Big Golden Arena for Best Film
CountryYugoslavia (1957–1990)
Croatia (1992–present)
Presented byPula Film Festival Jury
First awarded1957 (unofficially)
1961 (officially)
Currently held byA Blue Flower
Websitepulafilmfestival.hr

The Golden Arena awards were established in 1955 as the Yugoslav national film awards presented annually at the Pula Film Festival in Pula, Croatia, with the Big Golden Arena for Best Film its main prize. From 1955 to 1990 the awards were the Yugoslav cinema equivalent of the Academy Awards.

The award is named after the Pula Arena, the 1st-century Roman amphitheatre in the coastal city of Pula, where film screenings preceding the awards ceremony traditionally take place.

In 1991 the festival was cancelled due to the breakup of Yugoslavia, but then resumed in 1992 as the Croatian film awards festival, from then on excluding films and filmmakers from present-day Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and North Macedonia.[A] It has been held in this format every year since, although no prizes were awarded at the 1994 edition.[B]

The festival's competition program usually includes screenings of all locally produced feature films made in the preceding 12 months, made possible due to the local film industry's relatively low but highly state subsidized output. This means that everyone involved in making them automatically qualifies for the Golden Arena awards. Therefore there are no Academy Award-style lists of nominees announced prior to the actual awarding ceremony.

The awards are handed out by a jury of five or six members which is named before each festival edition by the festival's managing board. These usually include prominent filmmakers and film critics.

Although the festival was established in 1954, the award for best film was first awarded in 1957 - prior to the 1957 edition, the festival had separate critics' choice and audience awards for best film screened at the festival. Until 1990, the award was always given to the film's production company or companies, except in 1981 when the award was merged with the Golden Arena for Best Director and both the director and production companies of the winning film (The Fall of Italy by Lordan Zafranović) were credited with the award.

During the Yugoslav period, film production was decentralised with each of the six republics having their own major film production companies. Jadran Film based in Zagreb and Avala Film based in Belgrade were the two most successful, winning 11 and 8 awards respectively.

In the 1990s the award was intermittently merged with the Best Director award, until 1999 when the old format was briefly re-introduced. Between 2003 and 2007 film directors were credited with the Best Film award, while still being eligible for the separate Best Director award (although on four out of five occasions in this period the same director won both awards for the same film). Since 2008 the award is given to the film's producer.

