2025.
For the tenth consecutive year, Campus gathers young filmmakers from across the globe. The focus of this year’s Campus program is artificial intelligence, whose increasing presence in the creative field and in all spheres of life is unavoidable. In addition to a rich workshop program intended for participants, Campus also opens its doors to the public with a diverse film program. Through screenings of international student films, we present the film schools participating in the new edition of Campus.
STUDENT FILM PROGRAM
Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art, 66′
Essay, Narrative, Experiment: Forms of Documentary Film // The BA Video program teaches central aspects of filmmaking and focuses on the diverse forms and processes of documentary practice. In the course of their studies, students work through the entire production process: from finding ideas and doing research to scriptwriting, shooting, editing, and finally to film promotion and distribution. Technical skills, creative competence and theoretical knowledge are taught in a hands-on manner. In their own short film projects, students have the opportunity to practically apply, review, deepen, reinterpret and combine what they have learned. In an inspiring environment, students learn to question conventions, explore boundaries and establish their own positions.
FILMS:
- Offside – an Unequal Game Katja Stirnemann, 15′
- Heroine – Necessary Objects Liza Raheem, 14′
- Our Name Is Foreigner Selin Besili, 21′
- What We Could Not Say Noëmi Vollenweider, 16′
VERN University, Zagreb, 46′
VERN’s undergraduate study program Film, Television and Multimedia provides knowledge and professional training for handling and designing content in certain segments of the creative industries (film, television, multimedia platforms, computer games, advertising, etc.) that are based on creative audiovisual, multimedia and transmedia practices. Starting at sophomore year, the students make short fiction films under mentorship guidance and acquire applicable practical knowledge.
The postgraduate program in Film and Television Directing and Production provides knowledge and professional training for working in the field of direction and production by integrating knowledge from these areas, whilst providing all the elements necessary for a comprehensive understanding and implementation of the process of creating a film and television work.
FILMS:
- Mago, Dominik Čičak, 27′
- In the Shadow of Christmas, Goran Lovreščak, 15′
- Bangs, Dora Kvež, 4′
ECAL Ecole cantonale d’art de Lausanne, 62′
The Bachelor’s degree in cinema offers an introduction to the many different professions involved in filmmaking. Students are introduced to film writing, directing and acting, as well as shooting, sound, editing and post-production techniques, thanks to rigorous guidance from recognized professionals in all fields.
In addition, a wide variety of theoretical approaches and numerous masterclasses enable students to acquire the analytical tools they need to understand cinema and express their creativity.
Numerous interactions with the film and audiovisual industry, as well as exchanges with partner schools – notably La Fémis – facilitate access to the professional world. Students can then extend their training by pursuing a Master’s degree in Cinema at ECAL, or an equivalent program at another institution.
FILMS:
- Once There Was a Storm Camille Anker, 28′
- Mom Dances Mégane Brugge, 23′
- Who Goes Hunting… Lea Favre, 11′
Academy of Dramatic Art, Zagreb, 49′
The Academy of Dramatic Art is the oldest Croatian higher education institution devoted to drama pedagogy. Currently, the departments of Acting, Theatre Directing and Radiophony, Film and Television Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Dramaturgy, Production and Dance of the Academy of Dramatic Art offer nine undergraduate and seven graduate university study programs. In addition to regular courses, the Academy organises its own festivals and workshops, but also participates in numerous domestic and international events, playing a vital role on the scene of contemporary audiovisual and performing arts in Croatia.
FILMS:
- Komorebi Lucija Katarina Šešelj, 21′
- Dog of a Famous Person Jozo Schmuch, 19′
- 38.9°C Petar Lebinec, 9′
FAMU International, Prag, 52′
Famu International is the English-language department of the Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (FAMU). It offers international students a chance to study at one of the top film universities in Europe. It consists of several courses, including a semester abroad, 1-year intense study and a Master program in Directing cinema and digital media.
Directing Master is a program built on the system of mentor-led workshops providing small groups of students from all over the world an intensive hands-on guidance on how to transform a creative idea into a fully realized short film. Also offering a chance to work with 16mm and 35mm film stock.
