Big Golden Arena for Best Film
by roxen_96 | created - 22 Oct 2019 | updated - 22 Oct 2019 | PublicThis award is given at the Pula Film Festival, held annually in the Croatian city of Pula from 1955, to the best Croatian film in competition (until 1991, it was awarded to the best Yugoslav film in competition).
*Non-consecutive years are listed in notes, as well as multiple winners.
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1. Moments of Decision (1955)
101 min | Drama, War
A story set in a Slovenian town during WW2. The White Guardists bring a wounded partisan to doctor Koren, but he kills their lieutenant, thus helping them both to escape.
Director: Frantisek Cáp | Stars: Stane Sever, Julka Staric, Stane Potokar, Nezka Gorjup
Votes: 42
1955
2. Pop Cira i pop Spira (1957)
82 min | Comedy, Romance
Life of the village elite, the two priest families, goes quietly in mutual understanding and friendship. The discord is inserted when a young teacher is able to marry the daughter of only ... See full summary »
Director: Soja Jovanovic | Stars: Ljubinka Bobic, Nevenka Mikulic, Jovan Gec, Milan Ajvaz
Votes: 234
1957
3. H-8... (1958)
105 min | Drama, Thriller
A bus and a truck are destined to collide with each other on a highway. Their passengers go on about their lives without knowing what will happen.
Director: Nikola Tanhofer | Stars: Boris Buzancic, Djurdja Ivezic, Antun Vrdoljak, Vanja Drach
Votes: 1,691
4. Vlak bez voznog reda (1959)
121 min | Drama
The story about colonization of poor Dalmatian peasants to the fertile Pannonian plain shortly after WWII.
Director: Veljko Bulajic | Stars: Olivera Markovic, Lia Rho-Barbieri, Inge Ilin, Ljiljana Vajler
Votes: 169
5. The Ninth Circle (1960)
107 min | Drama, Romance, War
In order to save Jewish girl from the Nazis and their colaborators, Croatian family arranges her to be wed to their young son. Young man is displeased with sudden end to his careless youth ... See full summary »
Director: France Stiglic | Stars: Dusica Zegarac, Boris Dvornik, Branko Tatic, Ervina Dragman
Votes: 572
6. Balada o trobenti in oblaku (1961)
80 min | Drama, War
Temnikar's family prepares for the Christmas, but to him, it's the time of dark premonitions and anxiety. In the mountain cave, hidden by snow, the wounded partisans are hiding, and ... See full summary »
Director: France Stiglic | Stars: Lojze Potokar, Angelca Hlebce, Marija Lojk, Branko Miklavc
Votes: 65
1961
7. Boom Town (1961)
114 min | Drama
Farmers and their families, engineers, technicians, criminals and prostitutes were acquired on the construction of industrial facilities in Zenica. Siba tries to help them, working with ... See full summary »
Director: Veljko Bulajic | Stars: Ilija Dzuvalekovski, Velimir 'Bata' Zivojinovic, Dragomir Felba, Janez Vrhovec
Votes: 63
1961
8. Kozara (1962)
124 min | Drama, War
The struggle of the Yugoslav partisans against the Germans.
Director: Veljko Bulajic | Stars: Bert Sotlar, Velimir 'Bata' Zivojinovic, Milena Dravic, Olivera Markovic
Votes: 797
9. Licem u lice (1963)
99 min | Drama
This movie, one of the first who spoke of Yugoslav socio-political system with some criticism, is set in one company. On the routine workers' council meeting a few brave workers stand against a corrupt manager.
Director: Branko Bauer | Stars: Ilija Dzuvalekovski, Husein Cokic, Vladimir Popovic, Tomanija Djuricko
Votes: 111
10. Sluzbeni polozaj (1964)
98 min | Drama
The managers of a textile enterprise use various scams to obtain all kinds of personal benefits, until the machinations exposed.
