Big Golden Arena for Best Film

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.

Big Golden Arena for Best Film
CountryYugoslavia (1957–1990)
Croatia (1992–present)
Presented byPula Film Festival Jury
First awarded1957 (unofficially)
1961 (officially)
Currently held byTereza37
Websitepulafilmfestival.hr
Main article: Pula Film Festival

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)
1955
Moments of DecisionTrenutki odločitveFrantišek Čap
1956
Big Golden Arena was not awarded.
1957
Priests Ćira and SpiraPop Ćira i pop SpiraSoja Jovanović
Master of His Own BodySvoga tela gospodarFedor Hanžeković
Saturday NightSubotom uvečeVladimir Pogačić
1958
H-8H-8Nikola Tanhofer
The Road a Year LongCesta duga godinu danaGiuseppe De Santis
The Sky Through the TreesKroz granje neboStole Janković
1959
Train Without a TimetableVlak bez voznog redaVeljko Bulajić
Three Quarters of a SunTri četrtine soncaJože Babič
Five Minutes of ParadisePet minuta rajaIgor Pretnar
1960
The Ninth CircleDeveti krugFrance Štiglic
Atomic War BrideRatVeljko Bulajić
Three Girls Named AnnaTri AneBranko Bauer
1961
Ballad About a Trumpet and a Cloud *Balada o trobenti in oblakuFrance Štiglic
The First Fires *Uzavreli gradVeljko Bulajić
The PartyVeselicaJože Babič
PesmaRadoš Novaković
1962
KozaraKozaraVeljko Bulajić
SašaRadenko Ostojić
PrekobrojnaBranko Bauer
1963
Face to FaceLicem u liceBranko Bauer
RadopoljeStole Janković
Wild GrowthSamorastnikiIgor Pretnar
1964
Official PositionSlužbeni položajFadil Hadžić
Marš na DrinuŽika Mitrović
Don't Cry, PeterNe joči, PeterFrance Štiglic
1965
Prometheus of the Island *Prometej s otoka ViševiceVatroslav Mimica
Three *TriAleksandar Petrović
Second place prize was not awarded.
Doći i ostatiBranko Bauer
1966
Monday or TuesdayPonedjeljak ili utorakVatroslav Mimica
The Climber*ŠtićenikVladan Slijepčević
Rondo *RondoZvonimir Berković
The DreamSanPuriša Đorđević
1967
I Even Met Happy GypsiesSkupljači perjaAleksandar Petrović
The MorningJutroPuriša Đorđević
The Birch Tree *BrezaAnte Babaja
On Paper Planes *Na avionima od papiraMatjaž Klopčič
1968
When I Am Pale and DeadKad budem mrtav i beoŽivojin Pavlović
NoonPodnePuriša Đorđević
I Have Two Mothers and Two FathersImam dvije mame i dva tateKrešimir Golik
1969
Downstream from the SunNizvodno od suncaFedor Škubonja
An EventDogađajVatroslav Mimica
It Rains in My VillageBiće skoro propast svetaAleksandar Petrović
1970
HandcuffsLisiceKrsto Papić
The CyclistsBiciklistiPuriša Đorđević
This Crazy World of OursBube u glaviMiloš Radivojević
1971
Red WheatRdeče klasje / Crveno klasjeŽivojin Pavlović
The Pine Tree in the MountainU gori raste zelen borAntun Vrdoljak
The BetOpkladaZdravko Randić
1972
The Master and MargaretMaestro i MargaritaAleksandar Petrović
Lone WolfVuk samotnjakObrad Gluščević
How to DieKako umrijetiMiomir Stamenković
1973
The Battle of SutjeskaSutjeskaStipe Delić
The BombardiersBombašiPredrag Golubović
To Live on LoveŽivjeti od ljubaviKrešimir Golik
1974
The Republic of UžiceUžička republikaŽika Mitrović
The Dervish and DeathDerviš i smrtZdravko Velimirović
Crveni udarPredrag Golubović
1975
The HouseKućaBogdan Žižić
Wintering in JakobsfeldZimovanje u JakobsfelduBranko Bauer
Story of Good PeoplePovest o dobrih ljudehFrance Štiglic
1976
IdealistIdealistIgor Pretnar
The Longest JourneyNajdolgiot patBranko Gapo
Anno Domini 1573Seljačka buna 1573Vatroslav Mimica
1977
Don't Lean Out the WindowNe naginji se vanBogdan Žižić
Operation StadiumAkcija stadionDušan Vukotić
Beloved LoveLjubavni život Budimira TrajkovićaDejan Karaklajić
1978
Occupation in 26 PicturesOkupacija u 26 slikaLordan Zafranović
Bravo MaestroBravo maestroRajko Grlić
The Dog Who Loved TrainsPas koji je voleo vozoveGoran Paskaljević
1979
TrophyTrofejKarolj Viček
BurningUsijanjeBoro Drašković
The Days on Earth Are FlowingZemaljski dani tekuGoran Paskaljević
1980
Petria's WreathPetrijin venacSrđan Karanović
The Secret of Nikola TeslaTajna Nikole TesleKrsto Papić
Who's That Singing Over ThereKo to tamo pevaSlobodan Šijan