FILMS:
- In The Waiting Room, Moatasem Taha, 13′
- The Gluttons, Joel Hukki, 13′
- Blue Boy, Nikulas Tumi Hlynsson, 13′
- Trick Director, Hanyi Li, 13′
FMK – Faculty of Media and Communications, Belgrade, 45′
The Faculty of Media and Communications is an independent educational institution founded in 2006 within the framework of Singidunum University – the first accredited private university in Serbia. At the Faculty, the students acquire knowledge in the fields of media and communications, digital arts, psychology, social work, politics and humanities. The curricula are crafted harnessing the experience of renowned professors and the new energy of young researchers. The result of such synergistic cooperation are innovative teaching methods and the continuous introduction of new courses (such as experiential groups in psychology and social work and game design in digital arts studies) in line with global trends in their respective disciplines. In the course of their studies, the FMK students attend obligatory internships, facilitated by the Faculty.
FILMS:
- Pera Doesn’t Know When His Wife Gave Birth, Let Alone a Hippo Teodora Arsić, 11`
- In the Mists Mina Jelić, 11’
- Where were you Bunny? Petar Djuraković, 23`
Faculty of Dramatic Arts, Belgrade (FDU)
FILM:
- Honey and Milk, Sara Marić, 12′
2024.
LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS
Creative and Poetic Filmmaking in Three Days
Mentor: Dr. Hamed Soleimanzadeh
WORKSHOP
This dynamic and imaginative workshop which starts with finding the differences between the terms “To Watch”, “To Look”, and “To See”, emphasizing the nuanced ways we perceive visual media and cinema. Second day continues with engaging in a hands-on exercise using colorful cards (white, yellow, and blue) to brainstorm and write information for a one-minute scene idea. The participants will decoupage the scene and spend one day shooting it. On the third day, the group will watch and analyse the shoots together with the mentor, focusing on their creative and poetic elements. Then we will delve into the significance of visual symbolism and how it can be used to convey deeper meanings in film. Participants will learn how to create a storyboard to plan their scenes effectively. There will be a collaborative session where students critique each other’s work constructively. By the end of the workshop, students will not only have a completed short scene but also a richer understanding of the poetic aspects of filmmaking.
From One Sentence to a Successful Project
Mentor: Robert Zuber
WORKSHOP
What if one sentence could help your project? Even just one word? It seems superficial, but a good Pitch can open doors you never dared dream of. Because contacts are made, which seems impossible to achieve. The goal of a good Pitch is not always the prize, which is certainly welcome, but a channel that allows your project to be talked about. We will try to find the start of a good project presentation at this workshop.
Robert Tomić Zuber was born in Pula in 1976. He holds a diploma in sociology and has worked for the past twenty years as a journalist and editor in the Croatian press, on radio and on television, as well as working for international media like the BBC. He has received two awards from the Croatian Journalists’ Association for his work. Over the past decade he has directed four long feature documentaries. „At the Station in Pula“ (2001.) , „Accidental Son“ (2008.), “Mila seeking Senida” (2010.) (awarded by Human Rights Award at Sarajevo Film Festival”), “Million dollar life” (2017.). For three years from 2013.-2016. he was a Head of Documentary Production of Croatian national television. Today he is a freelancer, and owner of a production house “TOROlab.”, and lecturer at Zagreb’s faculty of Vern’. He is founder and director of RAFF – Rab Film Festival in Croatia.
Creative Europe – What’s in It for Me
Lecturers: Aneta Stoper, Andrea Čović Vidović
LECTURE
Where and how can young authors find different programs and support funds that will help them develop their projects – Anera Stopfer from the Croatian Ministry of Culture and Media and Andrea Čović Vidović from the Representation of the European Commission in Croatia have the answers.
They will talk about the cultural programs through which the EU supports young artists, with a special emphasis on the Culture Moves Europe program, which enables artists and culture professionals to realise residencies and residential stays. The lecture will give the participants a better insight into the possibilities offered by the programs funded by the European Union and the European Commission.
The Magic of Film Music
Lecturec: Ozren K. Glaser
LECTURE
Ozren K. Glaser is a music composer for film, theatre, popular music, and all other media. He will give a talk for the Campus participants about the importance of music for the overall audiovisual work, about the approach to choosing music and defining creative ideas, as well as about the creative collaboration between the composer and the director.
Ozren has collaborated with numerous artists around the world, including Oscar and Grammy winners. He has released three film soundtracks and one album of music from musicals, as well as composing around 400 compositions for various instruments, orchestra and choir. In 2013, he founded the International Sound & Film Music Festival (ISFMF), of which he is the artistic director and producer. He is a member of the Croatian Composers’ Society (HDS) and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, as well as a member of the International Press Academy and its voting committee of the Satellite Awards, and the committee of the Online Film & Television Association.
