Sarajevo. Since 2011 she has been a member of the Dra
Jakov Nola
Director, Screenwriter
Jakov Nola is a Zagreb-born director and screenwriter whose short films have screened at festivals including Sarajevo, Sofia, and Zagreb Film Festival, where Kontraofenziva receive
