Bill Murray coming to Croatia with his latest film
- by croatiaweek
- in Entertainment
Actor Bill Murray is set to arrive in Croatia this summer for the Croatia International Film Festival (CIFF) in Šibenik.
As Variety exclusively reports, Murray will be in Šibenik to present his latest film, The Friend, which will officially open the festival on 8 August.
The moving drama, based on the bestselling novel by Sigrid Nunez, stars Naomi Watts as Iris, a writer coping with loss after inheriting a Great Dane from her late mentor and friend, played by Murray.
Directed by acclaimed duo Scott McGhee and David Siegel, The Friend had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival and later featured at the Toronto International Film Festival.
“We’ve wanted to visit Croatia ever since working with the brilliant Croatian actor Goran Višnjić on The Deep End. Bringing The Friend to CIFF feels like the perfect opportunity,” the duo said in a statement.
Murray first gained fame on Saturday Night Live in the 1970s before becoming a household name with classic comedies like Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, and Caddyshack.
In more recent years, he has collaborated with directors such as Wes Anderson and Sofia Coppola, earning critical acclaim for roles in films like Lost in Translation, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
CIFF was created by Croatian-American Ella Mische, a veteran of the entertainment industry with more than 20 years of experience across casting, directing, acting and producing.
She was part of the casting team behind the 2022 Adam Sandler film Hustle. Mische launched the festival during the 2023 writers’ and actors’ strikes with the goal of putting Croatia firmly on the global film map.