DEBATE CLUB WITH JURICA PAVIČIĆ
The Debate Club has been part of the festival’s daily program for years. It is a daily discussion session in which guests and visitors, moderated by critics and film professionals, discuss the titles screening at the festival. Every year, the Debate Club is hosted by film critic, writer and journalist Jurica Pavičić, with the support of another colleague from the profession. Since the launch of the Campus, the Debate Club has naturally become a part of that program, while workshop participants join in the discussion every day during the festival.
Jurica Pavičić is a film critic and columnist for various newspapers. He made his fiction debut with the novel Plaster Sheep, which was made into a film directed by Vinko Brešan. The novels A Sunday Friend, Minute 88, Her Mother’s House, etc. followed, as well as the short story collections Boat in a Courtyard and The Snake Collector, while an award-winning crime miniseries directed by Zvonimir Jurić was based on the story of Highway Patrol. The novel Red Water won numerous domestic awards and was widely popular in France, where it won awards for best foreign crime novel and best crime novel by a European author in 2021. Pavičić is also one of the selectors of Cinehill’s Main Program.
STUDENTSKI FILMSKI PROGRAM
Academy of Dramatic Art (ADU) / Zagreb
Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb is Croatia’s oldest institution of higher learning where dramatic art is taught. Currently, the Academy offers nine undergraduate and seven graduate study programs in the following departments: Acting, Theater and Radio Directing, Film and TV Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Dramaturgy, Production, and Dance. Academy also organizes its own festivals and workshops and participates in various national and international events. It has a very important role on the contemporary audiovisual and performing arts scene in Croatia.
FILMS:
Carpe Diem, Filip Dizdar 1 (igrani), 2023., 19′
Pop snappers, Matej Matijević 14’53 (igrani), 2023., 15′
Pero, Sara Alavanić 15′ (doku), 2023., 15′
Sleep study, David Gašo 8’46 (eksperimentalni, animirani). 2023., 9′
VERN University
VERN’s undergraduate study program Film, Television and Multimedia trains and prepares future experts for work in specific segments of creative industries (film, television, multimedia platforms, computer games, advertising…) based on creative audiovisual, multimedia and transmedia practices. As early as in the second year of their studies, students make short feature films and acquire practical skills supported by their mentors. The post-graduate study of Film and Television Directing and Production educates and trains for working in the field of directing and production by combining knowledge from these areas, while providing all the elements for a comprehensive understanding and implementation of the process of creating a film or television work.
FILMS:
So do I, Antonio David Perina, 2023., 16′
Shadows of crime, Goran Lovreščak, 2024., 16′
Vodyanoy, Nika Ivanić, 2023., 13′
SAE Institut Belgrade
SAE Belgrade offers a globally-recognised BA/BSc (Hons) degree. Students will create a portfolio that
includes short videos, advertising, music videos, feature productions and documentaries in a two-year fast-track degree program that corresponds to a full three-year Bachelor syllabus. The curriculum is based on applied production techniques, but also includes all parts of the production process.
FILMS:
Anna Kassay, Mari, 2023, 25’
Jana Otković, Overflow/ Sisters, 2023, 8’30”
Screen Academy Scotland (Edinburgh Napier University)
Screen Academy Scotland is part of the Edinburgh Napier University, while their four-year film studies program offers a series of practical courses that provide participants with the basic knowledge and technical skills needed to work in the profession, and for further study. Unlike European film schools, SA is not divided into departments, but rather the comprehensive program of the first two years encourages students to learn the basics of all film disciplines and try out various roles on and off the set. During the third and fourth year, students are divided into the departments of directing, production, dramaturgy, editing, recording, sound design, costume design, and production design, but despite this, they may choose and combine up to three disciplines within the same degree. The emphasis is on the practical curriculum, but students are also expected to satisfy the theoretical level, which ensures a broader insight into all the areas of filmmaking.
