Ambassadors Speak Out

Antun Babić - Consul General of the Republic of Croatia in Melbourne

The Croatian Film Festival in Melbourne is definitely an event which will mark the activity of the Croatian community in Australia in 2009. Apart from promoting and maintaining the identity of Croatians in Australia, the Festival will greatly assist in the development of co-operation between Croatia and Australia in the area of culture and film.  The Festival is a unique opportunity for the Australian public to view the rich artistic achievements of Croatian cinematography, right in the heart of Melbourne. The Consulate General of the Republic of Croatia, and I personally, are extremely pleased to be able to give our full support to the organisers of the Festival, as it an extremely important cultural project in the life of the Croatian community in Australia and it strengthens bilateral relations between Australia and Croatia in the area of culture. I have not had a chance to see many of the films which will be shown at the Festival due to the fact that I have spent many years abroad, so I am excited about the opportunity to see them here in Melbourne now. My favourite of all the ones I have seen up until now is Tko pjeva zlo ne misli (He Who Sings Means No Harm). This will give you some indication as to the generation I belong to!

Mr.sc. Antun Babić - Generalni konzul Republike Hrvatske u Melbourneu

Hrvatski filmski festival u Melbourneu nesumnjivo spada u onu kategoriju događaja koje će značajno obilježiti djelovanje hrvatske iseljeničke zajednice u Australiji u 2009. godini. Osim promocije i održavanja identiteta Hrvata u Australiji, Festival će znatno doprinijeti razvoju suradnje između Hrvatske i Australije na polju kulture i filmske umjetnosti. Festival je jedinstvena prilika da se australskoj javnosti u središtu Melbournea, i na visokoj razini, predstave bogata umjetnička ostvarenja hrvatske kinematografije. Generalni konzulat Republike Hrvatske u Melbourneu, i ja osobno, s velikim zadovoljstvom dajemo punu potporu organizatorima Festivala, jer je riječ o vrlo važnom kulturnom projektu u životu hrvatske iseljeničke zajednice u Australiji i jačanju bilateralnih odnosa između Republike Hrvatske i Australije na području kulture. Što se tiče filmova koji će biti prikazani na Festivalu, nisam imao priliku, zbog dugogodišnjeg boravka u inozemstvu, vidjeti većinu tih filmova, pa se jako radujem da će mi se ta prilika sada pružiti u Melbourneu. Inače, od filmova koje sam do sada vidio, najdraži mi je Tko pjeva zlo ne misli. Po tome možete otprilike odrediti i generaciju kojoj pripadam.


Ted Baillieu, Leader of the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition

I am delighted to have this opportunity to offer my strong support for the 2009 Croatian Film Festival coming to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in November.

I have no doubt this film festival will showcase the talents of Croatian filmmakers in such a way that it will open the doors to a whole new audience, and provide great insight and understanding of Croatia’s increasingly popular cinema industry.

Melbourne has long enjoyed a reputation for presenting international film to Victorians and visitors, and this year’s Croatian Film Festival will make a positive and exciting and addition to our film calendar of events, further enhancing that reputation Australia-wide.

The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition regards Victoria’s cultural and linguistic diversity as a tremendous asset. Our multicultural communities are well known for their generosity of spirit and for their great contributions to Australia’s development, and we are fortunate here in Victoria to benefit from such a vibrant and energetic Croatian-Australian community. It is a community that has played an integral part in Victoria’s success, and one which recognises – as we do – the importance of the opportunity to live in a rich multicultural society.

There can hardly be a better way to share our experiences and differences than through film, and this festival will play an important part in the further development of Victoria’s already enviable cultural identity.

The 2009 Croatian Film Festival will give Victorians a remarkable opportunity to engage with Croatian artistic talent and culture, and appreciate the very best of new Croatian cinema, and I am looking forward immensely to being a part of it.

Diane Viduka - Looking for Alibrandi, Neighbours

The Croatian Film Festival is a great opportunity for Australian Croatians to get behind Croatian film and for Australians to see that not only is Croatia a beautiful country to visit, but that it can contribute to cinema in a unique and powerful way. I am proud to support this Festival and strongly urge everyone to come along and learn more about what Croatian film has to offer.

Natko & Ino Kuvacic - Dalmatino Restaurant

Food is such a big part of Croatian culture. It is where family and community combine with culture and passion and we are blessed to do this for a living.

Since opening our doors five years ago, Melbourne has embraced our Croatian and Mediterranean cuisine. So when the opportunity came along to work along side the Croatian Film Festival we were delighted to be a part of further shaping Croatian culture and art within Melbourne. We look forward to working with the Film Festival for many years to come.

 Ljubo Miličević - Newcastle Jets

It’s great to see the Croatian youth come together to support and carry on our ancestors’ proud heritage and bring them into the 21st century with the first ever Croatian Film Festival in Melbourne. Croatia is such a beautiful part of the world, rich in culture and full of colorful people. I encourage you all to get behind the Festival and be a part of history in the making!

Marijana Topalovic Klarica - 2009 Australian Idol contender

I am definitely a huge supporter of getting the Croatian name, and all that we have to offer as a people, out to the Australian public. I am very happy to support the Film Festival in any way, as promoting what we have to offer as a culture is fantastic. What better way than through the form of art, and film is definitely a great avenue - unlike music, subtitles are acceptable!

 Marko Fodo - MGD International (Exclusive importers of Karlovacko beer)

Beer is a great love of all Australians and no great event is complete without a beer sponsor. When the opportunity came up to work with the Croatian Film Festival and promote Karlovacko Beer to a wider Australian audience we were thrilled. Karlovacko is so well known and loved in Croatia and since we introduced it to Australia last year it has been a hit Down Under to.

The taste is unique, just like Croatian film but both are loved for being different to the standard.