The first day of the 5th Star Film Fest began with the opening ceremony on 30th of August, 2018 in the Sisak Old Town Fortress. Visitors of the Old Town were welcomed by the exhibition “Transmediality of the frame – selection from film cycles” by young talented painter Dora Hanžek. The pleasant atmosphere, like the last year, was brought by Martina Sabljak on the violin and Darko Ružec on the guitar, performing classical tunes from famous movies. After the opening ceremony, visitors had the opportunity to watch 10 films from the competitive part of the program. Later in the evening, guests enjoyed the performance of jazz musicians Obradović – Tixier Duo, which also closed the program of the first festival day.
The second day of the festival began with morning stretching by the Theater 21, and continued with the “Filming from the air” and “Slackline” workshops followed by the acoustic jam session where young musicians gathered and entertained the present audience. Young filmmakers and interested visitors learned a bit more about acting at the workshop “Acting Preparation and Concentration” by the festival’s godfather and theatre actor Goran Grgić. In the early evening the filmmakers and the jury could enjoy the screening of 17 competing films under the starry sky in the open. After the screenings of the competition films, the screening of the film “The Eighth Commissioner” by Ivan Salaj followed. After the screenings, visitors enjoyed the concert of the Bang Bang band.
The last day of the festival was full of accompanying contents so guests could visit the presentation “Wet Collodion”, acoustic jam session, public discussion “Women in the film”, KOZa – the general knowledge quiz, screening of the “Comic Sans” film and final screenings followed by the festival Closing ceremony. In the evening the garden of the Theater 21 was filled with the film lovers who watched the remaining 23 films on the second night and voted for the film who won the “Audience Award”. After the competition, visitors enjoyed “Comic Sans” film by director Nevio Marasović. A jury of experts – Anita Juka, Ivona Kundert, Asim Ugljen, Britt Raes and Goran Dević, selected from each film category (documentary, experimental, featured and animated) and announced winners in the given categories after the final screening. The best documentary film award was given to Good Hunting (Maja Alibegović), the best animated film award went to Enough (Anna Mantzaris) and the best experimental film award got the film Stuck in Rut (Luka Padežanin). The best film award in the feature film category was given to Monday – German love story (Sophie Linnenbaum), and Tete D’Olivier (Armelle Mercat) took the title of the best film chosen by the audience. The winner of the Grand Prix of the Fifth Star Film Festival is the film Refugio by Federico Schmukler. The closing of the festival passed through the pleasant atmosphere with the music performance of the 4head cover band.
During the three days Star Film Fest was visited by 2.500 film lovers. The Fifth Star Film Fest was visibly more successful and better. The number of submitted films was 569, out of which the professional jury selected the top 50. Selected films were from authors all over the world: Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Hungary, Macedonia, Germany, Slovakia, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Russia, USA, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Iran, China, Taiwan, Philippines and Singapore.