FILMS:
Oh, Dad, 2024, Natalia Baczynski, 12’
Mother, 2024, James Fox, 14’
Tim, Sean, Mira, Mars, 2024, Robbie Smith, 13’
Berlin University of the Arts (UdK) / Berlin
Situated in Berlin, Germany, UdK is the largest art school in Europe. It is a public art and design school, and one of the four research universities in the city. The university is known for being one of the biggest and most diversified universities of the arts worldwide. It has four colleges specialising in fine arts, architecture, media and design, music and the performing arts. Within the field of visual arts, the university is known for the intense competition that involves the selection of its students, and the growth of applicants worldwide has increased during the years due to Berlin’s important current role in cultural innovation worldwide.
FILMS:
A Normal Person, red. Arezo Saleh, 2022., 5 ‘
The Cross, Eleni Magerstädt and Laszlo Koval, 2022., 3 ‘
Places I have been with her, Johanna Beck, Edlin Jap 2022., 3′
STIFF – Student International Film Festival
The Student International Film Festival (STIFF) is the first Croatian international festival dedicated exclusively to student and debut films. It is produced by the Student Cultural Centre of the University of Rijeka and the association Filmaktiv, and aims to present the world’s best student works. Over the course of 10 years, more than 500 fiction, documentary, animated and experimental films from all over the world have been shown at the festival. By providing an insight into the works of fellow filmmakers, the aim of this event is to encourage the exchange of ideas and cross-border cooperation in the field of film, video and animation. Admission to the screenings is free, with the aim of introducing the widest possible audience to exceptionally high-quality student films from around the world.
FILMS:
The Disappearance Of Tom R., Paul Sirague 19′, Belgija, 2020.
INSAS – Atelier de Realisation
The Elusive, Ely Chevillot 17′, Belgija, 2016.
Institut des Arts de Diffusion, Louvain-la Neuve, Belgium
Light Years, Monika Proba, 28′, Poljska, 2021.
Munk Studio – Polish Filmmakers Association
Pussy, Renata Gasiorowska 8′, Poljska, 2016.
Polish National Film School in Lodz
Fragile, Tomislav Šoban 23′, Hrvatska, 2019.
Akademija dramske umjetnosti, Zagreb
2023.
CDFG Campus – realised with the support of the Croatian Film Director’s Guild (CDFG) – is an educational program for students taking place during the festival. It includes workshops and film screenings. This 8th edition of Campus offers two workshops examining the tools and techniques of the trade that every young filmmaker should acquire and a number of interesting lectures by top film professionals. Like every year, Campus will showcase film schools from the region and beyond, and screen films made by their students.
LECTURES AND WORKSHOPS
Case Study: VideoBox or how to make a series for zero euros
The case study will explore how to make a zero-cost series and explain why we embarked on this endeavour. We’ll discuss the process of coming up with the idea for the series, the making of individual episodes and the writing process. We will also touch upon the future of series; for example, is it possible for a nobudget series to show up on Croatian small screens? Is there an audience interested in youth content created by young people? How important are social networks for promotion and creating visibility? How to start a profile with zero followers? We will also look at the actual television audience in Croatia and the key components for attracting a young audience. We will also touch on the topic of absolute no-budget production, in which people participate solely for their love of film. Participants will be able to find answers to these and many other questions and discuss the future of these new forms with series creators Marko Bičanić, Karlo Vorih, David Bakarić and Ivor Lapić.
MASTERCLASS NEVIO MARASOVIĆ: How to make a big film with a small budget?
Nevio Marasović will share with the participants of the CDFG Campus his experience in shooting the low-budget feature film Vis-À-Vis, which cost less than five thousand euros, won a number of major international awards, and was named one of the three best European films of 2013 by the prestigious film magazine Cineuropa.
Nevio Marasović graduated in directing from the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb. His feature debut The Show Must Go On won a number of awards at the Pula Film Festival including the Breza Award for Best Debutant and the Oktavijan critics’ award for best film. Famous for directing the films Vis-À-Vis, Goran and Comic Sans, he also shot and directed the comedy series The Instructor.
MASTERCLASS TOMISLAV PAVLIC: The art of the trailer
Movie trailers are a challenging format because they need to present the content and the aesthetics of the film to potential audiences to get them interested in it, in a short timeframe of one to two minutes. Film editor Tomislav Pavlic will talk about his experience of working on trailers, and in a conversation with students analyse their structure and the way they communicate an idea, emotion and message of the film.
Tomislav Pavlic graduated in film editing from the Academy of Dramatic Art in Zagreb. His filmography includes about thirty feature films and several shorts and TV series. His work has received five Golden Arenas at the Pula Film Festival and two awards at Croatian Film Days. He is the vice-president of the Croatian Film Editors’ Association and a member of the European Film Academy.