1981–1990

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 English title(s) Original title(s) Director(s)
1981The Fall of ItalyPad ItalijeLordan Zafranović
1982
Big Golden Arena was not awarded.
1983Body ScentZadah telaŽivojin Pavlović
1984Balkan SpyBalkanski špijunDušan Kovačević
Božidar Nikolić
1985When Father Was Away on BusinessOtac na službenom putuEmir Kusturica
1986Happy New Year '49Srećna nova '49.Stole Popov
1987ReflectionsVeć viđenoGoran Marković
1988My Uncle's LegacyŽivot sa stricemKrsto Papić
1989The Meeting PointSabirni centarGoran Marković
1990Silent GunpowderGluvi barutBato Čengić

1991–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 English title Original title Director(s)
1991
Festival cancelled.[A]
1992Story from CroatiaPriča iz HrvatskeKrsto Papić
1993Countess DoraKontesa DoraZvonimir Berković
1994
National competition program cancelled.[B]
1995Washed OutIspraniZrinko Ogresta
1996How the War Started on My IslandKako je počeo rat na mom otokuVinko Brešan
1997Mondo BoboMondo BoboGoran Rušinović
1998When the Dead Start SingingKad mrtvi zapjevajuKrsto Papić
1999MadonnaBogorodicaNeven Hitrec
2000Marshal Tito's SpiritMaršalVinko Brešan
2001Slow SurrenderPolagana predajaBruno Gamulin
2002Fine Dead GirlsFine mrtve djevojkeDalibor Matanić
2003HereTuZrinko Ogresta
2004Long Dark NightDuga mračna noćAntun Vrdoljak
2005What Iva RecordedŠto je Iva snimila 21. listopada 2003.Tomislav Radić
2006All for FreeSve džabaAntonio Nuić
2007The Living and the DeadŽivi i mrtviKristijan Milić
2008No One's SonNičiji sinArsen Anton Ostojić
2009MetastasesMetastazeBranko Schmidt
2010Just Between UsNeka ostane među namaRajko Grlić
2011KotlovinaKotlovinaTomislav Radić
2012A Letter to My FatherPismo ćaćiDamir Čučić
2013A StrangerObrana i zaštitaBobo Jelčić
2014Number 55Broj 55Kristijan Milić
2015The High SunZvizdanDalibor Matanić
2016On the Other SideS one straneZrinko Ogresta
2017A Brief ExcursionKratki izletIgor Bezinović
2018MaliMaliAntonio Nuić
2019The Diary of Diana BDnevnik Diane BudisavljevićDana Budisavljević
2020Tereza37Tereza37Danilo Šerbedžija

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 locally 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. "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. "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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