Director: Fadil Hadzic | Stars: Uros Kravljaca, Vojislav Miric, Olivera Markovic, Milena Dravic
Votes: 69
11. Prometej s otoka Visevice (1964)
92 min | Drama
A middle-aged manager of a big-scale company pays visit to his native island with his wife, in order to attend ceremony of unveiling a memorial plaque dedicated to local partisan heroes. ... See full summary »
Director: Vatroslav Mimica | Stars: Janez Vrhovec, Mira Sardoc, Slobodan Dimitrijevic, Dina Rutic
Votes: 122
1965
12. Three (1965)
80 min | Drama, War
Three stories are set at the beginning, middle and the end of WW2. In all three of them the hero of the movie must witness the death of people he likes.
Director: Aleksandar Petrovic | Stars: Velimir 'Bata' Zivojinovic, Ali Raner, Slobodan 'Cica' Perovic, Branislav 'Ciga' Jerinic
Votes: 979
1965
13. Ponedjeljak ili utorak (1966)
84 min | Drama
A divorced journalist Marko Pozgaj starts his working day by taking his son to the school. During the day many thoughts and images pass through his mind - the memories of childhood, ex-wife... See full summary »
Director: Vatroslav Mimica | Stars: Slobodan Dimitrijevic, Pavle Vuisic, Gizela Huml, Fabijan Sovagovic
Votes: 159
14. I Even Met Happy Gypsies (1967)
94 min | Drama
Tensions arise in a Gypsy community when a local feather seller falls in love with a much younger girl.
Director: Aleksandar Petrovic | Stars: Bekim Fehmiu, Olivera Katarina, Velimir 'Bata' Zivojinovic, Mija Aleksic
Votes: 2,603
15. When I Am Dead and Gone (1967)
79 min | Drama, Music
The story about Jimmy the Dingy, a young vagabond who works as a seasonal worker. Having been sacked from the job, his dreams are to become a singer. As most of the things in the Balkans happen, he is destined to failure.
Director: Zivojin Pavlovic | Stars: Dragan Nikolic, Ruzica Sokic, Neda Spasojevic, Dara Calenic
Votes: 1,453
16. Downstream from the Sun (1969)
95 min | Drama, Romance
Young teacher first experience in their profession acquired in a remote mountain village, which has no school building. Life of a farmer, a clash between two warring race, then the conflict... See full summary »
Director: Fedor Skubonja | Stars: Dragomir Bojanic-Gidra, Dina Rutic, Aleksandar Gavric, Jovan Janicijevic-Burdus
Votes: 69
17. Handcuffs (1970)
80 min | Drama
Small village in mountains of Dalmatinska Zagora is under total control of Andrija, local Party official. One day two members of secret police come to the village and everybody knows they ... See full summary »
Director: Krsto Papic | Stars: Fabijan Sovagovic, Adem Cejvan, Jagoda Kaloper, Ilija Ivezic
Votes: 413
18. Rdece klasje (1970)
85 min | Drama
An ex-partisan and current political activist sets out to Styria region in Slovenia to buy out the wheat from peasants and convince them to form the farming collective. His ostensible ... See full summary »
Director: Zivojin Pavlovic | Stars: Rade Serbedzija, Majda Potokar, Majda Grbac, Irena Glonar
Votes: 133
19. The Master and Margaret (1972)
95 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
A writer and his assistant are working on a biblical story about Pontius Pilate who convicted Jesus of Nazereth, while the Satan (here called Woland) and his lieutenants are harassing the writer duo in various ways.
Director: Aleksandar Petrovic | Stars: Ugo Tognazzi, Mimsy Farmer, Alain Cuny, Velimir 'Bata' Zivojinovic
Votes: 790
20. The Battle of Sutjeska (1973)
PG | 130 min | War
In 1943, 20,000 Yugoslav partisans led by Tito find themselves encircled by 120,000 well-armed Axis troops in the mountains of Bosnia and must break out of encirclement.