WORKSHOP: Old-school shooting effects in contemporary film: Miniatures, forced perspective, sfx
This two-day filmmaking workshop is an opportunity for young filmmakers to discover the secrets of achieving a “Hollywood look” on a budget. The first day includes a presentation of works and the screening of films, along with practical exercises on using in-camera effects, back projection, lighting and textures. On the second day, we focus on the theory of shooting mock-ups, analyse frames and final composites, and do a practical shoot of test shots. Both days include screenings of the films Slice of Life and Splashback accompanied by making-of materials and the practical application of the tricks used in these films. The workshop is ideal for everyone wanting to expand their knowledge of film production and achieve high-quality results with limited resources.
Slice of Life is a short sci-fi thriller created by Dino Julius and Luka Hrgović. It wowed viewers with its dystopian visuals, dialogue-free narrative, and use of miniatures and models in place of big-budget effects. Splashback is set at NASA during the first moon landing. The story follows a depressed warehouse supervisor, George Losser, who comes up with the world’s first urinal screen.
Dino Julius worked on more than 300 domestic and international advertising projects and directed and wrote several short films. The film Slice of Life – which he co-directed with Luka Hrgović – won numerous awards at prestigious film festivals.
Luka Hrgović graduated in 2011 from the Academy of Fine Arts in Zagreb, Department of Animated Film and New Media. He directs, does visual effects and post-production on commercials, music videos and films.
DEBATE CLUB WITH JURICA PAVIČIĆ
The Debate Club has been part of the festival’s daily program for years. It is a daily discussion session in which guests and visitors, moderated by critics and film professionals, discuss the titles screening at the festival. Every year, the Debate Club is hosted by film critic, writer and journalist Jurica Pavičić, with the support of another colleague from the profession. Since the launch of the Campus, the Debate Club has naturally become a part of that program, while workshop participants join in the discussion every day during the festival.
Jurica Pavičić is a film critic and columnist for various newspapers. He made his fiction debut with the novel Plaster Sheep, which was made into a film directed by Vinko Brešan. The novels A Sunday Friend, Minute 88, Her Mother’s House, etc. followed, as well as the short story collections Boat in a Courtyard and The Snake Collector, while an award-winning crime miniseries directed by Zvonimir Jurić was based on the story of Highway Patrol. The novel Red Water won numerous domestic awards and was widely popular in France, where it won awards for best foreign crime novel and best crime novel by a European author in 2021. Pavičić is also one of the selectors of Cinehill’s Main Program.
PRESENTATION OF FILM SCHOOLS
THE ACADEMY OF DRAMATIC ART, ZAGREB
My Nikola, Martina Marasović (22’)
Aleksandar, Vida Skerk (29’)
TOI WHAKAARI: NEW ZEALAND DRAMA SCHOOL, WELLINGTON
La Petite Mort, Louis Sutherland (11’)
The Manifesto, Louis Sutherland (6’)
The Usher, Louis Sutherland (11’)
Orbit, Charley Draper (6’)
Marching, James Ashcroft, Hayley Sproull (14’)
VERN UNIVERSITY, ZAGREB
A Rock and a Hard Place, Korina Husnjak (R.), Dora Kvež (P.) (17’)
Nemo in Search of His Parents, Max Kostelac (R.), Matej Lesi (P.) (18’)
Motels and Other Things, Patrizija Karadjole (R.), Nikolina Tucman (P.) (17’)
FACULTY OF DRAMATIC ARTS (FDU), BELGRADE
This World Alone, Petar Lakić (11’)
Postcards to My Mother, Maya Janković (12’)
Mammoth, Đorđije Petrović (19’)
Just Like You, Neda Živanović (13’)
UMJETNIČKA AKADEMIJA U SPLITU (UMAS)
Roommate, Jadran Parunov (24’)
Incubus, Tomislav Miletić Rottoloni (9’)
Nature and Society, Julio Juraga (10’)
ACADEMY OF THEATRE, RADIO, FILM AND TELEVISION (AGRFT), LJUBLJANA
Jogi and a Box, Aron Horvath (18’)
Ottawa, Lana Bregar (15’)
And the Night Remained, Anže Grčar (9’)
Ines, Alen Rivić (18’)
2022.
2021.
2020.
2019.
2018.
2017.
2016.
