The Vukovar Film Festival, which takes place from August 28 to September 1, 2024, celebrated its 18th edition this year, featuring a rich program with more than 40 film screenings. The festival, which has become one of the most important cultural events in Croatia, is distinguished by its gathering of films from across the Danube region, and this year special attention was given to films nominated for prestigious awards from the Oscars, Berlin, Cannes, and Venice.

Main events and winners
This year's program included a range of significant films, many of which had their Croatian premiere at this festival. In the main competition, there were 19 feature films and 16 documentary films, including films from Germany, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, and other Danube countries. The festival's partner country was Germany, whose films were particularly noted. 

Award-winning films
Among the winners, the Bulgarian drama "Mother" stands out, which was made in Croatian co-production and won the Golden Shell for Best Feature Film. The film explores complex family relationships, and the award was personally received by actresses Daria Simeonova and Daria Dimitrova and co-producer Irena Marković. On the other hand, the Ukrainian documentary "House of Wood Splinters," directed by Simon Lereng Wilmont, was named Best Documentary Film, also receiving the Golden Shell. 

Festival organization and significance
The festival has been supported for years by the City of Vukovar, the Vukovar Tourist Board, and Design Studio D, while the co-organizers are the Vukovar City Museum, Vukovar Water Tower, Vukovar City Library, and Croatian House Vukovar. The official vehicle of the festival this year was Peugeot, with the main media sponsors being Večernji list and Croatian Radio Vukovar. 

Locations and tickets
The screenings took place at several key locations in Vukovar, including the Eltz Castle park, Croatian House Vukovar, and Cinestar Vukovar. Tickets were available at a price of 5 euros for a day pass and 18 euros for a festival pass, which covered all screenings except the opening ceremony. At other locations such as Pavilion II of Eltz Castle, the Birth House of Lavoslav Ružička, and the Amphitheater of the Vukovar Water Tower, admission was free, allowing broad access to the program for all interested visitors. 

Visual identity and future of the festival
Special attention was also given to the visual identity of the festival, designed this year by Osijek graphic designer Maja Gjajić. The new visual symbolizes the recognition and modernization of the festival, which continues to grow and attract an increasing number of visitors. The organizing team, led by festival director Darko Puharić and artistic director Daniel Rafaelić, is already planning the next edition of the festival, which will undoubtedly bring new innovations and further enrich the cultural scene of Vukovar. 

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