Director: Stipe Delic | Stars: Richard Burton, Ljuba Tadic, Velimir 'Bata' Zivojinovic, Irene Papas
Votes: 1,836
21. Guns of War (1974)
170 min | Drama, War
Uzice Republic, also known as the "first offensive" is a story about Serbia in 1941 and monitors the emergence and decline of the Uzice Republic. A few months after the German Wehrmacht ... See full summary »
Director: Zivorad 'Zika' Mitrovic | Stars: Boris Buzancic, Bozidarka Frajt, Marko Todorovic, Branko Milicevic
Votes: 516
22. The House (I) (1975)
91 min | Drama
The manager of an export-import company meets a young girl who claims that her parents have been taken their house away after WW2. After finding out this to be true, he offers to marry her ... See full summary »
Director: Bogdan Zizic | Stars: Fabijan Sovagovic, Jagoda Kaloper, Rade Markovic, Ana Karic
Votes: 75
23. Idealist (1976)
122 min | Drama
Screen Adaptation of a classic socio-critical novel.
Director: Igor Pretnar | Stars: Radko Polic, Milena Zupancic, Dare Ulaga, Stevo Zigon
Votes: 96
24. Don't Lean Out the Window (1977)
103 min | Drama
Encouraged by the stories of guest workers who pay visit to their homeland, a young man Filip finds himself on a central station in Frankfurt on the Main, Germany. While looking for his old... See full summary »
Director: Bogdan Zizic | Stars: Ivo Gregurevic, Fabijan Sovagovic, Mira Banjac, Jadranka Stilin
Votes: 114
25. Occupation in 26 Pictures (1978)
116 min | Drama, Romance, War
Three young men - a Croat, an Italian, and a Jew - are the best of friends in pre-World War II Dubrovnik. When their country is occupied by Germans and their cronies, the idyllic city ... See full summary »
Director: Lordan Zafranovic | Stars: Frano Lasic, Milan Strljic, Tanja Poberznik, Boris Kralj
Votes: 1,040
26. Usijanje (1979)
94 min | Drama, War
Small village farmers grow tobacco which they are forced to sell to the government for next-to-nothing prices. This repeats with Italians during the WW2, and with the communists after the war. Boiling point is getting high.
Director: Boro Draskovic | Stars: Dragan Maksimovic, Rade Serbedzija, Gordana Kosanovic, Ivo Gregurevic
Votes: 73
27. Petrijin venac (1980)
99 min | Drama, Romance, War
This film takes place in a small mining town in Serbia within a time span covering the prewar, war, and postwar periods. "Petria's wreath" is a story about the tragic life of an illiterate ... See full summary »
Director: Srdjan Karanovic | Stars: Mirjana Karanovic, Dragan Maksimovic, Pavle Vuisic, Marko Nikolic
Votes: 867
28. The Fall of Italy (1981)
114 min | Drama, History, Romance
A partisan commander must shoot one of his comrades because he had neglected the struggle and turned to a life of lust and vice. When Italy capitulates in September of 1943 and the war ... See full summary »
Director: Lordan Zafranovic | Stars: Daniel Olbrychski, Ena Begovic, Gorica Popovic, Mirjana Karanovic
Votes: 333
1981
29. Zadah tela (1983)
99 min | Drama
Man due to misunderstanding and hardslife, divorce with his wife and left the city. It comes in a new environment, meeting new people and new wife. Crucified between two worlds, does ... See full summary »
Director: Zivojin Pavlovic | Stars: Dusan Janicijevic, Rade Serbedzija, Metka Franko, Ljiljana Medjesi
Votes: 152
1983
30. Balkan Spy (1984)
95 min | Comedy, Drama
Convinced that his subtenant is a spy and an enemy of the state, a man falls into deep paranoia which leads to absurd and destructive chain of events.
Directors: Dusan Kovacevic, Bozidar 'Bota' Nikolic | Stars: Danilo 'Bata' Stojkovic, Bora Todorovic, Mira Banjac, Sonja Savic
Votes: 12,405
31. When Father Was Away on Business (1985)
R | 136 min | Drama
A family is deeply affected by the father's extramarital affairs and the turbulent consequences of the Tito-Stalin split.
