Croatian Film Claims First Prize at International Children’s Film Festival in Chicago

Into the Blue

Croatian film Into the Blue has picked up first prize at the 34th International Children’s Film Festival in Chicago.

Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović’s award-winning short film won the Professional Jury: Live-Action Short first prize at the festival which ended this weekend in Chicago.

Into the Blue

The film, which is also in the qualification round for an Oscar Award nomination, is about thirteen-year-old Julija and her mother who flee their abusive home to find refuge on the idyllic island Julija grew up on. The girl is desperate to reconnect with her best friend, Ana. But Ana is in love and Julija is no longer a priority. Ana’s rejection reopens Julija’s wounds, awakening the monster of violence she thought she had left behind.

Antoneta Alamat Kusijanović

The film is produced by Motion (Croatia) and Blade Production (Slovenia) and is written by Christina Lazaridi and stars Gracija Filipović, Vanesa Vidaković Natrlin, Dominik Duždević, Andro Režić, Nataša Dangubić and Marija Kohn.

The film is supported by the Croatian Audiovisual Centre and the Slovenian Film Centre, and as a project was developed at the Short Film Station, part of the 2016 Berlinale Talents programme.

Into the Blue

The Chicago International Children’s Film Festival is the largest annual festival of films for children (ages 2–16) in the world with 250 films and videos from 40 countries. With 25,000 children, adults and educators and over 100 filmmakers, programmers and celebrities each year, the Festival is one of the only Academy Award-qualifying children’s film festivals.