After a happy gathering in the forest park Golubinjak, where we learned about safety in the mountains in the company of Stipe Božić and the Croatian Mountain Rescue Service Delnice and enjoyed the movie Dhaulagiri Express, the first day of the program at the green hill of Petehovac kicks off today.

The first screening of the day awaits you at 13:30 at the Circus Fellini, Bingo: The King of the Mornings directed by Brazilian Daniel Rezende, known as the editor of Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life. Brazil’s Oscar contender for Best International Feature and based on true events, this unbridled comedy drama follows the crazy career rise of a porn star who finds unexpected television fame playing a blue-haired clown.

If you still don’t know which films to pick, join us at 14:30 at the relaxing CineChill area, where our festival selectors recommend their favourite films you shouldn’t miss and give you the scoop about the best entertainment to be had at the festival.

At 15:30, we are watching the music documentary Keith Richards – The Origin of the Species, the story of the rock icon told through the lens of the legendary documentary filmmaker Julien Temple, a guest at Cinehill and the winner of this year’s Maverick Award.

For those of you who missed the previous festival edition, last year’s Cinehill Propeller winner Falcon Lake directed by Charlotte Le Bon is screening at the White Cinema, at the same time.

Everyone planning on climbing up the hill only in the evening, we have also prepared screenings at the community centre Radnički dom in Delnice. At 16:30 today, a real treat is on the program – the exciting Cold War thriller Guardians of the Formula based on true events, about a group of young Yugoslav scientists mysteriously exposed to a lethal dose of radiation.

During the break between screenings, test your film knowledge in a quiz hosted with our all-knowing Morana Zibar. The quiz starts at 17:15 at CineChill, and in the case of increased interest, the event will move a few yards down the hill, to the Cinema on the Slope (Sanjkalište).

Today we are also showing the minority Croatian co-production When the Light Breaks, a film by Icelander Rúnar Rúnarsson, arriving on the back of Cannes, which tells the story of a love triangle in the aftermath of a tragic accident.

Lovers of the short format are in for a treat because we have also prepared a hand-picked selection of shorts, screening in the program Cinehill Shorts, which opens with the screening at 18:30 at Circus Fellini.

Contrary to popular belief, the most valuable things in life are free, and they include the magnificent vista visible from the top of Petehovac. At 19:00, enjoy it with a free tasting of the finest mountain brandies at our viewpoint, during the Toast with a View. The tasting takes place every day and you can take part by collecting a free coupon for a tasting glass at the festival ticket office. Holders of festival ticket bundles and individual tickets have priority for coupon collection, after which entry is free until full capacity.

After the wine, at 20:35 we light a bonfire with the festival’s guest of honour Stipe Božić, after which we need to rush to the festive festival opening at the beautiful open-air Cinema on the Slope (Sanjkalište). On the occasion, the opening titles are Dog on Trial by director and guest of the festival Laetitia Dosch, as well as one of the Croatian films of the year, Nebojša Slijepčević’s short The Man Who Could Not Remain Silent, which was awarded the Palme d’Or for Best Short at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

We end the day with top music entertainment at the Krešo Golik Square, with a concert by the popular group IDEM, after which the DJ duo Vlandara will keep you on your feet, and toes, until the early hours of the morning. Entrance is free of charge.