Director: Emir Kusturica | Stars: Moreno De Bartoli, Predrag 'Miki' Manojlovic, Mirjana Karanovic, Mustafa Nadarevic
Votes: 10,089 | Gross: $0.02M
32. Happy New Year (1986)
125 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
The story of two brothers of different orientation and fate. The drama takes place in an atmosphere of tension and fear, during the conflict of Yugoslav Communist Party with the Stalinism, ... See full summary »
Director: Stole Popov | Stars: Svetozar Cvetkovic, Meto Jovanovski, Vladislava Milosavljevic, Aco Djorcev
Votes: 279
33. Reflections (1987)
102 min | Drama, Horror, Romance
Piano teacher is deeply traumatised by the events of his childhood, as well as by political oppression in his youth. Decades later, all those traumas lead to carnage.
Director: Goran Markovic | Stars: Mustafa Nadarevic, Anica Dobra, Milorad Mandic-Manda, Bogdan Diklic
Votes: 1,314
34. Zivot sa stricem (1988)
116 min | Drama
It's the end of the 1980s, and Martin is being asked from his dying uncle Stipan to bury him with the presence of priest. Martin remembers the way they lost the contact in 1951 - Stipan ... See full summary »
Director: Krsto Papic | Stars: Davor Janjic, Alma Prica, Miodrag Krivokapic, Branislav Lecic
Votes: 344
35. The Meeting Point (1989)
98 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
During the excavation of ancient Roman ruins, an old archaeology professor accidentally opens the gate between our world and the world of the dead.
Director: Goran Markovic | Stars: Rade Markovic, Bogdan Diklic, Dragan Nikolic, Olivera Markovic
Votes: 3,365
36. Silent Gunpowder (1990)
116 min | Drama, War
When traditional Serbian populated village in Bosnia gets in the middle of two ideologies during World War II, two groups, communist and monarchist fight over the destiny of its population among each other.
Director: Bahrudin 'Bato' Cengic | Stars: Mustafa Nadarevic, Branislav Lecic, Fabijan Sovagovic, Mira Furlan
Votes: 451
1990
37. Prica iz Hrvatske (1991)
95 min | Drama
After the breaking of mass movements in 1971., the student Ilija Baric must leave the country because of his political beliefs, and his father Luka lost a job and goes to work to Germany. ... See full summary »
Director: Krsto Papic | Stars: Ivo Gregurevic, Mustafa Nadarevic, Dragan Despot, Zoja Odak
Votes: 446
1992
38. Kontesa Dora (1993)
117 min | Biography, Drama, History
A pseudo biography of Dora Pejacevic (10 September 1885 - 5 March 1923), a Croatian composer.
Director: Zvonimir Berkovic | Stars: Alma Prica, Rade Serbedzija, Irina Alfyorova, Relja Basic
Votes: 105
1993
39. Washed Out (1995)
87 min | Drama, Romance
Jagoda is young woman who lives in poor section of Zagreb together with her disfunctional family. Mother is dying, father cares only about fishing, brother is an alcoholic and uncle is a ... See full summary »
Director: Zrinko Ogresta | Stars: Katarina Bistrovic-Darvas, Filip Sovagovic, Josip Kuchan, Mustafa Nadarevic
Votes: 227
1995
40. How the War Started on My Island (1996)
97 min | Comedy, Drama, War
Although being one of the first movies to take humoristic approach towards violent break-up of Yugoslavia, this motion picture is partly based on real events that took place in September of... See full summary »
Director: Vinko Bresan | Stars: Vlatko Dulic, Ljubomir Kerekes, Ivan Brkic, Predrag 'Predjo' Vusovic
Votes: 2,919
41. Mondo Bobo (1997)
80 min | Crime, Drama
A young man is forced to shoot a few thugs in self defence. Following the advice of his lawyer, he surrenders to the police and ends up in a mental institution. From there he escapes but his path soon becomes littered with corpses.
