The sixth Ponta Lopud Film Festival, taking place from 25 to 28 June, will bring a distinctive musical note to this year’s edition. The programme will be dedicated to film music, with the life and work of Ennio Morricone at its heart. At the initiative of the festival’s new Artistic Advisor, Suzana Perić, audiences will have the opportunity to see the documentary film Ennio (2021), Giuseppe Tornatore’s tribute to the legendary composer, while on the final day of the festival an ensemble will perform some of Morricone’s most memorable film scores as part of the closing concert.

A long-time participant in the festival programme and an acclaimed music editor, Suzana Perić said: “It is hard to imagine a more meaningful beginning for a series dedicated to film music than a tribute to Ennio Morricone, an artist who shaped the identity of cinema in ways that were often invisible, yet profoundly decisive. His ability to use music to penetrate beneath the surface of every scene and reveal its hidden meanings forever changed the language of film. By breaking with established conventions of orchestration and introducing innovations from the world of improvisation, Morricone opened up new possibilities for generations of composers and left an indelible mark on the history of cinema. Films bearing his signature are not merely accompanied by music – they are defined by it.”

Perić’s work has helped shape some of the most important films of recent decades, from The Silence of the Lambs (1991) and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) to Lady Bird (2017) and Barbie (2023). She is an Associate Arts Professor at the prestigious NYU Steinhardt and a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and her contribution to the art of sound has left a deep mark on contemporary cinema.

The concert programme will be performed by the Dubrovnik Symphony Orchestra under the baton of maestro Robert Homen, joined by Music Director and Arranger Shaun Crawford, soloist Thana Alexa, virtuoso harmonica player Antonio Serrano, the FA Linđo female vocal ensemble and the rock band Green Tea Co. Thana Alexa also serves as Concert Production Coordinator for this year’s film festival, as well as Artistic Director and Co-Founder of the Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival.

In addition to the screening and concert, the festival will feature a series of professional events for participating filmmakers, offering them deeper insight into the role of music in cinema. A masterclass led by music writer and Morricone’s close collaborator Alessandro De Rosa will provide a unique look into the creative process behind film music.

All information about the programme and accompanying events will be available at pontalopud.hr and on the social media channels of the Ponta Lopud Creative Platform.

 The Ponta Lopud Creative Platform presents three summer cultural programs in 2026 and warmly welcomes all lovers of the arts, especially film, music and literature. The Ponta Lopud Film Festival will be the first of the three events, taking place from June 25 to 28 and dedicated to cinematic art. The second event, the popular Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival, will bring music enthusiasts to the island from August 27 to 29, while Ponta Lopud Book Bridge will transform Lopud into a literary haven from September 17 to 19, rounding off the summer season.