{"id":42277,"date":"2022-07-27T14:54:48","date_gmt":"2022-07-27T13:54:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/motovunfilmfestival.com\/new-edition-of-mff-opens-before-jubilant-audience\/"},"modified":"2022-07-27T14:54:49","modified_gmt":"2022-07-27T13:54:49","slug":"new-edition-of-mff-opens-before-jubilant-audience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cinehill.eu\/en\/new-edition-of-mff-opens-before-jubilant-audience\/","title":{"rendered":"New Edition of MFF Opens Before Jubilant Audience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Panah Panahi\u2019s Hit The Road<\/em> opens the festival before packed audience in Motovun\u2019s main square.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

Motovun Film Festival was officially opened last night, with joyful vibes and colorful soap bubbles that blew all the troubles away \u2013 if only for a short while.<\/p>\n\n

Against the backdrop of brilliant illustrations made on the screen live by the painter and festival chronicler (and also the author of this festival edition\u2019s visual identity) Danilo Du\u010dak<\/strong>, festival director Igor Mirkovi\u0107<\/strong> and festival programmer Milena Zajovi\u0107<\/strong> paid a moving tribute to some of the finest and bravest filmmakers of today.<\/p>\n\n

\u201cThis year we celebrate two exceptional film careers,\u201d said Igor Mirkovi\u0107 introducing the laureates of Motovun\u2019s honorary awards. Our 50 Years Award goes to Ranko Miti\u0107 Mito<\/strong>, assistant camera on hundreds of films. Motovun Maverick Award goes to Goran Markovi\u0107<\/strong>, \u201can author whose films have thrilled generations of viewers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n

Motovun Mayor Tomislav Pahovi\u0107 and Deputy Prefect of Istrian County Jessica Acquavita welcomed the audience with words of optimism, pointing out the healing power of watching movies together.<\/p>\n\n

The acclaimed Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov <\/strong>addressed the audience in a video. this long-time friend of the festival and a former prisoner of Russian regime sent his message directly from the trenches on the Donbas front line. He expressed his hope that he would soon have an opportunity to visit Croatia. He also thanked his European filmmaking family for their support and appealed to all to defend peace in Europe. Sentsov\u2019s latest film Rhino<\/em> will be shown in the main competition program of the festival. The film premiered in Venice, proving the strength and importance of art, something we desperately need in the hard times.<\/p>\n\n

At the opening night the organizers remembered another director – former member of the festival\u2019s \u201cexiled jury\u201d – recently arrested Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi. The opening film of the festival was Hit The Road<\/em><\/strong> by Panahi\u2019s son Panah Panahi, who could not get in touch due to the situation with his father. \u201cAll these messages that have reached us, as well as those that never came reflect the unprecedented times we live in,\u201d said Igor Mirkovi\u0107.<\/p>\n\n

Inviting the audience on a temporary getaway from the bitter reality, Milena Zajovi\u0107 reminded of the importance of imagination and films. She said: \u201cWith a difficult year behind us and, even more importantly, with the times of uncertainty ahead of us, it is more important than ever that we turn our Motovun Film Hill into a \u2018Cinema Paradiso\u2019 once again.\u201d Igor Mirkovi\u0107\u2019s words best summarized this year\u2019s message of love, unity and fight for positive goals: \u201cMotovun is 277 meters above sea level and we are 277 meters above reality. Let\u2019s join efforts to make each other\u2019s lives beautiful again.\u201d<\/p>\n