Director: Goran Rusinovic | Stars: Sven Medvesek, Natasa Dorcic, Svebor Kranjc, Lucija Serbedzija
Votes: 160
42. Kad mrtvi zapjevaju (1998)
99 min | Comedy, Drama, War
At the beginning of 1990s, two Croatian emigrants, economically minded Cinco and politically minded Marinko, arrive in Croatia from Germany, homesick for their families and hometowns. In ... See full summary »
Director: Krsto Papic | Stars: Ivo Gregurevic, Ivica Vidovic, Mirjana Majurec, Ksenija Pajic
Votes: 1,170
43. Bogorodica (1999)
85 min | Drama, War
In a small Croatian village in 1991, a carpenter Kuzma falls for much younger Ana. In spite of their surroundings' opposition towards their relationship, the couple marries and Ana gives ... See full summary »
Director: Neven Hitrec | Stars: Ljubomir Kerekes, Lucija Serbedzija, Ivo Gregurevic, Goran Navojec
Votes: 313
44. Marsal (1999)
97 min | Comedy
Stipan is a policeman who comes to small Adriatic island off the Croatian coast in order to investigate reported strange phenomena that had frightened the whole population. At first, nobody... See full summary »
Director: Vinko Bresan | Stars: Drazen Kuhn, Linda Begonja, Ilija Ivezic, Ivo Gregurevic
Votes: 2,004
45. Polagana predaja (2001)
90 min
Petar Gorjan is a 40-year-old successful propagandist and cynical strategist of consumerist society that is faced with family and identity crisis. He embarks on a journey from Zagreb to ... See full summary »
Director: Bruno Gamulin | Stars: Filip Sovagovic, Sven Medvesek, Lucija Serbedzija, Anja Sovagovic-Despot
Votes: 59
46. Fine mrtve djevojke (2002)
Not Rated | 77 min | Drama, Thriller
A lesbian couple rents an apartment in a seemingly normal building which happens to be populated with all kinds of freaks. Initially kind but unaware of their secret, a landlady tries to ... See full summary »
Director: Dalibor Matanic | Stars: Olga Pakalovic, Nina Violic, Kresimir Mikic, Inge Appelt
Votes: 2,450
47. Tu (2003)
90 min | Drama
A panoramic view over society across ten unfortunate characters whose stories sometimes intertwine.
Director: Zrinko Ogresta | Stars: Jasmin Telalovic, Marija Tadic, Zlatko Crnkovic, Ivo Gregurevic
Votes: 438
48. Duga mracna noc (2004)
200 min | Drama, War
The film follows the life of fictional character Iva Kolar, including his experience as a Croatian university student, his role as a partisan fighting German troops, and his involvement in his nation's post-WW2 government.
Director: Antun Vrdoljak | Stars: Goran Visnjic, Mustafa Nadarevic, Ivo Gregurevic, Goran Navojec
Votes: 1,150
49. Sto je Iva snimila 21. listopada 2003. (2005)
Not Rated | 92 min | Drama
Iva is a girl who receives a small digital video camera for her fourteenth birthday. Delighted by her new toy, the girl immediately starts taping everything around her, recording a series ... See full summary »
Director: Tomislav Radic | Stars: Anja Sovagovic-Despot, Ivo Gregurevic, Boris Svrtan, Masha Mati Prodan
Votes: 534
50. Sve dzaba (2006)
Not Rated | 94 min | Comedy, Drama
Goran is 30, living in a small Bosnian town. Unlike his friends, whose lives have been seriously altered by war (his best friend Miro lost both his arms in the war), Goran got away from it ... See full summary »
Director: Antonio Nuic | Stars: Rakan Rushaidat, Bojan Navojec, Franjo Dijak, Enis Beslagic
Votes: 535
51. Zivi i mrtvi (2007)
87 min | Fantasy, War, Horror
In 1943, group of Croatian soldiers overtake a strategically important point in western Bosnia with a goal to destroy a group of communist partisans. On the way they met some supernatural ... See full summary »
Director: Kristijan Milic | Stars: Filip Sovagovic, Velibor Topic, Slaven Knezovic, Marinko Prga
Votes: 996
52. Niciji sin (2008)
100 min | Crime, Drama
Ivan, a 36-year old ex-rock singer and a disillusioned war veteran who lost both legs in the recent Croatian Homeland War, discovers a dark family secret, which fundamentally changes his life he now wants to end.
Director: Arsen A. Ostojic | Stars: Alen Liveric, Mustafa Nadarevic, Biserka Ipsa, Zdenko Jelcic
Votes: 1,094
53. Metastases (2009)
82 min | Crime, Drama, Sport
Four friends from the neighborhood grapple with maintaining their relationships amid the challenges of alcohol, drugs, hooliganism, crime, and the shadows of their country's history.
