In addition to other high-ranking guests, the representative of the Croatian Embassy in Sarajevo, Mladen Glavina, state secretary of the Central State Office for Croats Abroad, Zvonko Miias, the director of the Croatian Heritage Foundation, Mijo Marić, and Ivo Kujundžić, editor-in-chief of the program for Croats outside the Republic of Croatia on HRT, media sponsor of the event
The event “Days of Croatian Film Ivo Gregurević” started last weekend. It is a festival initiated and affirmed by the acting legend from this region, Ivo Gregurević. The opening event took place in the area of the ranch next to Orašje. It was preceded by the laying of wreaths and the lighting of candles at the last resting place of the legendary Croatian actor who left the festival, 27th in a row this year, to Posavina.
The Government of Posavina County is the sponsor of the film festival in Orašje. On this occasion, the President of the Assembly and the Government of Posavina County, Blaž Župarić and Đuro Topić, accompanied the ministers of the County Government. The high sponsor of the event is the Croatian National Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Government of the Republic of Croatia. In Orašje, among the high-ranking guests were the president of HNS and HDZ Bosnia and Herzegovina, political parties, Dr. Dragan Čović, and the Minister of Regional Development and European Union Funds in the Government of the Republic of Croatia, Nataša Tramišak, as the special envoy of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia, Andrej Plenković with colleagues. Along with other high-ranking guests, there were Ankica Gudeljević, Minister of Civil Affairs in the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Marinko Čavara, President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ambassador of the Croatian Embassy in Sarajevo, Mladen Glavina, and members of the diplomatic corps of the Republic of Croatia, State Secretary of the Central State Office for Croats Abroad, Zvonko Miias, Mijo Marić, the director of the Croatian Heritage Foundation and Ivo Kujundžić, editor-in-chief of the program for Croats outside the Republic of Croatia on HRT, the media sponsor of the event.
The first public presentation of the monograph on Ivo Gregurević, published by the publishing hpuse Školska knjiga, was held in the Orašje cinema hall.
– The book was made to make Ivo, Orašje and Croatian culture proud, the presenters pointed out. The monograph is a sign of memory for all of us who still watch Ivo, who miss Ivo, said the initiator of that great project, actor Vedran Mlikota, who worked on the project for several years. About 50 authors wrote about Ivo’s roles, his contribution to Croatian theater and film, and the founding of the Days of Croatian Film festival in Orašje. In addition to the presenters of the book, Dr. Dragan Čović also addressed the attendees at the gathering.
At the opening ceremony, on behalf of the organizers of the festival “Ivo Gregurević Film Festival Association”, Iljo Benković addressed the audience, followed by the Croatian Heritage Foundation Director Mijo Marić and Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds in the Government of the Republic of Croatia Nataša Tramišak, followed by Borjana Krišto, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who officially opened the festival.
Special awards for great contribution to the creation of Croatian films were also awarded to director Zrinko Ogresta and actor Slaven Knezović, which were presented by the Minister of Justice in the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mato Jozić, and the mayor of Orašje, Marijan Oršolić.
The evening was hosted by seven actor-hosting couples, including actress Josipa Oršolić from Tolisa, and 4 tenors performed in the musical part: Đani Stipaničev, Vladimir Garić, Marko Pecotić and Marko Škugor.
Text and photo: Nada Koturić