This year was the kick off to the new film festival FANTASTIC ZAGREB. I loved the statement of the festival directors so much but it could only be found in the film program so I have decided to share it with you here by transcribing it word for word. :-)

Founders of the Fantastic Zagreb Film Festival statement:

"WELCOME...

From Paris to Tokyo, from Berlin to Toronto, from Venice and Cannes to Abu Dhabi, Stockholm and Porto... We traveled half way around the world, visited numerous film festivals and markets just for you. Well ok...for us as well. :-) After thousands of miles, too many airports and hotels we present to you the final result: the first FANTASTIC ZAGREB FILM FESTIVAL! We are happy and proud that we can present the first Croatian and regional genre film festival to all Zagrebpcans, visitors of Zagreb and all film lovers. The festival takes place from July 2nd to 9th, at two very attractive open-air locations of Gradec and Tuskanac, and of course in Europa Cinema in the heart of Zagreb. If you love sci-fi and thrillers, horrors and psychological dramas, Asian action and futuristic dramas, suspense, fantasy and weird black-humor films, including all those beautiful, different, magical and imaginative celluloid worlds- Fantastic Zagreb is the right spot for you! From Midnight Madness to Orient Express, from Japanese Exploitation film to Night Marathon, from YU Fantastic to Panorama; from Kitano I Sono to Helander and Woon Kim, from Dupieux and Rumley to Papic and Kadijevic; from British ‘Monster’ to Finnish ‘Santa Claus from Hell’, from Korean ‘I Saw the Devil’ to Japanese ‘Outrage’, from French ‘Rubber’ to Yugoslavian ‘The Redeemer’. ‘She Butterfly’ and American ‘Game of Thrones’. The best bites await you from the rich genre menu. Calories guaranteed, but harmless!

Welcome to Fantastic Zagreb Film Festival. We hope you will have a great time, be afraid a bit, have fun and be pleasantly surprised. We wish you a fantastic time at a fantastic festival with fantastic films at fantastic locations in one fantastic city with fantastic legends of its own! Be afraid. Just a little. ☺”

-From founders of festival Stjepan Hundic and Mia Pecina.

Photo by Vanessa McMahon

festival founders Stjepan Hundic and Mia Pecina