List of winners

1955–1980

The following table lists all films which were winners of the top three prizes in the period from 1957 to 1980. On four occasions two films shared the same prize - in 1961 and 1965 two films shared the Big Golden Arena, in 1966 two films shared the runner-up award and in 1967 two films shared the third-place award. In addition to this, the 1965 second place prize was not awarded. Shared awards are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Award changes
  • In 1954 there was no festival jury and separate Critics' Choice and Audience awards were given. The Critics' Choice Award for Best Film went to František Čap's film Vesna, and the Audience Award for Best Film went to Fedor Hanžeković's film Stojan Mutikaša. In the following years both the critics' and audiences' awards were kept in parallel with the festival jury-given Golden Arenas, so the 1954 awards are usually not considered precursors of the present-day Big Golden Arena.
  • In 1955 a festival jury was introduced for the first time and it was also the first time that the award was officially called Big Golden Arena. Although it was given to the best film's director, it is de facto the first Big Golden Arena for Best Film, and it was won by František Čap for the film Trenutki odločitve.
  • In 1956 the Best Film award was not given in any form.
  • From 1957 to 1960 the festival jury ranked three best films of the festival, without giving them an official award.
  • From 1961 to 1968 the Big Golden Arena was awarded to best film, along with the second place prize called Big Silver Arena and a third place prize called Silver Arena.
  • From 1969 to 1980 the third place prize was renamed Big Bronze Arena.
Year Award English title(s) Original title(s) Director(s)
19551st place, gold medalist(s)Moments of DecisionTrenutki odločitveFrantišek Čap
1956Big Golden Arena was not awarded.
19571st place, gold medalist(s)Priests Ćira and SpiraPop Ćira i pop SpiraSoja Jovanović
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Master of His Own BodySvoga tela gospodarFedor Hanžeković
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Saturday NightSubotom uvečeVladimir Pogačić
19581st place, gold medalist(s)H-8H-8Nikola Tanhofer
2nd place, silver medalist(s)The Road a Year LongCesta duga godinu danaGiuseppe De Santis
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)The Sky Through the TreesKroz granje neboStole Janković
19591st place, gold medalist(s)Train Without a TimetableVlak bez voznog redaVeljko Bulajić
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Three Quarters of a SunTri četrtine soncaJože Babič
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Five Minutes of ParadisePet minuta rajaIgor Pretnar
19601st place, gold medalist(s)The Ninth CircleDeveti krugFrance Štiglic
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Atomic War BrideRatVeljko Bulajić
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Three Girls Named AnnaTri AneBranko Bauer
19611st place, gold medalist(s)Ballad About a Trumpet and a Cloud *Balada o trobenti in oblakuFrance Štiglic
1st place, gold medalist(s)The First Fires *Uzavreli gradVeljko Bulajić
2nd place, silver medalist(s)The PartyVeselicaJože Babič
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)PesmaRadoš Novaković
19621st place, gold medalist(s)KozaraKozaraVeljko Bulajić
2nd place, silver medalist(s)SašaRadenko Ostojić
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)PrekobrojnaBranko Bauer
19631st place, gold medalist(s)Face to FaceLicem u liceBranko Bauer
2nd place, silver medalist(s)RadopoljeStole Janković
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Wild GrowthSamorastnikiIgor Pretnar
19641st place, gold medalist(s)Official PositionSlužbeni položajFadil Hadžić
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Marš na DrinuŽika Mitrović
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Don't Cry, PeterNe joči, PeterFrance Štiglic
19651st place, gold medalist(s)Prometheus of the Island *Prometej s otoka ViševiceVatroslav Mimica
1st place, gold medalist(s)Three *TriAleksandar Petrović
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Second place prize was not awarded.
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Doći i ostatiBranko Bauer
19661st place, gold medalist(s)Monday or TuesdayPonedjeljak ili utorakVatroslav Mimica
2nd place, silver medalist(s)The Climber*ŠtićenikVladan Slijepčević
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Rondo *RondoZvonimir Berković
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)The DreamSanPuriša Đorđević
19671st place, gold medalist(s)I Even Met Happy GypsiesSkupljači perjaAleksandar Petrović
2nd place, silver medalist(s)The MorningJutroPuriša Đorđević
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)The Birch Tree *BrezaAnte Babaja
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)On Paper Planes *Na avionima od papiraMatjaž Klopčič
19681st place, gold medalist(s)When I Am Pale and DeadKad budem mrtav i beoŽivojin Pavlović
2nd place, silver medalist(s)NoonPodnePuriša Đorđević
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)I Have Two Mothers and Two FathersImam dvije mame i dva tateKrešimir Golik
19691st place, gold medalist(s)Downstream from the SunNizvodno od suncaFedor Škubonja
2nd place, silver medalist(s)An EventDogađajVatroslav Mimica
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)It Rains in My VillageBiće skoro propast svetaAleksandar Petrović
19701st place, gold medalist(s)HandcuffsLisiceKrsto Papić
2nd place, silver medalist(s)The CyclistsBiciklistiPuriša Đorđević
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)This Crazy World of OursBube u glaviMiloš Radivojević
19711st place, gold medalist(s)Red WheatRdeče klasje / Crveno klasjeŽivojin Pavlović
2nd place, silver medalist(s)The Pine Tree in the MountainU gori raste zelen borAntun Vrdoljak
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)The BetOpkladaZdravko Randić
19721st place, gold medalist(s)The Master and MargaretMaestro i MargaritaAleksandar Petrović
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Lone WolfVuk samotnjakObrad Gluščević
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)How to DieKako umrijetiMiomir Stamenković
19731st place, gold medalist(s)The Battle of SutjeskaSutjeskaStipe Delić
2nd place, silver medalist(s)The BombardiersBombašiPredrag Golubović
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)To Live on LoveŽivjeti od ljubaviKrešimir Golik
19741st place, gold medalist(s)The Republic of UžiceUžička republikaŽika Mitrović
2nd place, silver medalist(s)The Dervish and DeathDerviš i smrtZdravko Velimirović
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Crveni udarPredrag Golubović
19751st place, gold medalist(s)The HouseKućaBogdan Žižić
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Wintering in JakobsfeldZimovanje u JakobsfelduBranko Bauer
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Story of Good PeoplePovest o dobrih ljudehFrance Štiglic
19761st place, gold medalist(s)IdealistIdealistIgor Pretnar
2nd place, silver medalist(s)The Longest JourneyNajdolgiot patBranko Gapo
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Anno Domini 1573Seljačka buna 1573Vatroslav Mimica
19771st place, gold medalist(s)Don't Lean Out the WindowNe naginji se vanBogdan Žižić
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Operation StadiumAkcija stadionDušan Vukotić
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Beloved LoveLjubavni život Budimira TrajkovićaDejan Karaklajić
19781st place, gold medalist(s)Occupation in 26 PicturesOkupacija u 26 slikaLordan Zafranović
2nd place, silver medalist(s)Bravo MaestroBravo maestroRajko Grlić
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)The Dog Who Loved TrainsPas koji je voleo vozoveGoran Paskaljević
19791st place, gold medalist(s)TrophyTrofejKarolj Viček
2nd place, silver medalist(s)BurningUsijanjeBoro Drašković
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)The Days on Earth Are FlowingZemaljski dani tekuGoran Paskaljević
19801st place, gold medalist(s)Petria's WreathPetrijin venacSrđan Karanović
2nd place, silver medalist(s)The Secret of Nikola TeslaTajna Nikole TesleKrsto Papić
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)Who's That Singing Over ThereKo to tamo pevaSlobodan Šijan

