One of the most influential Croatian filmmakers of his generation, a member of the Yugoslav new wave of the 1960s and 1970s, Krsto Papić was born in 1933 and studied literature at the University of Zagreb before turning to the screen and a long,
distinguished career producing and directing.

His films were noticed early on, winning prizes at domestic and international festivals: THE KEY (1965) at the Pula Festival, gold medal at the Belgrade Festival for When My Knife Stabs You (1968), Oberhausen prizes for Knot (1969) and Let Our Voice Be Heard Too (1970). His HANDCUFFS (1970) was selected for the Directors' Fortnight at Cannes and won the Silver Hugo at the Chicago Festival and Special Trains (1972), a touching tale of agricultural workers who leave to work in East Germany, also garnered numerous prizes on the international festival circuit.

As his reputation spread, Papić began working abroad, directing ABOUT FOREIGNERS IN FRANCE for French television in 1970, and a short in the Netherlands, The Fishermen of Urk, in 1973. His subjects varied, but his wry eye for the often tragic absurdity of contemporary life, in particular as it manifested itself in Yugoslavia, remained focused from film to film.

This quality was evident in MY UNCLE'S LEGACY (1988), which won the FIPRESCI (international critics association) prize at the Montreal World Film Festival, and WHEN THE DEAD START SINGING (also shown at the MWFF), which earned awards at festivals in Europe and North America.