Director: Branko Schmidt | Stars: Rene Bitorajac, Franjo Dijak, Robert Ugrina, Rakan Rushaidat
Votes: 4,543
54. Just Between Us (2010)
87 min | Comedy, Drama
Nikola is a man who knows how to really enjoy life; he's even able to rouse sympathy for his sinful ways. His brother, Braco turns a blind eye to his philandering although, with a broken ... See full summary »
Director: Rajko Grlic | Stars: Predrag 'Miki' Manojlovic, Bojan Navojec, Daria Lorenci Flatz, Ksenija Marinkovic
Votes: 1,063
55. Kotlovina (2011)
120 min | Drama
A big family reunion at the weekend cottage around traditional food preparation "kotlovina" (pig on a spit and lots of drinking) with quaintly amusing and earnest situations revealing what ... See full summary »
Director: Tomislav Radic | Stars: Igor Kovac, Suzana Nikolic, Boris Buzancic, Goran Navojec
Votes: 239
56. A Letter to My Father (2012)
72 min | Drama
Father and son review the problems in their communication that have been accumulating in years. The son cannot get rid of fears that his life is being a true copy of his father's ... See full summary »
Director: Damir Cucic | Stars: Mate Gulin, Milivoj Beader
Votes: 184
57. Obrana i zastita (2013)
87 min | Drama
When Slavko's old friend Djulaga dies, Slavko feels obliged to go to the funeral. But in his hometown of Mostar, in Bosnia & Herzegovina, this simple social obligation has the potential to ... See full summary »
Director: Bobo Jelcic | Stars: Bogdan Diklic, Nada Djurevska, Ivana Roscic, Rakan Rushaidat
Votes: 400
58. Number 55 (2014)
100 min | Action, History, War
In the autumn of 1991, a small group of Croatian soldiers go on patrol in an improvised armored vehicle. Soon after that they would get ambushed and their vehicle would get destroyed, in ... See full summary »
Director: Kristijan Milic | Stars: Goran Bogdan, Alan Katic, Marko Cindric, Drazen Mikulic
Votes: 1,611
59. The High Sun (2015)
123 min | Drama, Romance, War
Three different love stories, set in three consecutive decades, in two neighbouring Balkan villages burdened with a long history of inter-ethnic hatred: this is a film about the dangers - and the enduring strength - of forbidden love.
Director: Dalibor Matanic | Stars: Tihana Lazovic, Goran Markovic, Nives Ivankovic, Dado Cosic
Votes: 3,735
60. On the Other Side (2016)
85 min | Drama
20 years ago, Vesna moved her family to Zagreb, away from the events that almost destroyed their lives. However, an unexpected call will bring back the memory of a secret that she has been trying to hide all these years.
Director: Zrinko Ogresta | Stars: Ksenija Marinkovic, Lazar Ristovski, Tihana Lazovic, Robert Budak
Votes: 762
61. A Brief Excursion (I) (2017)
75 min | Drama
Stola has been spending his summer in the sweltering haze of festival parties. But one day, he runs into Roko, an old acquaintance, who is on a mission to discover medieval frescoes at a ... See full summary »
Director: Igor Bezinovic | Stars: Ante Zlatko Stolica, Mladen Vujcic, Zeljko Beljan, Iva Ivsic
Votes: 412
62. Mali (2018)
90 min | Crime, Drama
After spending four years in prison, a drug dealer will do anything to keep custody over his son.
Director: Antonio Nuic | Stars: Franjo Dijak, Vito Dijak, Pasko Vukasovic, Ksenija Marinkovic
Votes: 293
63. The Diary of Diana B (2019)
88 min | Biography, Drama, History
The story of Diana Budisavljevic, who embarked on a campaign of rescuing more than 10,000 children from the Ustasha camps in Nazi-occupied Croatia. A dramatized retelling mixed with archival material and interviews with survivors.
Director: Dana Budisavljevic | Stars: Alma Prica, Biserka Ipsa, Igor Samobor, Tesa Litvan
Votes: 1,547
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