1981–1991

In 1981 the second and third place prizes were dropped.[1] The following table lists all winners from 1981 to 1990. The Big Golden Arena was not awarded in 1982.[2]

Year International title Original title Director (Wins)
1981 (28th) The Fall of Italy Pad Italije Lordan Zafranović (2)
1982 (29th)Main prize not awarded.
1983 (30th) Body Scent Zadah tela Živojin Pavlović (3)
1984 (31st) Balkan Spy Balkanski špijun Božidar Nikolić & Dušan Kovačević
1985 (32nd) When Father Was Away on Business Otac na službenom putu Emir Kusturica
1986 (33rd) Happy New Year '49 Srećna nova '49. Stole Popov
1987 (34th) Reflections Već viđeno Goran Marković
1988 (35th) My Uncle's Legacy Život sa stricem Krsto Papić (2)
1989 (36th) The Meeting Point Sabirni centar Goran Marković (2)
1990 (37th) Silent Gunpowder Gluvi barut Bato Čengić
1991 (38th)Festival cancelled.[A]

1992–present

Following the breakup of Yugoslavia which began in the early 1990s and the ensuing Croatian War of Independence, the festival was cancelled in 1991.[3] In 1992 it was re-launched as the Pula Film Festival (as opposed to the Festival of Yugoslav Film as it was known earlier).[4] Award categories and names were unchanged, but the selection was narrowed to Croatian films only, excluding films from the other five republics of Yugoslavia. This meant that the number of films eligible for awards fell sharply, which even led to the cancellation of the 1994 award ceremony, as only one Croatian feature film had been produced in the preceding 12 months.[5]

