FAST FORWARD 2025 / Projections:
11/12/2025 / 17h30 / Montenegrin Cinematheque / Podgorica
Čejen Černić Čanak / Croatia, Lithuania, Slovenia / 2025 / 88’
Director: Čejen Černić Čanak
Screenplay: Jure Pavlović
Producers: Vanja Jambrović, Klementina Remeikaitė, Tina Smrekar
Production: Restart, Afterschool Production, December
Director of Photography: Damjan Radovanović
Editing: Hana Jušić
Production Design: Gracija Filipović
Costume Design: Ana Nikačević
Music: Nenad Kovačić (NEMO)
Sound Design: Julij Zornik
Sound Recording: Andrej Juriga
Cast: Slaven Španović, Marko Petrić, Marija Škaričić, Snježana Sinovčić Šiškov, Petra Svrtan, Ivan Čuić, Romina Tonković, Davor Kovač
Countries: Croatia, Lithuania, Slovenia
Year: 2025
Runtime: 88’
SYNOPSIS
In a village threatened by rising rivers, Slaven returns home for his father’s funeral and unexpectedly reconnects with Marko, his forbidden childhood love. As the community builds sandbag barriers to protect their homes, Marko and Slaven attempt to shield themselves from their own emotions and family expectations — but water always finds a way through.
ABOUT THE DIRECTOR
Čejen Černić Čanak is a Croatian film director and screenwriter, born and raised in Osijek. From an early age, she developed a strong affinity for art, storytelling and creative expression, which naturally led her toward studying film directing in Zagreb. Throughout her career, she has been drawn to themes of identity, emotion, coming-of-age and human relationships. Her films often carry warmth, sincerity and empathy — qualities that also define her as an artist. She is known for her calm, introspective approach and for carefully crafting characters and emotional worlds. A significant part of her work is dedicated to youth experiences and complex emotional states rarely depicted in regional cinema. With her distinctive sensitivity, Černić Čanak brings authenticity and humanity to contemporary Croatian filmmaking.
FESTIVALS AND AWARDS
- Berlinale, 2025 – Generation 14plus (world premiere)
- Crossing Europe (Linz), 2025 – YAAAS! Competition; Special Mention – Youth Jury
- Lovers Film Festival (Turin), 2025 – Screening
- Wicked Queer: Boston LGBTQ+ Film Festival, 2025 – Best Feature (International Narrative Feature)
- Istanbul Film Festival, 2025 – Young Masters Competition
- Pula Film Festival, 2025 – National Selection / Screening
- Ourense Film Festival (Spain), 2025 – International Film Award (winner)