Last night, the sixth edition of the Ponta Lopud Film Festival officially opened on the island of Lopud, once again transforming this unique Adriatic setting into a centre of cinematic art, inspiration and creative exchange. This year's festival has brought together leading names from international and regional cinema, emerging filmmakers and numerous film enthusiasts, while the opening day offered Ponta Lopud's signature combination of education and unforgettable cinematic experiences beneath the stars.

The festival's first day was marked by the professional programme held at the Rector's Palace, bringing together participants and mentors from Croatia, the region and around the world. This year's edition revolves around two film projects currently in development: History of Illness, directed by David Gašo, and The Long Weekend, directed by Katarina Koljević. During the introductory session, both creative teams presented their projects, expectations and the challenges they brought with them to the island. This was followed by a session led by acclaimed film critic Mark Kermode, who spoke about the role of film criticism, approaches to reviewing films and perspectives on cinema from the region, placing both projects within a broader cinematic context.

The afternoon programme concluded with a practical workshop dedicated to character development, in which established filmmakers guided young participants through their creative approaches to building characters. The session was led by director and actor Dragan Bjelogrlić and French actor Alexis Manenti, recipient of the César Award for Most Promising Actor for Les Misérables, and moderated by director Nebojša Slijepčević, whose short film The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent (2024) received an Academy Award nomination.

"What attracted me most to the Ponta Lopud Film Festival was the idea of working with young people who arrive with scripts already prepared and films they intend to bring to life over the coming year. During the workshop, we discussed scenes and the challenges they face when working with actors, and over the next few days all of this will result in practical work from the participants themselves, allowing us to see the outcome of our efforts by the end of the festival," said Bjelogrlić.

The evening programme began with a press conference and welcome reception at the Franciscan Monastery Lopud 1483, followed by the festival's official opening in the garden of the Grand Hotel with a screening of the musical biographical drama Bob Marley: One Love (2024). The film follows the life and career of the reggae icon and the universal message of freedom and unity that became one of his enduring legacies. The screening was personally introduced by director Reinaldo Marcus Green, also known for King Richard (2021), which received six Academy Award nominations, including the Oscar-winning performance by Will Smith in the leading role.

The evening concluded with a screening of Luca Guadagnino's Call Me by Your Name (2017), a sensual summer story about first love set in northern Italy. The film won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for James Ivory's script and received three additional nominations, including Best Picture. The screening was introduced by the film's producer Peter Spears.

"Being in an environment where you can speak with directors, musicians, editors and producers who are actively creating is a truly special experience for me. My goal is to become a global filmmaker, and I believe many Croatian filmmakers share that ambition. Through the masterclasses, I hope to share some of the experiences and insights I have gathered along the way, in the hope that they may prove useful to others. I hope that here we will build bridges, strengthen our community and open new opportunities for collaboration," said Green.

This evening's programme continues with Lukas Dhont's acclaimed drama Close (2022), which the director will introduce in person, followed by Giuseppe Tornatore's Italian classic Cinema Paradiso (1988), presented by music editor Suzana Perić and music writer Alessandro De Rosa.

Throughout the festival, audiences can also take advantage of a dedicated boat transfer aboard the Argosy from Dubrovnik. Departure from Lapad, in front of the Faculty of Economics, is scheduled for 7:00 PM, while return departures from Lopud (in front of Hotel Lafodia) are scheduled for 11:30 PM and 1:30 AM. Further information about the programme and accompanying events is available at pontalopud.hr and on the social media channels of the Ponta Lopud Creative Platform. Tickets are available through the Entrio ticketing platform.

The Ponta Lopud Creative Platform presents three cultural programmes throughout the summer of 2026 and warmly welcomes everyone passionate about the arts, especially film, music and literature. The Ponta Lopud Film Festival, the first of the three events, takes place from June 25 to 28 and is dedicated to the art of cinema. It will be followed by the popular Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival from August 27 to 29, bringing music lovers to the island, while Ponta Lopud Book Bridge, held from September 17 to 19, will transform Lopud into a literary haven and bring the season's cultural programme to a close.