Year International title Original title Director (Wins)
1992 (39th) Story from Croatia Priča iz Hrvatske Krsto Papić (3)
1993 (40th) Countess Dora Kontesa Dora Zvonimir Berković
1994 (41st) National awards program cancelled.[B]
1995 (42nd) Washed Out Isprani Zrinko Ogresta
1996 (43rd) How the War Started on My Island Kako je počeo rat na mom otoku Vinko Brešan
1997 (44th) Mondo Bobo Mondo Bobo Goran Rušinović
1998 (45th) When the Dead Start Singing Kad mrtvi zapjevaju Krsto Papić (4)
1999 (46th) Madonna Bogorodica Neven Hitrec
2000 (47th) Marshal Tito's Spirit Maršal Vinko Brešan (2)
2001 (48th) Slow Surrender Polagana predaja Bruno Gamulin
2002 (49th) Fine Dead Girls Fine mrtve djevojke Dalibor Matanić
2003 (50th) Here Tu Zrinko Ogresta (2)
2004 (51st) Long Dark Night Duga mračna noć Antun Vrdoljak
2005 (52nd) What Iva Recorded Što je Iva snimila 21. listopada 2003. Tomislav Radić
2006 (53rd) All for Free Sve džaba Antonio Nuić
2007 (54th) The Living and the Dead Živi i mrtvi Kristijan Milić
2008 (55th) No One's Son Ničiji sin Arsen Anton Ostojić
2009 (56th) Metastases Metastaze Branko Schmidt
2010 (57th) Just Between Us Neka ostane među nama Rajko Grlić
2011 (58th) Kotlovina Kotlovina Tomislav Radić (2)
2012 (59th) A Letter to My Father Pismo ćaći Damir Čučić
2013 (60th) A Stranger Obrana i zaštita Bobo Jelčić
2014 (61st) Number 55 Broj 55 Kristijan Milić (2)
2015 (62nd) The High Sun Zvizdan Dalibor Matanić (2)
2016 (63rd) On the Other Side S one strane Zrinko Ogresta (3)
2017 (64th) A Brief Excursion Kratki izlet Igor Bezinović
2018 (65th) Mali Mali Antonio Nuić (2)
2019 (66th) The Diary of Diana B Dnevnik Diane Budisavljević Dana Budisavljević
2020 (67th) Tereza37 Tereza37 Danilo Šerbedžija
2021 (68th) A Blue Flower Plavi cvijet Zrinko Ogresta (4)
2022 (69th) The Staffroom Zbornica Sonja Tarokić
2023 (70th) Bigger than Trauma Veće od traume Vedrana Pribačić

Footnotes

A. ^ Although the festival opened on schedule on 26 July 1991 and a press screening of Zrinko Ogresta's film Fragments: Chronicle of a Vanishing was held, the festival board presided by Antun Vrdoljak decided to cancel the entire event in protest against the armed conflict in Slovenia and the escalating hostilities in Croatia. Nine Yugoslav-produced films were supposed to be screened in the national competition program.[3]
B. ^ : In 1994 the national competition program and the awards ceremony were cancelled as only one Croatian feature film had been made over the preceding 12 months (The Price of Life, directed by Bogdan Žižić). The festival was held in spite of this, and the usual screenings were replaced by a retrospective of films produced by the celebrated Zagreb School of Animated Film and a selection of documentaries, while the main program featured premieres of six American cinema releases.[5]

References

General
  • "Internet stranice proteklih festivala i arhivski podaci" (in Croatian). Pula Film Festival. Archived from the original on 10 July 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
Specific
  1. "28. Pulski filmski festival" (in Croatian). Pula Film Festival. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  2. "29. Pulski filmski festival" (in Croatian). Pula Film Festival. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  3. 1 2 "38. Pulski filmski festival" (in Croatian). Pula Film Festival. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  4. "Pula Film Festival: Overview". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
  5. 1 2 "41. Pulski filmski festival" (in Croatian). Pula Film Festival. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2010.
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